Renew, reduce or become more efficient? The climate contribution of biomass co-combustion in a coal-fired power plant

Miedema, Jan Hessels; Benders, Reinerus; Moll, Henri; Pierie, Frank

doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.11.033

Cited by 65 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Furthermore, the framework should address how the competitiveness of different biomass value chains is affected by the development of other renewable energy technologies. This extends the scope of other studies that assess comparative performance of biomass with a single competing technology . The emphasis of this article is on the method applied.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 65%

Emerging bioeconomy sectors in energy systems modeling – Integrated systems analysis of electricity, heat, road transport, aviation, and chemicals: a case study for the Netherlands

Tsiropoulos

Hoefnagels

Jong

et al. 2018

Biofuels Bioprod Bioref

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Several studies that have assessed the role of bioenergy in the energy system have primarily focused on electricity, heat, and road transport. However, sectors that have few alternatives to biomass, namely aviation and the chemical industry, are expected to become increasingly important. We have extended a bottom‐up energy systems model with fossil‐based and bio‐based chemicals and with renewable jet fuels to assess the deployment of biomass conversion technologies in the Netherlands until 2030. The model comprises detailed cost‐structures and mid‐term developments for the energy system with detailed cost‐supply curves for biomass, renewable energy technologies, and carbon capture and storage. The framework incorporates multi‐output processes, such as biorefineries, to address cross‐sectoral synergies. To capture the uncertainty in technical progress, technology development scenarios are used to assess cost‐optimal biomass utilization pathways over time. Slow technical progress (LowTech) leads to biomass applications for heating, first‐generation biofuels from hydrotreated oils, and bio‐based chemicals based on first‐generation fermentation systems. Enhanced technology development (HighTech) allows the production of second‐generation biofuels, large volumes of diverse bio‐based chemicals and renewable jet fuels. The required biomass may range from 230 PJ (LowTech) to 300 PJ (HighTech) in 2030, supplied primarily from imported resources. Both scenarios show that, under existing policies, CO2 emissions will only gradually be reduced to reach 1990 levels (140–145 Mt CO2). Further scenario analysis is recommended to assess model sensitivity and the necessary preconditions for future biomass conversion pathways and robust directions towards the required greenhouse‐gas mitigation pathways. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 65%

Emerging bioeconomy sectors in energy systems modeling – Integrated systems analysis of electricity, heat, road transport, aviation, and chemicals: a case study for the Netherlands

Tsiropoulos

Hoefnagels

Jong

et al. 2018

Biofuels Bioprod Bioref

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“…As an extension of conventional biomass energy, unconventional biomass not only can regenerate in the original growth position but also has lower ash content and lower S and N content than coal. Its application will help to achieve the goals of CO 2 emission reduction in the Paris Protocol …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An experimental study of single unconventional biomass pellets: Ignition characteristics, combustion processes, and artificial neural network modeling

Lin

Wang

et al. 2020

Int J Energy Res

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Summary This study applied the artificial neural networks (ANNs) model to the thermal data obtained by suspension ignition and combustion experiment of single peanut shells (PS, millimeter scale) pellet under O2/CO2 atmosphere. ANN11 was the best ANN model for predicting the relevant parameters of PS combustion. The coincidence between ANN prediction data and experimental data was over 99%. Two modes of biomass pellet ignition were observed: homogeneous ignition of volatiles and hetero‐homogeneous ignition of volatiles and char simultaneously. The ignition mode was transformed from homogeneous ignition to hetero‐homogeneous ignition when oxygen concentration was 50%. In addition, it was observed that ignition at the bottom emerged first, and then the upper end was ignited, finally generating an envelope flame. This phenomenon occurred when gas flow temperature exceeded 873 K or the oxygen concentration was greater than 50%. The reduction of ignition delay time and internal ignition temperature from 21% to 50% oxygen concentration was more intense than that of 50% to 100% oxygen concentration. Increasing oxygen concentration or temperature resulted in a shorter, brighter, and more stable volatile flame of biomass pellets, which reduced volatile burnout time. Nevertheless, the impact of gas flow rate on biomass combustion was intricate and irregular.

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“…Utilization of biomass as fuel for power production offers the advantage of a renewable and CO2-neutral fuel (26). The efficiency of all supply chains and reduction in efficiency of power generation implies that introduction of biomass does not lead to a more energy conserving or efficiency system, as well as not meeting viable emission reductions (17). …”

Section: Co-firing Biomass and Coalmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This technology requires no mechanical change to the power plant, the only change is that of the feed stock (2). The biomass is converted via a thermo-chemical process at 200-300°C for approximately 1 hour to produce a solid fuel that is competitive with coal (17). A complication with this technology is the degradation of boiler efficiency due to fouling of the boiler walls.…”

Section: Biomass Co-firingmentioning

confidence: 99%

A meta-study on the feasibility of the implementation of new clean coal technologies to existing coal-fired power plants in an effort to decrease carbon emissions

Davies

Malik

et al. 2017

PAMR

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The renewable energy sector has experienced an incredible growth in the last 15 years. The dependency on fossil fuel based power plants is still likely to continue well into the next half century. The global thermal efficiency of coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) since the 1980s has largely remained stagnant at 30-39% (high heat value basis)(2). Recent advances in materials and thermodynamics technologies has allowed for the efficiency of new pilot plants to be increased to 45%, even beyond 50% in some cases(3). The manufacture of these new highly efficient ultra-supercritical (USC) steam cycle CFPPs is an economically and politically difficult prospect. Therefore, it is necessary to investigates methods to apply the thermodynamic improvements available in modern USC CFPPs to the currently operating majority of subcritical (SubC) power plants without a large overhaul in infrastructure i.e. through retrofitting. This meta study will provide an analysis in the trends of the overall and intra-system efficiency of CFPPs, the development new clean coal technologies, then discuss and conclude the feasibility of applying these processes to current power plant infrastructure. A thermodynamic analysis of the most promising clean coal technologies, i.e. advanced pulverized coal combustion systems, oxy-fuel, pre and post-combustion carbon capture systems, steam reheat cycles, co-firing systems, will allow the investigation into whether retrofitting current power plants will generate a significant increase in efficiency. Thereby allowing for the discussion of the viability of retrofitting for the reduction in CFPP carbon emissions and the recommendation of specific options.

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Renew, reduce or become more efficient? The climate contribution of biomass co-combustion in a coal-fired power plant

Cited by 65 publications

References 19 publications

Emerging bioeconomy sectors in energy systems modeling – Integrated systems analysis of electricity, heat, road transport, aviation, and chemicals: a case study for the Netherlands

Emerging bioeconomy sectors in energy systems modeling – Integrated systems analysis of electricity, heat, road transport, aviation, and chemicals: a case study for the Netherlands

An experimental study of single unconventional biomass pellets: Ignition characteristics, combustion processes, and artificial neural network modeling

A meta-study on the feasibility of the implementation of new clean coal technologies to existing coal-fired power plants in an effort to decrease carbon emissions

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