A process and plant for drying of wood shavings, wood chips or other solid materials of organic and/or mineral origin in small pieces, in which - the material is predried by means of a first preheated drying gas in a first drying step, - the dried material from the first drying step is dried by means of a second preheated drying gas in a second drying step, - ambient air is heated and supplied as second preheated drying gas to the second drying step, - the dried material from the second drying step is cooled by means of a cooling gas, and - the cooling gas heated by cooling of the material and/or the second drying gas cooled in the second drying step is supplied as first drying gas to the first drying step.
