Bioenergy Insight September/October 2016

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 Volume 7 • Issue 5

Explosive potential Landfill gas goes from hazard to green opportunity

Replacing an old king

Spotlight on torrefied biomass

Regional focus: bioenergy in Canada

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contents Bioenergy

Issue 5 • Volume 7 September/October 2016 Woodcote Media Limited Marshall House 124 Middleton Road, Morden, Surrey SM4 6RW, UK www.bioenergy-news.com

Contents 2 Comment 3 News 13 Incident report 14 Plant update 15 Sustainable solutions

MANAGING DIRECTOR Peter Patterson Tel: +44 (0)208 648 7082 peter@woodcotemedia.com EDITOR Liz Gyekye Tel: +44 (0)20 8687 4183 liz@woodcotemedia.com DEPUTY EDITOR Ilari Kauppila Tel: +44 (0)20 8687 4146 ilari@woodcotemedia.com INTERNATIONAL SALES MANAGER George Doyle Tel: +44 (0) 203 551 5752 george@bioenergy-news.com NORTH AMERICA SALES REPRESENTATIVE Matt Weidner +1 610 486 6525 mtw@weidcom.com PRODUCTION Alison Balmer Tel: +44 (0)1673 876143 alisonbalmer@btconnect.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES £160/$270/€225 for 6 issues per year.

Contact: Lisa Lee Tel: +44 (0)20 8687 4160 Fax: +44 (0)20 8687 4130 marketing@woodcotemedia.com Follow us on Twitter: @BioenergyInfo Join the discussion on the Bioenergy Insight LinkedIn page

No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in any form by any mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording or other means without the prior written consent of the publisher. Whilst the information and articles in Bioenergy Insight are published in good faith and every effort is made to check accuracy, readers should verify facts and statements direct with official sources before acting on them as the publisher can accept no responsibility in this respect.

Any opinions expressed in this magazine should not be construed as those of the publisher.

ISSN 2046-2476

Bioenergy Insight

Canada has huge potential to mobilise its sustainable forest biomass for bioenergy

16 Regional focus: Canada

The Canadian biogas market remains relatively untouched despite its great potential

18 From forest floor to green power

The biomass market is continuing to evolve in Canada and a non-profit organisation is helping it to grow further

20 It’s getting hot in here

Bioenergy companies can minimise the risks of spontaneous heating and spontaneous combustion through effective temperature measurement

23 Conifer fire starter

The days of needing to stoke a fireplace or a barbecue may be over, thanks to a new take an old invention

24 Size matters

Being prepared to provide wood chips in varying sizes opens new opportunities for feedstock providers

26 Rich rewards

A flexible biomass torrefaction plant has recently been unveiled in Canada

28 Replacing old ‘King Coal’

Torrefied biomass: The perfect CO2 neutral coal substitute is maturing

31 The untapped potential

Contractual influences are slowing progress in the UK food waste recycling sector

34 Time for an upgrade

A new technology enables the production of bio-based liquefied natural gas in smaller-scale installations

36 From farm to light bulb

A large farm in the UK recently began exporting biomethane produced on site through anaerobic digestion (AD) to the National Grid. How has it managed to harness this energy?

38 The mountains are alive with the sound of green music

When a Swiss community needed to upgrade its green portfolio, the responsible entity for the project turned to an engineering specialist for dry AD and biogas upgrading

40 Trial and success

Selecting the wrong equipment during a biogas upgrade process can prove costly

42 The journey of a thousand miles

How a biomass boiler made its way from China all the way to its new home in the UK

44 Turning over a new leaf

Wood shredding activity is on the rise and so too are the number of operators rethinking their plant design

46 Explosive potential

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 Volume 7 • Issue 5

Explosive potential Landfill gas goes from hazard to green opportunity

Replacing an old king

Spotlight on torrefied biomass

Landfill gas has gone from an explosive hazard to a major player in the bioenergy sector

47 Cut and dry

Implementing drying technology could improve efficiency in a biomass plant, as well as cut costs

Regional focus: bioenergy in Canada

Front cover image courtesy of Bigstock. ©elenathewise.

September/October 2016 • 1

Bioenergy comment

It’s the quiet ones you have to look out for

A

Liz Gyekye Editor

BBC Hardtalk TV programme recently focused on Canada’s oil sands industry. In a world dominated by headlines on terrorism, a crisis in the Middle East and US politics, one does not really read many stories about Canada. Yet, the BBC dedicated half an hour on the issue of Canada’s oil sands sector based in Alberta.

Oil sands, sometimes referred to as “dirty oil”, have long been the target of climate change campaigners who insist that the energy-intensive extraction of oil sands and the greenhouse gas emissions it generates, mean most of the remaining deposits must stay in the ground. However, the BBC reporter told viewers that this was highly unlikely to happen, due to the fact that around 160 billion barrels of oil lie beneath Alberta’s soil. In addition, 20% of Canadian GDP relies on Alberta’s oil and gas industry.

Nevertheless, Alberta’s provincial government is introducing an economy-wide carbon tax from next year and a cap of greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, Canada has committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030. An increase in biogas generation could reduce the carbon intensity of Canada’s energy mix even further.

It is a shame that we do not get more TV

programmes highlighting the benefits of bioenergy. Never mind, Bioenergy Insight is here to fill that gap. In this issue, Canadian Biogas Association’s Jennifer Green highlights the biogas opportunities that exist in Canada.

She says that realising the full potential of biogas development could lead to 1,800 separate construction projects with a capital investment of C$7 billion (€4.8bn) and around 17,000 construction jobs for a period of one year. More than 100 anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities are located across Canada with more than 30% of these projects based in Ontario.

In this issue, we also learn from FPInnovations’ Jennifer Ellson, who describes how traditional Canadian forest products companies have invested in increased use of biomass for steam and energy generation.

In fact, readers will learn how the pellet sector in Canada has significantly grown and how some independent power producers are using biomass as their feedstock.

As you can see, a quiet revolution is already taking place!

Best wishes, Liz

Follow us on Twitter: @BioenergyInfo

2 • September/October 2016

Bioenergy Insight

biomass news Groundwork begins on Teesside biomass plant Work on a £650 million (€146.3m) biomass power plant, based in the Northeast of England, is due to begin — more than seven years after it was proposed.

Around 800 people will be employed at the Tees renewable energy plant at Teesport in Middlesbrough, UK. The project was approved by the then Labour government in July 2009, but a complex finance deal involving several countries has only just been sealed.

Site preparation works are set to begin in September, with main construction works starting before the end of the year, developer MGT Teesside said.

The plant, which is expected to be completed by 2020, will be fuelled by about 2.5 million tonnes of wood chips a year and

will generate enough electricity for around 600,000 homes across the Northeast of England.

MGT chief executive Ben Elsworth said: “The project has had to overcome many hurdles, but we have now successfully reached the next stage despite the difficult financing environment.

“We can’t wait to get work started on site and make this project a huge success for Teesside.”

David Robinson, CEO of logistics firm PD Ports, said: “This is excellent news for Teesside and gives substantial impetus to the long-term economic activity in the area as well as positioning the region as a major energy hub, creating hundreds of jobs and many more in the wider supply chain.”

A spokesman for Redcar and Cleveland Council said: “This is a massive investment and we welcome this news, which will bring high quality jobs to people in our borough.” l

3D computer model of Teesside renewable energy plant

Bioenergy Insight

September/October 2016 • 3

biomass news

Philippines biomass industry gets funding boost The International Finance Corp. (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, the government of Canada and the Clean Technology Fund will make a $161 million (€146.3m) joint investment in 70MW of biomass power capacity in the Philippines.

In a statement, IFC said that the financing will be mobilised under the IFC-Canada Climate Change Programme and the Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Programme.

It will be provided to global investment banking firm ThomasLloyd Group and Bronzeoak Philippines for their green

scheme in Negros Occidental province, the Visayan island.

ThomasLloyd and Bronzeoak are working on three projects in the towns of Manapla, San Carlos and La Carlota. Through a low carbon-emitting process called circulating fluidised bed boiler technology, the biomass facilities will convert sugarcane waste into electricity. The power plants are expected to qualify for a biomass feed-in-tariff (FiT) run by the Philippine Energy Regulatory Commission.

“This funding will help utilise agricultural waste to generate reliable baseload power, providing additional income to farmers, reducing fertiliser costs and helping contribute to a healthful ecology,” Bronzeoak CEO, Jose Maria Zabaleta, said. l

Philippines firm to expand bana grass production Philippines green technology firm Mackay Green Energy will grow more bana grass in order to convert it into a biomass fuel, according to media reports.

Bana grass can be made into pellets, which look like coal, and biodegradable plastics.

Malaya Business Insight reported that Mackay Green Energy is already exporting bana grass to Japan and Korea from the third largest city in the Philippines, Zamboanga.

The company owns several plots in the Philippines on which it cultivates bana grass. The company owns 3,000 hectares

of land in the Negros province, 1,000 hectares of land in Leyte and 130 hectares in Nueva Ecija. According to media reports, the group will now expand its lands by a further 2,000 hectares this year.

Mackay Green Energy said it has secured the world’s best technologies to enable the conversion of bana grass to green coal. According to the firm, bana grass has “superior qualities” to fossil-based coal and can be co-fired in existing coal power plants without the need to make drastic changes.

“It is a key factor for power plants since the greenhouse gas emissions can be directly reduced,” James Mackay, chairman and CEO of Mackay Green Energy, told reporters. l

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4 • September/October 2016

Arizona energy utility prepares for first biomass firing tests Arizona’s first attempt to generate electricity with a mix of biomass and coal will take place later this year, using debris from forest thinning projects in northern Arizona, US. The test run will take place at the Coronado Generating Station in eastern Arizona, operated by the Salt River Project (SRP), Knau Arizona Public Radio reported.

Officials plan to burn coal mixed with more than 2,300 tonnes of wood chips. This is around the amount of biomass produced by thinning 250 acres of forest.

Bruce Hallin, water supply director at SRP, told the media outlet that biomass is not the most efficient or cost-effective option for generating electricity.

“But again, our motivation here is, let’s see if we can help accelerate some of these forest restoration efforts, so we can get those forest thinned and protect that watershed,” Hallin added.

He said forest thinning can reduce wildfire risks. l

Bioenergy Insight

biomass news

British Columbia-based mountain to get new energy-from-waste plant Corix MultiUtility Services, a Canadian provider of sustainable utility infrastructure, has signed an agreement with Simon Fraser University (SFU) and the SFU Community Trust to move forward with the construction of a new C$39 million (€27m) facility that would use locally-sourced biomass to produce green, thermal energy for the two grids it serves.

The plant will be based in Burnaby Mountain — a low, forested mountain in the city of Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. It will provide energy to SFU and another local community located adjacent to SFU called UniverCity. The SFU Community Trust oversees UniverCity.

Until now, Corix has used temporary natural gas boilers to produce its energy. Going forward, waste destined for local landfills — like wood chips from sawmills and tree cuttings and trimmings — will fuel the plant.

Eric van Roon, Corix’s senior VP at Canadian Utilities, said he was excited about working with the SFU on the project.

He added: “The new facility is an example of how Corix can provide solutions to address community energy needs while meeting environmental objectives. In this case, we

Bioenergy Insight

will achieve both through the implementation of a district energy system using renewable energy sources.”

“The proposed Central Energy Plant is another example of SFU Community Trust partnering with SFU and industry leaders to help deliver low-carbon sustainable homes and a high level of comfort and convenience at UniverCity,” said Dale Mikkelsen, the Trust’s development director.

He added: “The combination of longterm environmental and economic benefits for UniverCity residents while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions on Burnaby Mountain.”

With the agreement now signed, the next steps for the project will be public consultation, which is expected to begin this autumn. The results of those efforts will feed into the required municipal and provincial regulatory processes. If all approvals are received in 2017, construction could begin early in 2018, which would allow the facility to be operational by early 2019, Corix said.

“This biomass facility is another example of SFU’s commitment to sustainability, which is a key principle of our strategic vision,” said SFU president Andrew Petter.

“In recent years, SFU has taken significant action to decrease our carbon footprint, reduce waste, and implement a range of other sustainability measures.”

Around 80 short-term jobs will be created during the design and construction phase of the project. l

Japanese power supplier aims to beef up biomass power plants Japanese energy supplier Erex Co. will add more biomass power plants and expand into wind farms as it seeks to reach out to more customers following the opening up of Japan’s power-retail market, according to media reports in Bloomberg.

of Kochi and has several more biomass projects in varying stages of development.

According to the news outlet, Japan fully liberalised its power market in April allowing households and small businesses to pick power providers for the first time.

Erex wants to boost the ratio of its customers in the newly opened segment to 50%, said President Hitoshi Honna.

He added: “The way to survive in the liberalised market is to address environmental issues and retain customers. Biomass power offers a better prospect of recovering investment.” l

The company currently has a 20MW operating biomass power plant in the western prefecture

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September/October 2016 • 5

biomass news

IEA: Emissions from biomass linked to 3.5 million deaths annually The global death rate from air pollution will skyrocket in the next few decades if energy producers across the globe do not take strong measures to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

In the Energy and Air Pollution special report under the World Energy Outlook, IEA said an estimated 6.5 million deaths are caused by air pollution annually.

Of these deaths, 3.5 million

are connected with energy poverty and the use biomass and kerosene for cooking and lighting that affects 2.7 billion people worldwide. The use of these materials creates smoky environments, the IEA said.

These effects are felt mostly in developing Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where incomplete burning of biomass accounts for more than half of emissions of particulate matter. Finer particles, whether inhaled indoors or outdoors, are particularly harmful to health as they can penetrate deep into the lungs.

Another three million deaths are linked to outdoor air pollution caused by traffic and industry, mostly in cities.

The agency report stated

that the majority of air polluting emissions come from energy production and use due to “unregulated, poorly regulated or inefficient” fuel combustion.

Coal is responsible for around 60% of global combustion-related sulphurdioxide emissions, while fuels used for transport, such as diesel, generate more than half the nitrogen oxides emitted globally.

Currently only 8% of global energy production is combustion-free and more than half of the rest has no effective technology in place to control emissions.

The report suggests that if the energy industry invests an additional 7% to reduce

its emissions output, more than three million lives could be saved by 2040.

“Clean air is a basic human right that most of the world’s population lacks. No country — rich or poor — can claim that the task of tackling air pollution is complete,” Fatih Birol, executive director at IEA, told the Business Reporter.

“But governments are far from powerless to act and need to act now.

Proven energy policies and technologies can deliver major cuts in air pollution around the world and bring health benefits, provide broader access to energy and improve sustainability,” Birol said. l

Manitoba backs biomass

The Canada and Manitoba governments are supporting a greener, more sustainable economy through a C$1 million (€600,000) biomass energy support programme.

Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay said: “The government of Canada is committed to increasing the use of clean and sustainable technology. Making investments in the use of renewable biomass fuels through research and innovative practices will help the agricultural sector to be more competitive in a global economy, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

Applications are currently being accepted for this continuing programme, which is funded under Growing Forward 2. It includes C$500,000 in grants to help coal users transition to renewable biomass fuel. Another C$500,000 is available for applied research projects that support the growth of the biomass industry in Manitoba.

“Biomass and other renewable fuels can create opportunities for Manitoba’s farmers and other key partners,” said Ralf Eichler Minister for Agriculture at Manitoba Legislature.

“The two-pronged approach of this grant programme encourages Manitobans making the necessary transition to biomass, while also recognising research is essential to finding new markets and creating both economic and environmental benefits.”

Funding can be used to convert coal heating systems to use biomass as the fuel source. Current biomass manufacturers can also apply to expand their operations and meet consumer demands. The maximum grant available is C$50,000.

Last year, 21 projects received funding from this programme.

Since 2012, it has invested approximately C$3 million. l

6 • September/October 2016

Bioenergy Insight

biogas news Eggersman acquires biogas plant specialist Bekon German waste management equipment manufacturer, Eggersmann Group, has acquired batch-biogas plant specialist, Bekon Holding.

With the acquisition, Eggersmann Group will expand its manufacturing base to include a more diverse portfolio of equipment in the mechanical and biological waste treatment sector.

“The integration of Bekon allows us to draw on even more experience and know-how in dry fermentation. The combination of both of our patents — with Bekon we increased the number by 30 more — means a clear add-on to our service portfolio and reinforcement of our market position,” said Karlgünter Eggersmann, CEO of Eggersmann Group.

In the near term, Bekon will

German waste management equipment manufacturer, Eggersmann Group, has acquired Bekon Holding

change legal status to become a limited liability company (LLC).

“The future Bekon symbolises the merger of two fermentation specialists,”

said Thomas Hein, MD of Bekon.

He added: “The new management is pleased about the strategic add-on and the intensive cooperation with the Bekon staff. The number of personnel of 30 employees as well as the site in Unterfoehring, Germany, remains.”

Once the deal is formally completed Hein will become joint MD with Eggersman of Bekon Holding.

Ralf Sigrist, Peter Klessascheck and Tobias Bauer, members of the former board at Bekon said in a statement: “After many years of being owned by financial investors, we found a new, powerful proprietor in the Eggersmann Group, which helps us to explore the international markets due to the high number of synergies.”

The value of the deal was undisclosed. l

Food supply chain business secures off-grid status German food supply chain by-products processor Saria is now operating its Doncaster, UK, site completely off-grid using 100% renewable energy from anaerobic digestion (AD).

The company’s state-ofthe-art ReFood AD plant in Doncaster recycles more than 160,000 tonnes of food waste per year, generating 5MWh of electricity via combined heat and power (CHP), alongside hot water and heat.

A percentage of the energy is being used to power other businesses at the Doncaster Ings Road site, as part of a group-wide sustainability initiative.

The Doncaster site, which consists of businesses operating right across the food chain by-

Bioenergy Insight

products industry, also produces a sustainable biofertiliser as a by-product of the process. This is being used by local farmers to support crop growth.

“With a group-wide commitment to energy efficiency, realising our goal of achieving off-grid status is a noteworthy achievement — demonstrating true commitment to meeting food sector sustainability targets,” said Philip Simpson, commercial director at Saria.

“Through continued investment and our pioneering AD process, we are now able to not only provide homes and businesses across the region with access to a complexly sustainable energy source, but also minimise our own reliance on fossil fuels.”

In a statement, Saria said that it prioritises sustainability across all of its business operations. l

September/October 2016 • 7

biogas news

Hawaii Gas wins biogas contract Hawaii Gas, the state’s only regulated gas utility, has won a contract to capture and process biogas from the City and County of Honolulu’s Honouliuli wastewater treatment plant.

The City and County of Honolulu is a consolidated city–county located in the US state of Hawaii.

“This is a great example of how our administration is always looking for ways to leverage resources to benefit taxpayers, even finding a way to use a byproduct from our wastewater treatment facility and landfills,” said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell.

Caldwell said: “As the State’s gas utility, Hawaii Gas was the most qualified to partner with the City to develop this resource, which was previously unutilised. The capturing and processing of biogas is done across the nation as one of the most efficient ways to develop renewable natural gas.” l

DuPont enters biogas business with enzyme to improve gas yields DuPont Industrial Biosciences has launched Optimash AD100, an innovative new enzyme product to help biomethane producers improve biogas yields and process robustness.

Optimash AD-100 represents DuPont Industrial Biosciences’ entry into the growing biogas sector with an enzyme that has been shown to produce up to a 13% increase in biogas

yields in anaerobic digesters.

The enzyme breaks down organic matter — like food, paper, animal and farm wastes — resulting in sugars more suitable for biogasproducing micro-organisms.

The addition of the enzyme into the biomethane process improves plant profitability by reducing feedstock requirements and increasing biogas production, DuPont said.

Methane biogas is primarily used to generate electricity or is compressed and inserted into the pipeline gas grid. l

UK backs biogas The UK is producing renewable electricity from waste-based biogas in increasing amounts.

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8 • September/October 2016

Figures from the UK government’s annual Digest of UK Energy Statistics show that 40% more renewable electricity was produced from biogas from waste and farms in 2015 compared to 2014. Key figures include: • AD installed electrical capacity in waste and farming increased from 238MW in 2014 to 286MW in 2015 • Electricity generated from AD increased from 1,019GWh in 2014 to 1,429GWh in 2015 • Electrical capacity for sewage gas increased very slightly, from 215MW to 216MW • Electricity generated from sewage gas increased from 846GWh to 888GWh, and heat from 67.7ttoe to 73.1ttoe as the water industry continued to drive more efficiency from AD assets • Use of waste and farm AD for heat more than doubled from 42.9ttoe to 95.5ttoe.

The publication follows the 2016 Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) Market Report, which showed that the industry has continued to grow in early 2016, but warned that the prospects for future growth are being held back by restrictive and uncertain government policy.

ADBA CEO Charlotte Morton said: “These figures back up the stellar growth of the UK industry over the past two years.” l

Bioenergy Insight

biogas news

Wheelabrator reaches financial close on £340m EfW project Wheelabrator Technologies, a US-based energyfrom-waste (EfW) specialist, has reached financial close on a new 550,000 tpy EfW facility at Kemsley in Kent, UK. “To achieve financial close is a significant milestone and I’m very proud of our team for making this possible, and excited to welcome a second facility in the UK to our fleet,” said Wheelabrator president and CEO Robert Boucher.

Wheelabrator Kemsley is a combined heat and power facility that will generate 43MW of sustainable electricity to power UK homes and businesses. Due to the facility’s location, Wheelabrator Kemsley will also provide valuable steam heat to the adjacent Kemsley Paper Mill, owned and operated by UK-based packaging giant DS Smith.

Progress to reach financial close on this £340 million (€400m) project follows the award of an environmental permit by the Environment Agency in 2011 and planning permission by Kent County Council in March 2012.

In February 2015,

US firm expands landfill gas-to-electricity plant US-based East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) is expanding its landfill gas-toelectricity plant at Bavarian’s Landfill in Kentucky, US. The plant, which has four existing generators, is getting an additional generating unit. All of these units are fuelled by methane gas collected from within the landfill. The gas is produced when organic waste breaks down.

“Even with EKPC’s existing plant, the landfill had excess methane gas,” said Bill Kennedy, EKPC’s landfill gas manager.

“EKPC and Bavarian Landfill have had a good relationship since 2003 when the original plant began operating, so this just made sense.”

“Bavarian was the first landfill in Kentucky to collect the methane gas the landfill produces,” said Jim Brueggemann, president of Bavarian Trucking Co. “We’ve been working towards this expansion for a while and are excited that the last pieces are finally coming together.”

EKPC is expanding the plant’s building to accommodate the new electric-generating unit.

Once the expansion is completed this month, the plant will have the capacity to produce up to 4.6MW of electricity, enough to power approximately 2,500 Kentucky homes. The expansion is expected to cost approximately $2.9 million (€2.6m).

Don Mosier, chief operating officer of EKPC, said its landfill generators were proven to be a “reliable, affordable source of electricity”. l

Bioenergy Insight

Wheelabrator was successfully awarded a 15year Contract for Difference with the UK government for approximately 50% of the facility’s power output.

Fuel for the Wheelabrator Kemsley facility will come from across Kent and South East England, with 75% of the fuel supply hedged at fixed prices for terms ranging from 5 to 15 years with a number of top tier waste management companies.

In a statement, Wheelabrator said that site preparation work was underway and full construction of the facility was set to start in August.

The company expects plant

operations to begin in 2019.

The construction is expected to create hundreds of jobs in the area and more than 40 new, full-time operational roles at the facility.

“We remain focused on continuing to develop our pipeline for growth in the UK and building long-lasting relationships, including the one we have with DS Smith,” said Wheelabrator UK managing director Paul Green.

“We are committed to bringing our experience and industry expertise to Wheelabrator Kemsley to deliver the highest safety and operational performance.” l

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September/October 2016 • 9

biogas news

Weltec to develop AD plant for Colombian egg producer German bioenergy developer Weltec Biopower will shortly start building an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant for Colombia‘s largest egg producer.

The 800kW biogas plant is to go live in early 2017. In terms of the feedstock input, the operator Incubadora Santander, which produces about 3.5 million eggs a day, plans to make use of the co-digestion of dry chicken manure from the laying hens and process water from the production.

Since the Colombian government started supporting the generation of renewable energies, especially the agricultural industry has discovered its huge biomass potential, Weltec said in a statement.

So far, only little of this potential has been converted into green energy. In view of these framework conditions, the egg producer Incubadora Santander has decided to generate energy from biomass. The enterprise — which operates several poultry farms close to the western Colombian province of Cauca — markets its eggs under the “Kikes” brand in 14 cities in Colombia.

The production yields a great amount of dry chicken manure and process water, with which the biogas plant can be operated without purchasing any additional substrate. The feedstock will

be pre-treated in a sedimentation tank.

There, the manure will be separated from sand and lime and will be pumped into the 4,903m3 digester by way of an upstream storage unit with a capacity of 1,076m3. Through the co-digestion, the digestate will reach a high fertiliser value, enabling it to be returned into the plant‘s agricultural substance cycle for efficient use as liquid manure on its own fields.

In a statement, Weltec said: “The high quality requirements of South America’s agricultural and food industry were a key reason why the operator Juan Felipe Montoya Muñoz opted for Weltec technology. For the sake of hygiene and other reasons, the company prefers stainless steel, a high-quality material for the construction of the pre-storage tanks and digesters.”

The Colombian government aims to increase the share of renewable energies in its power network to 6.5% by 2020. Colombia‘s agricultural industry is producing large quantities of side products and waste that can be used for energy generation purposes, Weltec said. The country‘s energy potential for biomass is estimated at 16GWh a year.

Weltec added: “So far, these have been used almost exclusively for the production of biodiesel and ethanol, but this will doubtlessly change in the near future!” l

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Renewables form second largest source of UK electricity supply New official figures show that renewables now form the second largest source of UK electricity supply — outstripping coal for the first time.

The UK government unveiled the announcement in its updated fuel mix disclosure tables, which outline the full sources of UK electricity supply between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016.

Renewables, which includes biomass, wind and solar sources, accounted for more than a quarter of the country’s power supplies for that period, outstripping coal power.

The figures from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy showed renewables are now the second largest source of UK electricity supply for the first time — contributing 24.3%, up from 19.3% the year before.

Renewables percentage contribution to the UK’s fuel mix has trebled in five years, according to statistics from the department. l

Bioenergy Insight

wood pellet news

Enviva posts second-quarter profit, helped by strong wood pellet sales US-based wood pellet giant Enviva Partners has reported a second-quarter 2016 profit of $12 million (€10.70m), compared to $2.9 million the same period last year, helped by higher wood pellet sales.

The company unveiled its financial results for the second quarter of 2016 in early August. The news comes as the firm recently announced that it would supply a Teesside, UK, biomass plant with around one million tonnes of wood pellets per year.

The company reported that the increases in net income and adjusted EBITDA were driven primarily by higher

wood pellet sales volumes under longterm and take-or-pay contracts.

Enviva generated net revenue of $119.7 million, an increase of 9.2%, or $10 million, from the corresponding quarter of 2015. Included in net revenue was product sales of $116.2 million on volume of 620,000 tonnes of wood pellets.

Product sales increased from the corresponding quarter of last year due to higher wood pellet sales volumes as a result of shipment timing, partially offset by a higher percentage of “free on board” shipments, which exclude shipping from revenue and cost of goods sold.

“Our strong operating and financial performance through the second quarter, coupled with our increased

outlook for the remainder of 2016, put us solidly on the path toward our previously announced full-year distribution expectation of at least $2.10 per unit for 2016, excluding the impact of any potential dropdowns or other acquisitions,” said John Keppler, chairman and CEO. l

www.di-piu.com info@di-piu.com

... yet faces protests from environmentalists

Environmental protestors have parodied a song made

by US rock band Talking Heads to criticise Enviva and Drax at the North Carolinabased American Pellet Fuels Institute Conference.

According to media reports in Mountain Express, in July a spontaneous flashmob broke into song and dance, playfully criticising key conference goers Enviva and Drax for “their role in the logging and damage to precious forests across the Southern US”.

The group sang revised lyrics to the Talking Head’s “Burning Down the House”, which they titled “Burning Down the Forest”.

According to the media outlet, the goal of the event was to highlight “how some of the largest companies at the conference have been actively clearcutting forests across the Southern US to turn them into wood pellets and ship them to Europe to be burned for electricity at the expense of our forests, climate, and rural communities”.

“Our forests provide clean air, fresh

Bioenergy Insight

drinking water, a place for spiritual renewal, and habitat for wildlife,” said Rita Frost, one of the flashmobbers who took part in the event.

She added: “I hope that industrial wood pellet companies like Enviva and Drax hear our message loud and clear – our forests are not fuel!”

In response to criticism, Enviva vice president of communications Kent Jenkins told Bioenergy Insight: “US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack recently wrote that ‘the US wood pellet industry increases our forested area, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves US forest management practices.’ We agree.

“Studies have found that using wood pellets instead of coal to generate electric power reduces lifetime carbon emissions by about 80%.

“And US has more forestland today than before World War II. Secretary Vilsack, whose job is protecting US forests, has repeatedly said that wood pellet production actually promotes forest growth. It’s unfortunate that some critics choose to ignore these facts.”

Drax did not wish to comment about the event when contacted

by Bioenergy Insight. l

Low Electrical Consumption Best Density High Reliability Low Maintenance

The most cost efficient

briquetting technology

September/October 2016 • 11

wood pellet news

Canfor opens wood pellet plants in British Columbia Wood processing specialist Canfor has opened two new wood pellet plants worth C$58 million (€40.3m) in Canada’s British Columbia.

The two plants, located at Fort St. John and Chetwynd, were built at Canfor’s existing sawmills and have a combined annual production capacity of 175,000 tonnes of wood pellets, according to reports in the Prince George Citizen.

The Chetwynd plant began operations late last year, while the Fort St.John plant reached full operations earlier this year.

“[The plants] play an important role in maximising the value of our fibre with their production of sustainable wood pellets from once waste-bound sawmill residues,” Canfor CEO Don Kayne said.

Kayne said the installation of an organic rankine cycle (ORC), which functions as a power plant, has made the Chetwynd pellet plant self-sufficient in renewable heat and electricity.

The ORC converts 20% of the heat generated by the plant’s energy system into electricity, up to 21,000MWh a year or enough to power 1,470 homes.The remaining 80% of the heat is used to sawdust into pellets. l

Forest Fuels acquires Midland Wood Fuel

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

PURCHASE OF FUNCTIONING BIOGAS POWER PLANT IN SLOVENIA – VUČJA VAS (4 x 1 MW) Investment opportunity Purchase of a functioning biogas power plant, at Bučečovci near Ljutomer, including 15-year contract for subsidised sale of electricity. The biogas plant, with generating capacity of 4 X 1 MW, was built in 2011 by a company from the Keter Group.

Brief presentation The Vučja Vas biogas power plant is the second biggest biogas power plant in Slovenia. The energy facility is close to the settlement of Bučečovci in the Prekmurje region, while at the same time it is right next to farmland in neighbouring Croatia and Hungary. The biogas power plant has a rated capacity of 4 x 1 MW, which on the assumption of 100% capacity exploitation (24/7) yields an annual generating capacity of 35 million kWh of electrical power. The location of the facility offers excellent transport connections, lying right by the Maribor – Lendava motorway, which links Croatia and Austria.

Electricity generation With 100% exploitation of the biogas power plant capacity, the maximum annual electricity generation is estimated at 35 million kWh. The company has a 15-year contract for subsidised sale of electricity to the company Borzen d.o.o., which expires on 31 August 2026.

ABOUT SLOVENIA: Capital city: Surface area: Population: GDP per capita: Currency: EU membership:

Ljubljana 20,273 km2 2.07 million EUR 18,680 Euro 2004-

Growth potential The state subsidises the price of electricity generated at biogas power plants, since biogas power plants are an excellent way of reducing global warming, while also serving to recycle waste materials. The long-term contract for subsidised purchase of electricity offers immediate entry into the market. The contract is valid up to 31 August 2026. Alongside the income from the sale of electricity, there are also opportunities to exploit thermal energy and the residual end substrate, which can be processed into high-quality organic fertiliser or used as an energy product.

Purchase of biogas power plant The biogas power plant is being sold in the bankruptcy proceedings of the company Biomasne Storitve d.o.o. (case no. ST 3649/2014). A decision on the sale of the biogas power plant with pertaining equipment was posted on the Ajpes.si website. The sale will be executed on the basis of the binding collection of bids, with a reserve price of EUR 4,500,000.00 and deposit of EUR 225,000.00. Collection of bids and payment of the deposit should be concluded within two months of publication of the sale on the Ajpes website (expected until 20.10.2016).

12 • September/October 2016

CONTACT:

Bankruptcy receiver Jože Podržaj Email: valeur@t-2.net Tel: +386 41 618 300

August 2016

Midlands Wood Fuel (MWF), a wood fuel supplier to Central and Northern England and Wales, has joined forces with Forest Fuels, another UK wood fuel supplier, under the ownership of energy firm AMP. MWF is a long-standing wood fuel supplier with 14 depots covering an area that stretches from York down to Gloucester and Oxford, with more than 500 customers.

According to Forest Fuels managing director Peter Solly, the acquisition is “great news” and represents a “huge boost” for the wood fuel supply chain.

Mark Appleton, managing director at MWF, echoed Solly’s views and welcomed the news, calling the merger a “natural fit”. l

Bioenergy Insight

incident report Bioenergy A summary of the recent major explosions, fires and leaks in the bioenergy industry Date

Location

Company

Incident information

17/8/2016

Worcester, UK

N/A

Two lorries collided near Worcester, UK, causing one of the vehicles, which was carrying wood chips, to burst into flames.

An ambulance and a paramedic area support officer were sent to the scene and one of the drivers was taken to hospital with chest injuries.

The burning vehicle was reported to have been destroyed completely.

9/8/2016

Rauma, Finland

Pohjolan Voima

A fire was detected and extinguished at the Rauma biopower plant in the facility’s biomass feedstock conveyor system.

Co-owner Pohjolan Voima said nobody was hurt and damage to the facility was avoided as the fire was quickly put out by moving feedstock away from the conveyor.

The biopower plant in Rauma supplies 65MWe and 65MW of process steam for UPM’s paper mill and 50MWth for the town of Rauma.

Maine Wood Pellet Co.

A small explosion and fire occurred in a pipe at a Maine wood pellet mill, which had to be brought offline for emergency services.

The blaze, cause by a bearing failure, was brought quickly under control and caused no significant damages.

No injuries were reported and the plant came back online the following morning.

11/7/2016 Maine, US

Africa-EU Business Workshop & B2B Matchmaking

Attend the Africa-EU Business Workshop & discover unique opportunities on

bioenergy business ventures.

Date: 16th Nov. 2016 Time: 9am - 1pm (CET) Where: MCE Centre,Brussels

B2B Matchmaking

Market Access to Finance Information The event is part of European Bioenergy Future, 2016 AEBIOM Conference.

This event in collectively brought to you by:

www.conference.aebiom.org

Bioenergy Insight

September/October 2016 • 13

Bioenergy plant update

Plant update – Canada Canfor

Progressive Waste Solutions

Location

Fort St. John and Chetwynd, British Columbia Alternative fuel Wood pellets, renewable electricity Capacity Combined 175,000t/y, 21,000Mwh/y Feedstock Sawdust and sawmill residues, residual heat Construction / expansion / Wood processing specialist Canfor acquisition has opened two new wood pellet plants in British Columbia Completion date Early 2016 Investment C$58 million (€40.3m) Comment The Chetwynd plant is self-sufficient with its energy needs Comet Biorefining Location Alternative fuel Capacity Feedstock Construction / expansion / acquisition Project start date Completion date Investment Comment

Sarnia, Ontario Biomass-derived sugar 60 million lbs/y Corn stover Comet Biorefining has begun a process to build a sugar-frombiomass facility, which will use the company’s patented process Early 2016 Scheduled for 2018 C$10.8 million (€7.4m) The project is being funded by Sustainable Development Technology Canada

Gaz Métro Location Québec Alternative fuel Biomass-based natural gas Feedstock Wood chips Construction / expansion / Canadian natural gas distributor acquisition Gaz Métro has been conducting a demonstration project aimed at converting wood chips into natural gas using a new thermochemical process Designer/builder G4 Insights Project start date Early 2016 Comment The PyroCatalytic Hydrogenation process is now ready to be tested in a larger pilot project that will produce greater volumes Orgaworld Canada Location Surrey, British Columbia Alternative fuel Biogas Capacity N/A Feedstock Household and commercial waste Construction / expansion / Construction of North America’s acquisition first closed-loop fully-integrated organics waste management system is underway at the Orgaworld Surrey site Designer/builder Greenlane Biogas Project start date September 2015 Completion date Early 2017 Investment C$65 million (€43.3 million)

14 • September/October 2016

Location Blenheim, Ontario Alternative fuel Biogas Feedstock Landfill gas Construction / expansion / Progressive Waste Solutions is acquisition planning to construct a biogas plant at the Ridge Landfill in Ontario Project start date May 2016 Completion date Projected for 2022 Comment The facility was originally planned in 1993 but never materialised Simon Fraser University Location Alternative fuel Feedstock Construction / expansion / acquisition Designer/builder Project start date Completion date Investment

Burnaby, British Columbia Renewable electricity Forestry residues SFU has begun a project to build a biomass-powered electricity production facility for the university’s needs Corix Multi-Utility Services July 2016 Early 2019 C$39 million (€26.6m)

StormFisher Environmental Location London, Ontario Alternative fuel Biogas Feedstock Organic waste and oils Construction / expansion / StormFisher has acquired an acquisition anaerobic digester called London Energy Garden from Harvest Ontario Partners Designer/builder Harvest Ontario Partners Completion date January 2016 Viridis Energy Location Alternative fuel Feedstock Construction / expansion / acquisition Project start date Comment

West Kelowna, British Columbia Wood pellets Forestry residues Viridis Energy has ceased operations at its Okanagan Pellet Co. plant due to structural and financial issues, despite recent extensive upgrades April 2016 Viridis has since put itself up for sale due to failure to meet lenders’ deadlines

*This list is based on information made available to Bioenergy Insight at the time of printing. If you would like to update the list with additional plants for future issues, email liz@woodcotemedia.com

Bioenergy Insight

sustainability Bioenergy Canada has huge potential to mobilise its sustainable forest biomass for bioenergy

Sustainable solutions

T

he Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reviewed global energy scenarios in the context of CO2 stabilisation, and reported that by 2050, bioenergy (in replacement of fossil fuels) should provide 80150 Exajoules (EJ) per year to keep CO2eq concentration at about 440–600ppm, and from 118 to 190EJ for less than 440ppm CO2eq concentration.

The technical global potential of forest biomass alone could reach 100EJ. Thus, forest bioenergy feedstocks are set to play a significant role in modern bioenergy production for climate change mitigation.

To indicate magnitudes, 100EJ roughly corresponds to 7.3 X 109m3 of wood (more than double the current amount of wood harvesting in the world).

When looking at forest biomass potentials for bioenergy around the globe, it is obvious that the targets mentioned would need important mobilisation from forest-rich regions, such as Canadian forests.

Forest ecosystem Indeed, the potential for increased mobilisation of forest biomass is very large in Canada, for two main reasons: • Each m3 of merchantable roundwood produced generates residues during forest management operations (primary residues) and wood processing (secondary residues). In European countries such as Sweden and Germany, a larger proportion of these residues is recovered for bioenergy production (59% and 83%, respectively),

Bioenergy Insight

relative to Canada (39%).

• The Canadian forestry sector appropriates a smaller share of its forest ecosystem net primary productivity (the net amount of organic material that is created in forests) for roundwood production than other countries (below 3% compared with e.g. above 10% for most European countries); this is due in part to the vast (and sparsely inhabited) extent of our forest landscapes, and to the low intensity of our forest management activities.

and has gone through many economic and innovation cycles; it could reasonably be expected to step to the fore in the face of an increased global demand for forest bioenergy. Speaking of innovation, the country has a buoyant research sector looking at ways to create value from forestry residue streams, for example by developing pre-treatment methods for hog fuel (an unprocessed residue mix of coarse wood chips and bark, the very bottom of the forest value chain) and turning it into a high-quality

The potential for increased mobilisation of forest biomass is very large in Canada Therefore, in Canada, there is both a large space for intensification of biomass recovery from silvicultural, harvesting and wood processing operations, in which bioenergy would appropriate a larger share of forestry residues, and for intensification of forest harvesting activities, in which the forestry sector (including bioenergy) would appropriate a larger share of forest net ecosystem productivity.

Does the fact that Canada has this opportunity or responsibility for forest biomass mobilisation signify good news for the country, or impossibly optimistic news, or scary, ‘ecological catastrophe/ Biomess-in-waiting’ news?

Canada has several assets.

Its forestry sector is mature, well-developed, tightly woven into the social fabric of its regions, is exporting its products around the world,

feedstock for innovative conversion processes.

This would contribute to the first of the two suggested processes for increasing mobilisation, i.e., intensifying recovery from forestry residue streams for bioenergy.

Improving logistics, increasing quality management of biomass, and developing organisation structures supporting stakeholders along the supply chain will contribute to increase efficiency of practices and extract more energy (and value) from current levels of harvested wood.

Strong environmental governance However, more substantial gains in mobilisation (to the size required for climate change mitigation) can only be achieved with a larger appropriation of forest net primary productivity. This is where sustainability challenges

are more likely to arise: this would require, for example, a drastic intensification of Canadian practices and an opening of yet unmanaged forest areas. Strong environmental governance schemes would be needed to rein in this development and prevent negative environmental impacts. Luckily, the Canadian forestry sector has already got a very good record in terms of third-party certification of sustainable forest management, with the largest area of certified forests in the world.

With forest certification systems (and provincial forest management regulations) actively adapting their environmental criteria to the reality of forest biomass procurement, and scientists across the country feeding them state-of-the-art knowledge on sustainable practices, we can be reasonably confident that this will provide safeguards against over-exploitation of Canadian forests.

Nevertheless, the first step in such a momentous shift towards mobilisation of forest biomass would be the development of a shared vision among countries of the world about the future global forestry and energy systems in which forests would provide both conventional forest products, biomaterials and bioenergy that can actively contribute to addressing the challenge of global climate change. l

For more information:

This article was written by Evelyne Thiffault, assistant professor at the Department of wood and forest sciences at Laval University, Quebec.

Visit: www2.ulaval.ca/en.html

September/October 2016 • 15

Bioenergy regional focus

The Canadian biogas market remains relatively untouched despite its great potential

Canada’s biogas mission

B

iogas is a small but growing industry in Canada. The production of Canadian biogas from all major sources — agricultural organics (excluding energy crops), landfill gas, residential and commercial source separated organics, and municipal wastewater — is equivalent to 3% of Canada’s natural gas demand or 2,420 million m3 per year of renewable natural gas.

This represents up to 810MW of electricity and 1.3% of Canada’s electricity demand.

More than 100 anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities are located across Canada with more than 30% of these

projects based in Ontario.

Biogas technologies can develop in a small footprint, and they are compatible with existing operations.

Biogas offers economic and social stimulus to Canadians

of youth, and job creation.

Realising the full potential of biogas development can lead to 1,800 separate construction projects with a capital investment of C$7 billion (€4.8bn) and economic

More than 100 anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities are located across Canada with more than 30% of these projects based in Ontario and plays important roles in local communities, including investment in innovation, advancement in clean technologies, engagement

16 • September/October 2016

spin-off of C$21 billion to the Canadian economy, close to 17,000 construction jobs for a period of one year and 2,650 on-going long-term

operational jobs, and 100 new and expanded Canadian companies, including biogas system designers and developers, equipment suppliers, and laboratories.

Market drivers The Canadian biogas market is being driven primarily by renewable energy, climate change, and waste management policies impacting agricultural, municipal, and resource recovery sectors. Various incentives and mechanisms are operating in different regions, such as the Feedin Tariff in Ontario, the voluntary Renewable Natural Gas program in British

Bioenergy Insight

regional focus Bioenergy Columbia, the Community Feed-in Tariff in Nova Scotia, and renewable energy policies and capital grants in Quebec.

Waste management policies are also important, driving municipalities to consider AD as an alternative option for organic waste processing. Examples of such policies include landfill bans, which exist in Nova Scotia and in cities including Vancouver and Edmonton.

Quebec is targeting a ban on organic materials by 2022, and Ontario is engaging in similar discussions.

Another critical policy driver is climate change.

Canada’s federal government is shaping a Pan-Canadian framework for clean growth and climate change, looking to each province and territory to do their part. Many provinces have established or are pursuing ways to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the country.

British Columbia has a carbon tax, low carbon fuel standard, and Clean Energy policy. Alberta has a carbon emissions trading system and Climate Leadership Plan. Ontario and Quebec are partners of the Western Climate Initiative with California, which involves cap and trade and complementary policies to further reduce GHG emissions. Ontario approved its Climate Change and Low Carbon Economy Act and will be investing up to C$100 million in cap and trade proceeds over four years to support the introduction of renewable natural gas.

The Ontario government will be encouraging gas users to purchase renewable natural gas by implementing requirements for renewable content in natural gas and transportation fuels. At the municipal level, many cities have pledged to become carbon neutral.

Benefits of biogas Biogas generation reduces

Bioenergy Insight

the carbon intensity of fossil fuels. Carbon intensity depends on the mix of energy supply such as nuclear, coal, natural gas, and hydro-electricity. The carbon intensity of Canada’s energy mix has decreased by almost 15% since 1990, with a significant reduction in Ontario due the phase-out of coal-fired electricity.

Canada has set a national target to reduce GHG emissions by 300Mt CO2e by 2030. An increase in biogas generation would reduce the carbon intensity of Canada’s energy mix even further, up to potentially 37.5Mt CO2e per year. Biogas systems located on rural electricity distribution systems utilising synchronous generators have demonstrated positive impacts in that they provide stable voltage support in areas of voltage lag, thus improving power quality. Other benefits of biogas-generated electricity include controlled power factor, reduced line

gas infrastructure, offering reliability and flexibility.

Moreover, there are no special upgrades to furnaces, water heaters, and other equipment needed to use RNG. The Canadian Biogas Association (CBA) and the Canadian Gas Association, representing the natural gas utilities, have come together to set a goal of 10% of the natural gas supply coming from renewable sources by 2030. Attaining these investments will require sizeable investments in landfills, sewage treatment plants, and organic waste recycling facilities, as well as supportive policies and programmes.

Industry challenges With respect to challenges, Canada lacks a cohesive national energy or environment strategy and is a country that is geographically vast and resource-rich.

Although biogas is a proven

The Ontario government will be encouraging gas users to purchase renewable natural gas

losses, increasing service stability of electrical supply to local homes and businesses, and rural grid support through voltage regulation.

Biogas can also be upgraded to renewable natural gas (RNG), which is carbon neutral and easily interchangeable with conventional natural gas. RNG can be produced, cleaned, and injected into the natural gas distribution system at competitive costs compared to other renewable energy options.

RNG does not face the same issues of intermittency as other renewable energy sources and it can be easily stored in existing

technology that offers tremendous social, economic, and environmental benefit, it is relatively unknown.

In addition to barriers such as access to finance, feedstock availability, and contamination, there are also challenges associated with connection to either the electrical or natural gas grids, as well as securing power purchase agreements.

Financially, the low price of natural gas presents a challenge to produce RNG, and in some regions the rates for sale of electricity from biogas facilities are at not at a level that makes biogas projects economically

viable. Larger municipal biogas projects contend with existing, fixed longterm arrangements with other technologies to process source-separated organics. In the case of wastewater treatment plants, costly modifications are necessary to accommodate biogas production since wastewater treatment plants were not originally built to generate energy.

Although the Canadian biogas industry faces a number of challenges, it is benefiting from the fact that there is currently momentum at the federal level to tackle climate change and provincial leaders who are implementing energy policies in a constructive manner. As part of the ongoing dialogue with both levels of government, the CBA and other stakeholders are advocating for favourable RNG policies.

Provincial governments are also being encouraged to divert organic materials from landfill a priority to help reduce the carbon footprint of the waste and agricultural sectors, and to maximise the energy and nutrient value of these materials.

In addition, municipalities, consumers, and businesses are under pressure to increase diversion to help meet corporate sustainability goals and climate change targets.

Going forward, provincial and federal governments will need to continue to formulate effective policies to meet these ambitious and important goals. l

For more information:

This article was written by Jennifer Green, executive director at the Canadian Biogas Association.

Visit: www.biogasassociation.ca

September/October 2016 • 17

Bioenergy company profile The biomass market is continuing to evolve in Canada and a non-profit organisation is helping it to grow further

From forest floor to green power

T

he use of forest biomass has increased significantly in recent years, supporting the growing bioeconomy across Canada. Traditional forest products companies have invested in increased use of biomass for steam and energy generation, the pellet sector has grown significantly, and some independent power producers use biomass as their feedstock.

FPInnovations has helped drive this trend through long-standing research on technologies, equipment, and harvesting systems. A key objective has been to improve the efficiency and bring down the cost of recovering biomass in the form of residual fibre that would otherwise be left behind in the forest or burned. This has been an especially high priority in British Columbia, where there is strong motivation to tap into additional sources of fibre as the large supplies from mountain pine beetleimpacted areas decrease.

Over the past year, FPInnovations was part of a group — consisting of the primary and secondary forest industry and other stakeholders — that aimed to increase access to residual fibre. The company helped facilitate recommendations to the British Columbia government that resulted in a new provincial Fibre Action Plan released in September 2015. Key among

Residual forest biomass is now being recognised as a products, not waste

the identified actions is establishment of protocols and guidelines to ensure efficient removal and utilisation of residual fibre.

Operational guidelines that FPInnovations has developed will be supplemented later this year with more detailed documentation to provide practical direction on integrated harvesting systems.

Gordon Murray, executive director of the Wood Pellet Association of Canada, says FPInnovations’ involvement was helpful in facilitating the discussions that led to these guidelines.

“They brought a lot of expertise and credibility, and were all about getting to a solution,” Murray

18 • September/October 2016

says. Cooperation between forest licence holders and residuals users has improved, he adds, resulting in more certainty for his members on the “paramount issue” of fibre supply.

Integrated harvesting systems involve planning the harvesting process to ensure residual fibre remains clean and dry, and is stacked in such a way that it can be efficiently collected on a subsequent pass, after which the residuals are commonly chipped on-site using mobile equipment.

Good communication between primary harvesters and secondary users helps maximise recovery efficiency and keep costs down.

FPInnovations is also working with industry to find ways of bringing more fibre out of the forest to manufacturing facilities, such as leaving the tops on stems when this can feasibly be done. The end result of all this will be better and more cost-effective fibre access for the varied operations that now rely on residuals.

Additional benefits will include increased economic value generation from the same harvested area, fossil fuel displacement, and improved local air quality as slash burning is reduced.

Getting the most from biomass In addition to working with

Bioenergy Insight

company profile Bioenergy

Sortyard debris as feedstock

stakeholders to help get more biomass out of the forest, FPInnovations also works with client companies to help them capture the full energy potential of biomass once it is in the mills. The Process Engineering Group typically performs several projects each year to improve the efficiency and environmental performance of biomass boilers. The power produced in these complex combustion units is used at mills, reducing their fuel costs, and sometimes sold to provincial electricity utilities. Since biomass is a carbon-neutral energy source, the power generated can often be sold at a premium.

But the use of biomass is a precise exercise, and companies are often challenged to achieve designed boiler firing rates and targeted energy production levels, while remaining within permitted limits for particulates and other emissions.

FPInnovations has benchmark operational data, specialised instrumentation and equipment, and experience and expertise that can be deployed to identify key constraints such as fuel and air distribution in boilers.

Resulting operational improvements are verified and typically substantial.

One recent project involved challenges with a recovery

Bioenergy Insight

boiler, in which power is produced using biomass byproducts from the pulping process. The newly installed boiler was not firing at the designed rate and consistently required supplemental use of natural gas.

Analysis and mill trials conducted by FPInnovations brought the root causes to light and improved the firing rate for the boiler by more than 30%. The resulting reduction in natural gas use at this mill is estimated to represent an annual benefit of close to $3 million (€2.6m).

Knowledge is key The idea of a major biorefinery in Nova Scotia is part of an

ambitious vision for the future of the province and its natural resource sector. FPInnovations, along with consulting firm BioApplied, is playing an important role in testing the viability of this prospect, as participants in the Nova Scotia Innovation Hub Initiative .The hub is a partnership between the federal & provincial governments, and players in the energy and forestry sectors working together to turn residual wood into biofuel and other green products.

Key stakeholders involved in the initiative are the provincial government, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Innovacorp.

These organisations bring a diversity of expertise and knowledge, yet they are united by a common goal of helping build a biorefining industry in Nova Scotia.

Year 1 programme activity kicked off last July, focusing on answering the foundational question of what the value proposition for such a facility should be.

It was important to carefully consider this question in order to chart a successful path forward for biorefining in Nova Scotia. Numerous studies and other activities are being pursued to arrive at a well-supported answer, with FPInnovations leading several of the major research

projects. They include: • An assessment of feedstock availability, both from forests and other sources • Opportunities to improve capacity and output from the forestry supply chain • Opportunities to transport raw materials more efficiently • Opportunities for biofuel products to displace fossil fuels • Scenario-based modelling to determine fibre availability and best opportunities to optimise benefits along the forest value chain.

Depending on the findings coming out of the value proposition process — and early indications are promising — Year 2 programme activities will involve more concrete efforts to develop a biorefinery business case and to begin to communicate it to potential investors. The ideal outcome would be the construction of a biorefinery in Nova Scotia within the next few years. Such a facility would provide an important part of the foundation for a healthy, sustainable and prosperous provincial natural resource sector. l For more information:

This article was written by Jennifer Ellson, senior communications specialist at FPInnovations.

Visit: www.fpinnovations.ca

Canada is the world leader in the large scale production of forest biomass

September/October 2016 • 19

Bioenergy quality analysis Bioenergy companies can minimise the risks of spontaneous heating and spontaneous combustion through effective temperature measurement

It’s getting hot in here

B

iomass is increasingly being used as a fuel for power generation because it is sustainable and has the potential to be carbon-neutral in the medium term. In some cases, biomass is co-fired with coal, but a number of electricity generating units have been converted to run on 100% biomass.

Although they have many desirable characteristics, biomass fuels — such as wood chips and pellets — have a number of properties that make them difficult and potentially dangerous to store and transport.

The most serious of these is their susceptibility to spontaneous heating and to spontaneous combustion.

Fortunately, a number of techniques are available, which can detect the early stages of spontaneous combustion, allowing the problem to be detected in time to take preventative action and avoid a potentially damaging and costly fire. The best technique depends on the measurement location and the most appropriate choice is the one that best balances the advantages and drawbacks of each technique.

Fuel choice Hog fuel (coarsely shredded wood waste) can be used for power generation, but it has a number of drawbacks. It has a high moisture content that increases transport costs and also reduces the amount of heat available to produce steam and hence generate electricity. This is because the moisture must be evaporated

Combustion is a very real risk in bioenergy plants

in the boiler and the latent heat of vaporisation is lost when the water vapour exits through the stack.

Hog fuel also has variable size distribution, and often contains foreign material, such as soil, rocks, grit, and even metal. Because of this, it is best burned on a moving grate combustor rather than a pulverised fuel boiler.

Wood pellets are generally preferred for large-scale electricity generation. They have a low, predictable moisture content and a high energy density, which reduces transport costs. They are generally free of contaminants and have predictable mechanical properties, so they can be ground in a pulveriser, which allows

20 • September/October 2016

co-firing with coal or even direct substitution for coal. In most ways, they are easier to handle than hog fuel, though they do tend to disintegrate if they receive rough handling.

Torrefied wood pellets are made from wood chips that have been roasted at a temperature of around 300°C in an oxygen-deficient atmosphere. This process removes moisture and volatile organic compounds and allows the production of pellets with low moisture content and an energy density close to that of coal. The torrefaction process loses around 15% of the heat content of the raw wood, but it produces a material that is sometimes referred to as “biocoal”. It is less expensive to transport

than either hog fuel or conventional pellets, and it requires fewer modifications to a coal-burning plant’s fuel handling system.

Heating mechanisms There are two principal mechanisms that lead to spontaneous heating in woody biomass — oxidation and biological action. Biological agents include both bacteria and fungi and their actions are generally the first stage in spontaneous heating Aside from the hazards associated with spontaneous combustion, spontaneous heating consumes the fuel and reduces the amount available for use in the boiler. Some reports indicate that as much

Bioenergy Insight

quality analysis Bioenergy as 1% of the fuel in an open storage pile can be consumed every month through bacterial action alone.

A number of factors determine the rate of heating.

High moisture content encourages both fungal and bacterial activity. Bark and leaves provide nutrients for fungi and bacteria. Solar heating at the surface of a storage pile can encourage bacterial action. All of these factors are more likely to be present in hog fuel stored in the open than in pellets stored in an enclosed silo.

Bacterial and fungal action give rise to carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). The amount of gas produced is an indication of the extent of the spontaneous heating. The early stages of combustion produce a large amount of carbon monoxide (CO), so the presence of this gas is an indication that spontaneous combustion is taking place.

Once the temperature is high enough, oxidation becomes the principal heating mechanism. Poor air circulation in the middle of the pile allows heat to build up, which can lead to a runaway effect as the higher temperature increases the rate of oxidation. A fire can begin to smoulder slowly in the middle of the pile, gradually working its way to the surface, where it will burst into flames when exposed to a plentiful supply of oxygen from the air.

Spontaneous heating and spontaneous combustion have tell-tale signs. The most obvious of these is an increase in temperature. It may take a long time for a temperature increase to become apparent if the reaction is taking place deep inside a storage pile, but elevated temperatures are much more apparent when the material is loaded onto a conveyor.

for detecting the presence of spontaneous heating or spontaneous combustion depends on the location.

Gas detection: CO Carbon monoxide (CO) detection gives a fast and unambiguous indication that spontaneous combustion is taking place. The concentration of CO in ambient air is very low, and a lot of this gas is produced as spontaneous combustion begins, so a rapid increase in CO concentration is a sure sign that action is needed.

Most CO monitors used in biomass applications use electrochemical sensors.

These are compact, specific, and very sensitive, with typical detection limits in the region of 2 parts per million. These sensors do have drawbacks, however.

The most serious is that they give zero output when they fail, so a faulty sensor is indistinguishable from a safe condition. It is important with a CO monitoring system to perform regular calibration

verification to ensure that the sensor is functioning correctly.

A weekly verification is generally adequate.

Although this can be done manually, an automatic check ensures that the check is done consistently, and it removes the possibility that it can be neglected because plant personnel have other priorities. Continuous exposure to the target gas leads to a reduction in the sensor response, so some systems use a pair of sensors that are alternately exposed to the sample and to ambient air, allowing continuous measurement without degradation of accuracy.

Because it measures the gas concentration, CO monitoring is only effective in enclosed spaces, such as silos and pulverisers. It cannot be used in open storage areas because wind and other air movements will disperse the gas before the concentration becomes high enough to measure.

Both in situ and extractive systems are available.

Although in situ systems are the simplest and least

expensive, calibration verification is more difficult than for an extractive system, which allows calibration gas to be injected at the sample probe. The high concentration of dust in the headspace of a silo or in a pulveriser, especially, means that plugging of the sample port can cause problems.

Regular inspection and cleaning of in situ probes is essential. For extractive systems, a blowback system employing compressed air can be employed to clean the sample probe automatically, and a flow sensor in the analyser can provide an indication that manual cleaning may be needed.

Measurement of CO in pulverisers is especially important. Along with the risk that burning material could be introduced, the mill performs a great deal of mechanical work in crushing the fuel that, in itself, can lead to a fire or explosion. The explosion risk is small when the mill is in operation because the particle concentration is above the upper explosive limit, but

Detection options The most effective method

Bioenergy Insight

Hog fuel can be used for power generation, but it has many drawbacks, Ametex says

September/October 2016 • 21

Bioenergy quality analysis whenever the mill is started or stopped the concentration inevitably passes through the explosive range and, if burning material is present in the mill at this stage, an explosion is extremely likely.

Thermal imaging

IR line scanning

Gas measurement

Outdoor storage

****

*

*

Indoor storage

****

*

**

Conveyor

**

**** **

Gas detection: CO2 or CH4 The presence of carbon dioxide and methane is an indication that biological action is taking place, and the concentration of these gases can be used to indicate the extent of such heating. As with CO measurements, these gases can only be measured effectively in enclosed spaces.

Most sensors commonly use infrared absorption to detect CO2 and CH4. Compact IR sensors are less sensitive than electrochemical cells, but detection limits of a few hundred parts per million are adequate to show whether spontaneous heating is taking place. These measurements are most effective when combined with a CO sensor, since they can be used to show when spontaneous heating becomes spontaneous combustion. An extractive analyser measuring CO, CO2 and CH4 allows a common sample system and control electronics to be used for all three gas sensors.

Silo

*** * ****

Temperature measurement The actions of bacteria and fungi cause an increase in the temperature of a storage pile, whether open or enclosed.

It is generally impractical to detect this temperature rise by direct measurements with thermometers or thermocouples because the material is regularly moved to the combustor and because of the size of the piles. Although these instruments only look at the surface of the stored material, the measurement of the infrared radiation emitted by the pile does provide an indication of its temperature and, therefore, of the heat being generated inside the storage pile.

The simplest method for

Pulveriser * * **** Table 1: Selection choices for detection of spontaneous heating and spontaneous combustion

scanning a storage pile is by using a hand-held thermal imager. Such devices are relatively inexpensive, but the intermittent measurement means that spontaneous heating can go undetected.

A fixed imaging system is preferable, since this allows images to be stored and compared over time. Image processing software further allows the temperature to be measured over different zones of the storage pile, and it also can exclude short-term fluctuations, such as a vehicle passing through the field of view.

this method cannot measure the temperature of hot material deep within the silo, the hot gases produced by spontaneous heating carry heat to the top of the pile, and so a thermal imager can detect an abnormal temperature profile.

Once spontaneous heating or spontaneous combustion has been detected, appropriate remedial action must be taken. The best course of action depends on the location and severity of the problem. For example, a storage vessel can be inerted with nitrogen or steam.

Spontaneous heating and spontaneous combustion pose risks at all sites that handle and process woody biomass A highly effective temperature measurement can be made on a conveyor using a line-scanning infrared pyrometer that uses a single detector with a highspeed scanning mirror to make up to 1,000 discrete temperature measurements across the width of the conveyor. The movement of the conveyor allows the scanner software to build up a two-dimensional image of the material on the belt and show any hot spots associated with burning material.

Thermal imaging can also be used inside a silo to measure the surface temperature of the stored biomass. Although

22 • September/October 2016

Burning material can be diverted from a conveyor so that it does no more harm.

In some cases, the best action can be to burn the fuel in the boiler in order to empty a storage vessel.

Practical experience Ametek Land has used a variety of measurement methods to detect spontaneous heating and spontaneous combustion in fuel handling and storage systems used for woody biomass, as well as for traditional fuels such as coal. Silowatch extractive CO monitors were installed

in pellet silos at one of the largest biomass electricity generating facilities in the UK. ARC thermal imagers have been used inside storage domes and silos in the UK and in the Middle East. The Land HotSpotIR line scanning pyrometers have become the industry standard on a variety of conveyors from wood pellets to pet coke. In all cases, the analysers which all have variants approved for use in hazardous area locations have provided valuable information to the plant operator and have assisted in maintaining high levels of reliability and safety at the site, allowing the plants to provide evidence of automated detection systems that have aided conversations regarding insurance risk on the plants.

Spontaneous heating and spontaneous combustion pose risks at all sites that handle and process woody biomass. An appropriate choice of detection methods can significantly improve site safety. Gas measurements are most effective in enclosed spaces, while temperature measurements are the best choice for outdoor locations. l

For more information:

This article was written by Derek Stuart and Richard Gagg, global product managers at Ametek Land. Visit: www.landinst.com

Bioenergy Insight

profile Bioenergy The days of needing to stoke a fireplace or a barbecue may be over, thanks to a new take an old invention

Conifer fire starter

W

By Liz Gyekye

hen Swede Robert Kraft took time out of his pharmaceutical career, he did not think he would stumble across a lightbulb moment. It all started in Härnösand in northern Sweden when Kraft was in the middle of his three-year paternity leave and wanted to find some outdoor activities to do with his children. He read a “tip of the week” in a women’s magazine, which recommended to bring back pine cones from outdoor trips to the forest and turn them into fire starters by dipping them in melted candle wax (stearic acid).

The pine cones did not make great fire starters when Kraft first tried to carry out the housewife’s tip. He needed a more powerful solution, and so he went to the lab.

Finally he discovered the perfect recipe for treating the pine cones and to turn them into effective kindling.

“I was so excited because I was based near a forest which had a lot of pine cones and I also knew the owner of a candle factory,” he explains.

Waste not, want not Kraft has called his innovation Kotten — the Swedish word for pine cone. Although he did not give away the secret process, he says the wax that coats the pine cones is made from environmentallycertified candles, which have been rejected from the candle-making process. The wax is malformed because it has different colours

Bioenergy Insight

Kotten, a pine cone fire starter, is being targeted at the consumer market, especially the Christmas gift sector. Nine pine cones fill one box.

contained within it and candle manufacturers cannot melt and reuse this wax.

Therefore, instead of going to landfill, it is now diverted for use in Kraft’s pine cones.

Around 55-70% of Sweden’s land is covered by forest and pine cones have been plentiful in the country since times immemorial. Kraft realised he would not have to pick the cones himself since the forest industry already picks millions of pine cones every year in order to get seeds for the plantation of new trees.

Once the seeds were taken out, the pine cones were used for domestic heating. Now, the pine cones can be used as another source of energy.

Conifer cone Pine cones are harvested during late summer and autumn in specific forests and marked from where and when they were picked. The large bags are sent to Härnösand, the northern city where the idea was born, where they are left to ripen. In October, the process of getting the

seeds out of the pine cone starts with them being sold to companies growing plants.

“In Sweden, there are traditional fire starters on the market,” Kraft explains. “They are typically bricks made out of sawdust and paraffin.

They are not very friendly to nature and not beautiful.

If you have a fireplace at home, you will need a place to store your stoker to move your logs. However, with this new invention you just need one Kotten.”

Kotten has been analysed by a scientist specialising in forestry products, Kraft says. “The scientist was impressed by how well the wax penetrated the pores of the pine cone and basically impregnated it. That’s one of the reasons why it burns so hot and starts a fire within 5-6 minutes or starts a fire on a BBQ charcoal within about 15 minutes.”

In a country where bioenergy is embedded in its economy, Kotten is sure to be a hit. In fact, Sweden is the world’s largest producer of biomass-derived heat,

according to the World Bioenergy Association.

Bioenergy is the main reason why Sweden managed to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 9% between 1990 and 2010, while GNP increased by 50%, according to Sweden’s bioenergy association Svebio. Bioenergy use more than doubled during the period.

The primary reason for the tremendous growth of the bioenergy sector in Sweden is broad political support and the use of strong general incentives like the Swedish carbon dioxide tax (introduced in 1991), the green electricity certificates (introduced in 2003), and tax exemption for biofuels for transport, as well as direct investment support.

The bioenergy success story also rests on the long-standing Swedish tradition of using the natural resources from its forests, whilst simultaneously protecting and developing these resources. The total stock of wood and stored carbon in Swedish forests has increased year by year, despite the rapidly increasing use of biomass for energy.

In such a bioenergy-based country, Kraft hopes that Kotten will prove to be a success. He is targeting the product at the consumer market. The brand has already been sold to resellers in Sweden, Finland, Germany, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland. Already it looks like Kotten is setting the world alight. l For more information:

Visit: www.braskotten.se/press/robert

September/October 2016 • 23

Bioenergy feedstock xxxx preparation

Bandit Model 3590 whole tree wood chipper

Being prepared to provide wood chips in varying sizes opens new opportunities for feedstock providers

Size matters

F

uel wood markets across the globe are expanding. According to forestry analysts RISI, demand for biomass will likely triple by 2017, with Europe leading the way as a major consumer.

Large-scale biomass power plants continue to go online around the world, but smaller scale biomass applications are also growing in popularity.

Whether large or small, central to these facilities is high-quality feedstock, and that starts off as wood waiting to be converted into chips. Some facilities use chips directly, some co-fire with coal, and others use high-energy wood pellets.

The commonality among these end-users is size. It is not a specific size that is important, but rather the need for biomass feedstock producers to accommodate a range of consistent sizes.

Pellet production generally favours microchips in the 6mm-7mm range. Other boilers work best with conventional chips in the 19mm-20mm range. Still other applications prefer large chips approaching 40mm.

To get the best of all worlds for these ever-expanding

markets, machines that can be configured to produce a range of consistent chip sizes are sought out. Chip quality is of utmost importance, but overall production and machine efficiency certainly factors in to profit margins for feedstock producers.

Pining for a bandit In the Southeast US where there is an abundance of raw material, companies are striving to produce the feedstock needed

for as many biomass applications as possible.

“We’ve been here a little better than a week,” says Jimbo Nathe of R. J. Nathe & Sons out of Dade City, Florida, referring to a tract his team was working on in the central part of the state. “The first phase was salvage on some pine where it had a beetle infestation.

We cut the salvage area, took everything we could to a round wood market and chipped the residual. And the rest of the operation

is going to be chipping of unwanted hardwoods, trying to restore the area to more of an open pine stand, more like Florida used to be.”

Jimbo Nathe is actually one of the sons in the business.

Robert Nathe Sr. started the company with a cousin back in 1957. When his cousin retired, Robert decided he still had work to do, so he kept right at it, forming R.J. Nathe & Sons in 1994. At age 77, Robert Sr. still sweats in the Florida sun every day with the family.

The company took delivery

Bandit’s 3590 model has a 76mm chipping capacity

24 • September/October 2016

Bioenergy Insight

feedstock preparation Bioenergy

The Bandit chipper has a 765hp diesel engine to handle the large hardwood trees and limby pines in Central Florida

of a Bandit Model 3590 whole tree wood chipper in April 2013 to supply a range of biomass markets that were opening up in the area. The Model 3590 has a 76mm chipping capacity, and it runs a 765hp diesel engine to handle the large hardwood trees and limby pines in Central Florida. In lieu of the standard 3590 chipping drum, R.J. Nathe & Sons ordered Bandit’s microchip drum capable of producing 7mm chips. The drum features double the knife pockets compared to the standard drum, but those extra pockets can be easily blocked off to produce larger 20mm chips that meet the European G-50 specification.

The chipper can also be configured to make chips that meet the G-100 standard.

“Right now our main market is a local cement plant, where we started out needing the small chip for their old coal boiler,” explains Nathe. “The other market we’re dealing with is a local power plant. They don’t necessarily need as small a chip as what we’re producing, but the chipper is versatile enough to where the chips still meet their specs. Being

Bioenergy Insight

able to feed two markets is the reason we went with the 3590, and this machine with 16 knives is capable of going back to an eight-knife system to produce bigger chips for other markets.”

Throw in the chips According to Bandit representatives, the design of the drum housing and discharge chute on the chipper promotes

improved airflow through the system. The chips coming off the drum strike a series of metal fingers in the discharge called “card breakers” that serve as a type of screening system. They strike the fingers with enough velocity to further break down the chips, creating a product that is properly sized and consistent. Chips are then carried through the discharge into a chip trailer.

Nathe says he was

concerned about chip throwing power with the microchip setup, but throwing power has not been a problem. He is able to fully load trailers with microchips in about 15 to 20 minutes without using any auxiliary chip throwers.

“We were primarily a swamp logging crew for the majority of our existence,” says Nathe. “We looked into chipping for several years and we finally decided to make the move and get a chipper. As time went on we realised we needed a bigger chipper, and that’s when we decided to move up to the Bandit 3590.”

As biomass markets continue to grow around the world, flexibility in feedstock sizing will be key for producers to reach as many markets as possible.

Local markets can have completely different size requirements from pellet manufacturers or large-scale power plants. Regardless of the market, one thing is clear.

Size and consistency matter.

For more information:

This article was written by Paula Balhorn, advertising and project coordinator at Bandit Industries.

Visit: www.banditchippers.com

Microchips produced from a Bandit chipper

September/October 2016 • 25

Bioenergy torrefaction A flexible biomass torrefaction plant has recently been unveiled in Canada

Rich rewards

A

irex Energy is a supplier of a torrefaction technology called the CarbonFX. This unique yet simple torrefaction process moved from being a proof of concept in 2010 to an industrial-scale technology in 2015. To prove to the market that this technology was ready for commercialisation, a fully integrated facility was built in the city of Becancour, Quebec, halfway between Montreal and Quebec City.

Becancour is located in a region rich with history in the wood industry. It is across the St. Lawrence River, south of Trois-Rivières. Still a major centre for pulp and paper production, this region has suffered from a constant decline of its core business.

Airex Energy is finding a second life for this fibre-rich region with the transformation of the fibre into innovative products.

With this plant, Airex will be able to produce traditional wood pellets, biocoal pellets, and biochar and torrefied wood flour. The raw materials readily available in the region are soft/hard wood fibre and recycled wood (construction and demolition waste). Several tonnes of each product have already been produced and shipped to customers.

The plant is divided into five production steps: reception and storage of raw biomass, sizing and pre-drying of the biomass, torrefaction, densification and packaging/ shipping. Because of harsh winter conditions in this region of the world, care has been taken to protect the equipment and the biomass against freezing.

Safety was also a big concern when designing the facility, nothing was spared.

Airex Energy is a supplier of a torrefaction technology called the CarbonFX

Airex installed explosion vents, deluge systems, spark detection/suppression systems, magnets, heat detection and a dust-free environment provided by two dust collectors with enclosed storage areas and conveyors.

Visitors have commented on the quality of its installation, the creativity in the choice of equipment and the flexibility of the facility. Efficiency of the production line is achieved with the use of buffer zones (silos and holding bins) at critical locations, which enable the continuation of production when a process is

26 • September/October 2016

down. The use of automation enables smooth and safe operations of each step of the processing line.

Moisture content Energy recovery was a must in order to be competitive in the market place. In that regard, waste heat from the torrefaction process is routed to the pre-drying process.

Instead of using traditional belt dryers or drum dryers, experiments were made during the conception phase of the plant to give a second usage of the CarbonFX cyclonic

reactors. The company found that the technology could be used in the pre-drying of the biomass very efficiently by removing as much as 50% of the original moisture content of the raw biomass without adding to the floor space of the facility.

The torrefaction process is at the heart of the facility.

This unique technology can be used as a very powerful dryer when producing white pellets or at higher temperatures it can be used to produce very high-quality biocoal pellets or biochar.

The CarbonFX technology uses cyclonic reactors to achieve the end results. Because of the powerful whirly motion, the final product exiting the reactors is very uniform.

As with other torrefaction technologies, the syngas produced by the torrefaction process are used as the main fuel source to produce the necessary heat in a very low oxygen atmosphere.

The densification equipment installed is a typical pellet mill system used in the fabrication of wood pellets. Several weeks have been necessary to learn how to use this equipment and find the operating parameters for the production of a high quality pellet. The plant can produce more than two tonnes per hour of biocoal pellets.

After the densification process, the pellets are transported to a big bag station or a holding silo for bulk shipments. A truck loading station completes the production line.

Needless to say that Airex employees are proud of their plant. l For more information:

This article was written by Sylvain Bertrand, CEO of Airex Energie.

Visit: www.airex-energy.com/en/

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Handling a World of Materials

September/October 2016 • 27

Bioenergy torrefaction Torrefied biomass: The perfect CO2 neutral coal substitute is maturing

Replacing old ‘King Coal’

T

Source: IEA Bioenergy T32

orrefaction Table 1: Properties of transportable biomass and competing fuel is a thermal

Fresh wood Wood pellets Torrefied pellets Coal pre-treatment Moisture (%) 35-50 7-10 1-5 10-15 technology used to upgrade Calorific value (GJ/T) 9-12 16-18 19-23 23-28 lignocellulosic biomass to .65-.75 .8-.85 Bulk density (T/m3) .2-.25 .6-.68 a higher quality and more 3 9.6-12.2 12.4-17.3 18.4-23.8 Energy density (GJ/m ) 2-3 attractive biofuel. In the torrefaction process, biomass Ash (% by wt) 0.4-2 0.4-2.5 9.7-20.2 is heated to a temperature Grindability Poor Poor Good Good between 250-350°C in an Source: IEA Bioenergy Task 40 report, “Low cost, long distance biomass supply chains” atmosphere with low oxygen concentrations, so that all The properties of the of feedstock to produce a content of hemicellulose, moisture is removed. During final product highly depend more homogeneous product. cellulose and lignin. the torrefaction process, the on the process conditions In this respect, torrefaction Torrefaction results in biomass partly devolatilises and on the composition can also offer an opportunity a high quality fuel with leading to a decrease in of the biomass feedstock. for cheaper feedstock such characteristics comparable mass. However, the initial Depending on factors such as by-product streams, to coal, as the table above energy content is preserved as time, temperature, forestry or plantation illustrates. The increase in so that the energy density of and residence time, the residues or agricultural calorific value is caused by the biomass becomes higher biomass can be torrefied material. However, the the removal of moisture and Header: Torrefaction than the original biomass. to different torrefaction chemical composition of the some organic compounds Consequently, transportation degrees/temperatures. biomass material is a factor from the original biomass. A Replacing old ‘King Coal’ of torrefied pellets is much Directly connected to the to consider. Because of the fundamental difference with cheaper than wood pellets. degree of torrefaction is relatively low temperature charcoal is the difference in neutral coal substitute is maturing Torrefied biomass: The perfect CO 2 The typical mass and the net calorific value (NCV) of the torrefaction process, volatile matter. In torrefaction energy balance for woody of the resulting product. most critical chemical fuel processes, the aim is to Torrefaction is a thermal pre-treatment technology used to upgrade lignocellulosic biomass to a biomass torrefaction is that Theoretically, NCVs of +28MJ/ components (alkali metals, maintain as much volatile higher quality and more attractive biofuel. In the torrefaction process, biomass is heated to a 70% of the mass is retained kg could be reached, even chloride, sulphur, nitrogen, matter (and thereby energy) temperature between 250-350°C in an atmosphere with low oxygen concentrations, so that all as a solid product, containing though the overall process heavy metals and ash) in the fuel as possible. moisture is removed. During the torrefaction process, the biomass partly devolatilises leading to a more than 85% of the initial efficiency seems to be remain in the fuel after decrease in mass, however the initial energy content is preserved so that the energy density of the energy content. The other best at 20-22MJ/kg NCV torrefaction.This makes Why torrefaction? biomass becomes higher than the original biomass. Consequently, transportation of torrefied pellets 30% of the mass is converted (depending on feedstock). clean biomass feedstocks is much cheaper than wood pellets. into torrefaction gas, which Most types of biomass the preferred option for The torrefaction step contains up to 15% of the contain hemicellulosic and the foreseeable future. represents an additional unit The typical and Ideally, energy balance for woody biomass is that 70% the mass is energy of the mass biomass. cellulosic polymers.

For torrefaction this Besides theof chemical operation in the biomass theretained as a solid product, containing more than 85% of the initial energy content. The other 30% of energy contained in these reason, torrefaction can composition, the physical utilisation chain. The the mass is converted into torrefaction gas which contains up to 15% of the energy of the biomass. released volatiles equates be performed on virtually characteristics of biomass consequential capital and to Ideally, the energy contained in these released volatiles equates to the heating requirements of the the heating requirements any lignocellulosic type of play an important role operating costs, as well as of process. A thermal efficiency of around 95% can thus be achieved. the process. A thermal biomass, and it is possible in when assessing the conversion losses are, however, efficiency of around 95% theory to design a torrefaction potential for torrefaction, off-set by savings at the end can thus be achieved. plant for a wider diversity biomass bulk density and use. Besides the economic potential, torrefaction brings many important advantages by overcoming traditional limitations of biomass while keeping the CO2 neutrality advantage: • Significant cost reductions in transport and handling resulting from a significant increase in energy density and water resistance

• Broader feedstock basis — Figure1 : Mass and energy flows for an integrated torrefaction process both geographically and Figure1 : Mass and energy flows for an integrated torrefaction process Note: Assuming fresh, clean wood (0,5% ash content, 50% moisture content) as raw material and a dryer requiring 2.9MJ per kg of water evaporated in types of raw material Note: assuming fresh, clean wood (0,5% ash content, 50% moisture content) as raw material and a dryer requiring 2.9 MJ per kg of water evaporated

28Source: IEA Bioenergy T32 • September/October 2016

Bioenergy Insight

torrefaction Bioenergy • Almost no biodegradation of product when stored • Large variety of applications • Significantly increased grindability • Superior water resistance to wood pellets • Combusts cleanly, gasifies more easily • Can be produced to meet clients’ requirements • Reduced CO2 footprint along the supply chain • Helps develop the biomass market towards commoditisation Costs and the technology choice There is an array of technologies to roast, dry or devolatilise biomass. In the same way as in other steps in biomass processing, a number of reactor designs are available for torrefaction.

Screw conveyers, rotary drums (eventually combined with microwaves), moving beds, vibrating belts or torbed designs are the most common reactor types implemented.

The choice of the reactor type and integrated technology is influenced by the feedstock and volumes to be processed, location of implementation and local electricity costs.

While an efficient and flexible torrefaction reactor is necessary, it is not sufficient for a torrefaction technology to become successful. Additional variables to consider are process integration, overall energy and mass efficiency,

utilisation of all the energy from the feedstock and lastly mechanical compression efficiency and product quality.

In the framework of a cautious efficiency and sustainability setup, the energy balance of a torrefaction plant will only be marginally worse than that of a wood pellet plant. However, some extra heat losses and electricity consumption will appear. This is also reflected in elevated processing costs in respect to wood pellet production.

Figure 3 illustrates the potential savings along the value chain compared to costs caused by wood pellets.

It is based on identical feedstock to be processed.

While torrefaction represents an additional step in the processing of biomass with extra operating costs, there are savings elsewhere in the biomass supply chain which offset these costs. The advantages of torrefaction are particularly salient in the logistics and storage areas. The additional investments related to torrefaction represent less than the associated logistic cost reduction. In fuel preparation at the power plant, the torrefied material behaves like coal. Milling or co-milling in existing coal mills is possible in many cases, as proven in test burns. Therefore, little new infrastructure is needed to co-fire torrefied pellets Source: Michael Wild

or briquettes with coal — a significant advantage especially at power plants which have not yet invested in wood pellet infrastructure.

A typical setup of an integrated torrefaction plant consists of a feedstock preprocessing unit (shredding, chipping etc.), a drying unit, the torrefaction reactor, a product milling and a mechanical compression unit (pelleting, briquetting).

In most cases, energy supply is integrated in the plant setup to also consume gases produced in the torrefaction process.

Drying and torrefaction is in some cases carried out within one machine.

All this is valid for standalone torrefaction plants.

Their job it is to convert low-cost raw biomass into an internationally tradable product. Alternative setups may include torrefaction reactors integrated in the pre-processing line of a coal power plant, simply treating biomass prior to its milling in the coal mills or the torrefaction of already pelletised biomass.

The latter benefits from the established pelleting technology or products available on the market, but will keep the higher transportation cost of pellets.

Most technology developers and suppliers have overcome the technical and integration difficulties and have excellent control of the entire process.

If issues remain, they are often in the area of outdoor storage, trade permissions and implementation of full-scale consumption.

Current situation

Figure 3: Cost of torrefied pellets vs white pellets

Figure 3: Cost of torrefied pellets vs white pellets Source: Michael Wild A typical setup of an integrated torrefaction plant consists of a feedstock pre-processing unit (shredding, chipping etc.), a drying unit, the torrefaction reactor, a product milling and a mechanical compression unit (pelleting, briquetting). In most cases, energy supply is integrated in the plant setup to also consume torrgases. Drying and torrefaction is in some cases carried out within one machine.

Bioenergy Insight

After several years of technology development, demonstration plant operation and test burns, a number of renowned companies are now ready to set-up their technology as systems or component suppliers and are implementing their first

industrial-scale projects. Most of this initiative can be found in Europe or North America, yet Asian companies have recently become very active in torrefaction, creating additional value to the large stream of agricultural byproducts in the region.

Further optimisation of the process is ongoing, in co-operation with consuming partners. Further largescale testing in power plants and heat applications is required to adjust some of the parameters so that the final product can perfectly fit the consumers’ final requirements. The minimum requirements for torrefied or thermally-treated biomass are now set as ‘Technical Specifications’.

Some issues in optimisation are in the mechanical compression of pelleting or briquetting, which proves to be more challenging than expected. This compression or densification quality has a significant impact on durability and water resistance (weatherability), which is the one core area providing room for further improvement.

Although torrefied biomass is a completely waterproof material, the densified product is not completely water-resistant, as cracks and fissures allow water to enter, reducing the durability of the pellets or briquettes.

Test and trial volumes of torrefied biomass are available from several producers, in several shapes and at different torrefaction levels. In addition to largescale applications, further testing in heat applications is on the agenda of almost all producers and research organisations. The first tests within the SECTOR project (EU-funded biomass torrefaction initiative) that consisted of combusting torrefied pellets in household pellet furnaces have proved viable. However, they have also shown

September/October 2016 • 29

Bioenergy torrefaction that adjustments in airmanagement and the control system are needed before being put on the market.

Experience with co-firing torrefied biomass with coal Since 2012, test burns in European power plants have been undertaken, thereby cocombusting several thousands of tonnes from different producers. Although individual results are not to be published in detail, the outcomes from these test burns can be summarised as follows: • A number of successful test burns of torrefied biomass at European power plants.

Co-firing from 5% to 25% and up to 85% (mass) and more • Superior characteristics of torrefied fuel were acknowledged • The performance of the material in the mill and in the burners was excellent, significantly better than that of white pellets • The emissions performance was satisfactory — no difference to wood pellets • Burner performance was excellent, better than any wood pellet fuel to date.

No need for support fuels (needed with wood pellets) • Fuel preparation costs app. 0,48€/GJ less than wood pellets • Improvements in performance of the torrefied material in the transfer system expected (dust formation, full water resistance) Experience with torrefied biomass in non-power applications Although the power sector has long been the major focus for the consumption of torrefied biomass, more and more heat applications are opening up for it, especially for use in small-scale combined heat and power plants. In contrast, other industries are looking into torrefied biomass as a source for their process energy, namely

the cement, steel and nonmetallic minerals industries.

They see a great opportunity to reduce their greenhouse gas profile by substituting today’s conventional fuels by torrefied biomass.

Torrefied biomass ships and stores more compactly than any other solid biomass.

This fact provides significant advantages to the supply chain. The almost smoke-free combustion is particularly of interest, as is the preferential gasification properties of torrefied biomass. Ongoing and completed testings in furnaces and district heating boilers were as successful

as were gasification trials in existing and dedicatedly build installations. Torrefied biomass here is not only traded in the form of pellets but also in the form of briquettes, which range in sizes of 50, 75 or 100mm.

Ireland is currently leading in this application.

For these markets it is even more important than for the power sector that there is a clear definition of the quality of the torrefied product they can find on the market.

Therefore, the development of the Technical Specifications within ISO 17225-8 Standard for solid biofuels is of key

importance and will help to boost the market further.

Publication of the Technical Specification is expected by the fourth quarter of 2016 or first quarter of 2017.

Raw material basis for torrefaction Each piece of solid biomass can be torrefied, not only wood. But can each biomass, once torrefied, become an advantageous fuel? Mostly yes!

Most torrefaction processes will drive out some of the organically bound salts like chlorine. This is why through torrefaction also underutilised

IBTC members Amandus Kahl

Germany www.amandus-kahl-group.de

Agri-Tech Producers, LLC (ATP) US

www.agri-techproducers.com

AIREX Energie inc.

Canada www.airex-energy.com/en/

AREVA

France www.areva.com

Arigna Fuels

Ireland www.arignafuels.ie

Agricultural Research Centre - CRA-W

Belgium

BioEndev

Sweden www.bioendev.se

Blackwood Technology

The Netherlands

www.cra.wallonie.be

www.blackwood-technology.com

CAWES - Consortiuum for Advanced Wood-to-Energy Solutions US CENER

Spain www.cener.com

CMI-NESA

Belgium www.cmigroupe.com

CEG- Clean Electricity Generation

The Netherlands

CPL Industries

UK www.cplindustries.co.uk

DNV GL - Energy

The Netherlands

www.dnvgl.com

ECN

The Netherlands

www.ecn.nl

HEIG-VD St. Roche

Switzerland www.sib.heig-vd.ch/

Engie lab

Belgium www.laborelec.com

Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd.

Finland

www.cegeneration.com

www.mikseimikkeli.fi

Renewable Fuel Technology UK River Basin Energy

US www.riverbasinenergy.com

Solvay Biomass Energy US www.solvaybiomassenergy.com Torr-Coal Group The Netherlands

www.torrcoal.com www.topellenergy.com

TSI Inc.

US www.tsi-inc.net

Vision Energy Group (VEG)

Vietnam

30 • September/October 2016

www. vision-energy-group.com

Bioenergy Insight

agri by-products or grasses can be turned into valuable fuel. Torrefaction by these means are enlarging the raw material catchment area for the sector. However, as the ash characteristics of a material are not changed by torrefaction, not all agri biomasses will become an acceptable fuel.

Through torrefaction the path towards cheaper biomasses, which are not in competition with food markets or wood and timber markets, is paved.

Utilising today’s unutilised by-product streams or opening towards grasses will also further decrease the impact of biomass consumption on sustainable development, making it not only a carbon-neutral fuel but also likely one of the most sustainable fuels available.

differ significantly from those of normal biomass dust, but are clearly more reactive than coal dust.

The brittleness of torrefied biomass does, however, result in good chances to produce more dust in handling and, therefore, extra care shall be taken in not allowing dust to accumulate.

Regarding trade in Europe, a consortium of five companies has been established with the assistance of IBTC, in order to clarify the exemption possibility or registration necessities under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation with ECHA, the European Chemicals Agency.

Trading torrefied biomasses

IBTC was founded in 2012 as a platform for companies, organisations and individuals dedicated to the promotion of torrefied biomass for energy.

The platform allows the discussion of common interests not under competition and facilitates companies´ synergy to overcome the barriers that hinder the market development.

The main objective of IBTC is to promote the use of torrefied biomass as energy for the power and the heat market, undertake studies and projects to increase the depth of knowledge, gain permissions eventually needed for the trade of torrefied products and to spread the concerns of the industry to the outside world.

While the industry has become confident in the technologies and production capabilities, there is no certainty concerning trading permission, logistics regulations as well as health and safety regulations.

Regarding product quality, Technical Specifications were published in June this year, and a standard Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for torrefied biomass has been developed by the SECTOR project and International Biomass Torrefaction Council (IBTC) jointly.

VTT Technology has undertaken relevant International Marine Organization (IMO) testing on flammability and on selfheating properties. Both tests did prove clearly that torrefied biomass pellets are non-hazardous. Hence torrefied biomass does not, according to today’s knowledge, need to be classified as flammable solid material or as a self-heating substance according IMO rules.

Technical characteristics of the torrefied dust do not

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IBTC: A co-operation platform to accelerate progress

REGISTER TODAY! www.theusipa.org/conference

For more information:

This article was written by Michael Wild, president of IBTC. IBTC is coordinated by Cristina Calderón of AEBIOM. Visit: www. biomasstorrefaction.org

September/October 2016 • 31

Bioenergy anaerobic digestion Contractual influences are slowing progress in the UK food waste recycling sector

The untapped potential

T

he UK’s first action plan for food waste was initiated and launched by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) in July 2016. It aims to work with local authorities, food waste collectors and industry to increase collaboration in order to improve the national proportion of food waste which is collected and recycled.

There are increasing numbers of recycling initiatives as well as improvements in waste prevention measures during food processing. The greater diversion of viable surpluses to food banks and charities such as Fareshare contributes too. But in setting out its plan, WRAP comments with regret that only 1.8 million tonnes out of a current annual total of 10 million tonnes of food waste is being recycled.

DEFRA — the UK government department responsible in large part for funding WRAP

— points out that not all food waste can be prevented, redistributed or recycled, but adds that there are substantial environmental and economic benefits in doing much more than has been the case hitherto.

In which case, why is there no ban on food waste to landfill in England and Wales? There is clear evidence from north of the border that Zero Waste Scotland is having a positive effect on the number of projects using food waste as the feedstock for gas-to-grid.

Market influences Other inhibiting factors to the growth of recycling food waste are numerous, particularly in relation to local authority kerbside collections. Some of the larger commercial waste collection operators have been reluctant to embrace the concept among their diverse range of contracts and services. And, as DEFRA

The Greenlane ‘Totara’ water-wash upgrader installed at Widnes in autumn 2014

32 • September/October 2016

says, some food waste can never be put to good use.

The sensitive issue of using land for energy crops has become politicised and, while there may be a case for discouraging the growing of maize, this seems to be classed with other important food crops, such as sugar beet, which have off-cuts and tops which are excellent for AD. Some are asking whether the UK government lacks clarity of thought on this issue.

On the plus side, the anaerobic digestion (AD) capacity of the UK has increased greatly in the past five years, to the point where there are more than 450 operational sites. The UK industry body, the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA), has recently launched a Best Practice Scheme aimed at improving awareness among operators, developers, investors, and insurers of the available information on regulation, procurement, and operational performance, as well as how to mitigate physical and commercial risks through best practice.

Meanwhile, the UK government does offer support via the Renewable Heat Incentive, albeit at regularly degressing rates.

There is a commitment to continue the tariff until at least 2020. But the application of a policy touted as “green” has created uncertainty among investors and developers for a number of years and the

blight still continues with each review period when the (always subtractive) trigger mechanisms progressively reduce the incentive.

Unable to work out the period of payback and the commercial returns, stakeholders’ appetite for new biogas projects in the UK is greatly depressed, whether they plan to utilise food waste for biogas — or any other suitable feedstock for that matter. Public awareness of the need to recycle, the support of central government, and the efforts of the recycling and renewable energy industries all should augur well for food waste being put to infinitely better uses than landfill.

But banning food waste to landfill would undoubtedly have a galvanising effect.

Yet the apparent disparity between the available waste food mountain and the relatively modest amount of it which is currently recycled does not seem to have allayed concerns about future availability and continuity of feedstock for the AD process.

Some speak of a tipping point when food waste will become a traded commodity.

Environmental, safety, or gas quality regulation is not to blame for this state of affairs. Issues such as the amount of oxygen allowed in the gas injected into the network have been resolved.

Given all the above, many could be forgiven for thinking that conflicting circumstances will continue to slow the growth of energy production

Bioenergy Insight

anaerobic digestion Bioenergy from food waste. Could it be that the perception of problems surrounding food waste recycling are greater than they actually are?

The challenges have solutions The streaming techniques for food waste separation and recycling for AD depend on good collection systems, and there are also a few extra challenges in processing it for biogas production — especially when injection of the upgraded gas into the UK grid is the objective. The world’s largest manufacturer of biogas upgrading systems — Greenlane Biogas — believes that food waste is perceived as a problem feedstock for AD and gas-to-grid when, in fact, recent processing developments have proven their commercial viability.

The company’s highly developed process systems and continuous monitoring of the content and quality of the output biomethane have proven the ability to produce the anticipated volumes of fully compliant output gas.

Upgraded biogas (biomethane) production provides a more beneficial income stream to the producer, compared with its use for electricity or local heating (CHP).

Food waste is distinguished from many other organic feedstocks by abnormally high levels of H2S, by

Bioenergy Insight

the presence of volatile organic components (VOCs) which affect gas odour, and by silicon compounds — particulates known collectively as siloxanes, which produce a gritty build-up on gas burners. All such elements in the raw biogas can be effectively treated by Greenlane’s upgrading technologies to produce grid-compliant gas.

One good example of technical progress can be

may assume that gas from food waste creates when upgraded, can be securely overcome — and without deal-breaking extra capital investment or the loss of operating efficiency. The collection of data from 24/7 remote monitoring of systems already operational around the world has given Greenlane a substantial fund of experience over a wide variety of sites, of feedstock mixes and even the effects of

The sensitive issue of using land for energy crops has become politicised seen in the treatment of the high levels of H2S previously required investment in a front-end de-sulphurisation package using activated carbon filters. The method somewhat reduced the gas throughput rate and thus the commercial returns. Now, the same levels of purity and higher output can be achieved with much smaller filters at the backend of the process.

The dual channel engineering of these means the plant does not have to be switched off to carry out the occasional replacement of the filters.

Prospective developers of food waste recycling sites can be given assurance that the extra challenges they

climatic and environmental conditions on the operation of its upgrading systems.

The technology has come of age Just as the UK’s very first biogas plant to inject gas into the grid — at Thames Water at Didcot in 2010 — gave the industry much valuable information on UK regulatory operating requirements, so a site at Widnes, owned by ReFood (Saria Group) and opened in 2014, has shown the commercial viability of both their business model for collecting and recycling food waste and the reliability of it producing profitable grid-compliant gas.

That was achieved without some of the latest process refinements outlined above.

Those will be incorporated fully into ReFood’s second such plant, which is currently under construction at Dagenham, Essex. The latest upgrading system from Greenlane will be at the heart of the project and it is expected to produce elevated commercial returns on investment for the owners.

While food waste comes in many constituent mixes, and while each business model may vary due to location, volumes and sources of supply, whatever is constraining the greater and better recycling of food waste for energy is not the ability to process it and reap the commercial benefits of doing so.

There will always be a certain amount of food waste, whatever the initiatives to reduce it. The pressure for the UK to close the future energy gap, to reduce carbon emissions and to minimise landfill volumes should indicate a close reexamination of the merits of creating energy from food waste is needed. Arguing that there are significant technical difficulties involved is an out-dated perception. l For more information:

This article was written by John Bass, marketing manager at Greenlane Biogas. Visit: www. greenlanebiogas.co.uk

September/October 2016 • 33

Bioenergy biogas upgrading Cryo Pur Bio-LNG demo plant at Valenton WWTP

A new technology enables the production of bio-based liquefied natural gas in smaller-scale installations

Time for an upgrade

I

njection of biomethane into the gas grid can face obstacles such as low grid density or capacity issues. In 2012, France faced these challenges. This situation drove SIAAP, owner of a major wastewater treatment plant in Valenton, Paris, and its site operator Suez to look for new solutions for valorising biogas. SIAAP treats water for an equivalent of 3 million inhabitants in the Paris area.

Denis Clodic, CEO and founder of Cryo Pur, and his team were selected to build a first-of-its-kind system, due to their knowledge on cryogenic CO2 separation.

Partly funded by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) through the “Investments for the Future” programme, the BioGNVal project set the goal to build an integrated demo plant to turn raw biogas directly into liquid biomethane and liquid CO2. The industrial demonstrator was designed and manufactured in 2014, and then installed and commissioned in 2015.

Dimensioned for treating a biogas flow rate of 120Nm3/hr, it now successfully produces one tonne per day of bio-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) and 1.6 tonne per day of liquid bio-CO2. The unit will be in

operation until March 2017, and will be installed in another location once the period of demonstration runs to an end.

Project challenges

Besides Cryo Pur, Suez, and SIAAP, the BioGNVal project also brought together three other partners: Engie, which provides the bio-LNG fuelling station; Iveco, which provides the heavy-duty truck running on bio-LNG; and Thermoking, the provider of a truck refrigeration system using liquid bio-CO2 in replacement for dieselpowered refrigeration units.

A critical technical challenge was to remove CO2 in biomethane down to 0.3% for bio-LNG at 15 bar(a)/120°C and down to 500ppm for bio-LNG at 2 bar(a)/-160°C. This has been made possible thanks to a very efficient physical gas separation process using heat exchangers. CO2 molecules are actually frozen on the heat exchangers’ fins, which enables the methane to reach the purity level required for liquefaction.

Another challenge with the demonstration project was to develop, already at this stage, equipment ready for unmanned operation, which is a requirement for the commercial, industrial

34 • September/October 2016

version. To this end, Cryo Pur engineers have developed a control-command system for 24/7 automated operation.

Following the success of the BioGNVal project, Cryo Pur was able to raise €6 million (€3m in 2015 and €3m in 2016, both with investment fund Xerys) to start the industrialisation and commercialisation of the product. The Valenton site has also become a valuable reference for Cryo Pur, which frequently arranges visits with potential customers and partners to demonstrate continuous operation.

Expanding the range of projects Before the BioGNVal project, the production of bio-LNG was only possible for much larger biogas projects in order to amortise the high investment costs for liquefaction technologies. This led to a very small number of installations being built in Europe (one in Sweden and one in Norway).

Through integrating cryogenic upgrading and liquefaction in a single energy-efficient process, the Cryo Pur technology reduces the investment and operating costs of bio-LNG projects. This now makes it possible to realise large range of projects from 100Nm3/hr to 2,000Nm3/hr of biogas.

Bio-LNG is currently the only green alternative to diesel for heavy duty trucks on long distances. It enables an autonomy of more than 1,000km, while compressed biomethane (bio-CNG) is limited to 450km. In comparison to diesel, bio-LNG decreases GHG emission by 90%, which makes it a key fuel for energy transition in the transport sector, the most oil dependent sector in the EU. Moreover, biomethane is a very low-pollution fuel, with no emission of fine particles and less than 70% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions compared to diesel.

A solution for off-grid storage and transport Bio-LNG also offers the opportunity to unlock a large number of potential biomethane projects. In many parts of the world, project developers cannot inject biomethane into the grid because their production site is located too far away from the grid or because the grid lacks capacities for receiving the biomethane. The capability to efficiently turn biogas into bio-LNG is paving the way for new projects that can produce, store, and easily transport renewable

Bioenergy Insight

biogas upgrading Bioenergy energy to consumer sites.

Bio-CO2 is an interesting yet underrated by-product of biomethane production.

Instead of venting CO2 to the atmosphere, the Cryo Pur process produces liquid CO2 at a very high purity that can be used in various applications, such as greenhouses, refrigeration in transport, and the chemical industry.

Thanks to the successful demonstration of cryogenic upgrading and liquefaction, Cryo Pur has opened a range of possibilities for producing both bio-CO2 and bio-LNG. l For more information:

This article was written by Simon Clodic, sales director at Cryo Pur. Visit: http://www.cryopur.com

Automation of the Cryo Pur process

This silage clamp stays sealed once and for all!

Clear separation of waste water and rainwater

The new Flex-Silo from Schmack Biogas – for 100 % prevention of water pollution In contrast to conventional silage clamps, the Flex-Silo is jointless and therefore completely sealed. This means groundwater is reliably protected. The special feature: waste water and rainwater are collected separately, so there is no chance of contamination. The simple, modular construction method makes flexible, economical solutions for any area possible. www.schmack-biogas.co.uk Schmack Biogas UK Ltd. · Phone +44 (0)870 807 30 58 · info@schmack-biogas.com

Bioenergy Insight

September/October 2016 • 35

Bioenergy biogas upgrading A large farm in the UK recently began exporting biomethane produced on site through anaerobic digestion (AD) to the National Grid. How has it managed to harness this energy?

From farm to light bulb

B

iomethane can be a significant additional revenue stream for farm operators.

However, before it can be fed into the Grid, it must conform to the same standards as natural gas from any other source, and this requires on-site processing.

As biogas production grows in popularity, the technology that allows this process to happen efficiently with minimal input from farm operators has become increasingly important.

Thyson Technology recently completed a biogas installation at a large farm at Brinklow in Warwickshire, UK, designing and commissioning an automated biomethane network entry facility (BNEF) that would ensure the gas produced met the standards demanded by the grid.The farm uses two anaerobic digesters to produce methane from animal and other waste produced on site.

Before it can enter the grid, the gas must conform to the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations. This specifies maximum values for the

module in the BNEF can also be remotely controlled by National Grid. This ensures that biogas producers across the network act as an alwaysavailable resource that can be used to balance supply and demand as required.

Propane and odour injection

The BNEF prior to installation at the farm

levels of hydrogen sulphide, total sulphur, hydrogen, oxygen and water that can be contained in the gas, as well as limits for the Wobbe Index — the standard measure of the energy contained by a gas of a given density.

All of the equipment required to analyse the gas coming from the anaerobic digesters and alter its composition so that it is ready to enter the grid is housed in a kiosk which is 8m by 3m in size. This was assembled to meet the specific site requirements at Thyson’s headquarters in

Reject and outlet gas arrangement in a BNEF, including the gas chromatograph (right)

36 • September/October 2016

Cheshire, UK, before being transported to the Brinklow site for commissioning.

Gas analysis To measure the composition of the gas, an automated Ofgem (government regulator for gas and electricity markets in the UK) approved chromatograph plays a central role in the network entry facility. This must be able to take highspeed readings at regular intervals so that the other parts of the system responsible for modifying the composition of the gas can adjust and keep the output within the approved parameters.

In the event the characteristics of the output do go outside of the required limits, an automated valve arrangement diverts the flow to prevent nonspecification gas from being transferred to the network.

The data collected by the chromatograph is also shared directly with National Grid’s systems, giving controllers visibility on the precise volume of gas entering the network. The network entry

Biomethane typically has a methane content of between 95 and 98%, and a calorific value of approximately 36 MJ/m3. However, natural gas in the UK grid is only 90% methane and has a caloric value of 39.5MJ/ m3. This increased figure is due to the presence of larger hydrocarbon molecules such as propane.

To match the two, higherenergy-content gas must be added to the biomethane in specific proportions — typically between 5 and 12% of the final volume of gas. The BNEF kiosk incorporates a separate automated arrangement to perform this task.

A further requirement for gas entering the National Grid is for a stanching agent to be added as a safety precaution, and a further separate arrangement is included for the odorant injection process.

Lowering barriers to entry The arrangement required for a farm to begin selling biomethane to the network is relatively complex, with multiple automated systems needing to be integrated in order to deliver a reliable and low-maintenance operation that requires little intervention from owners.

Bioenergy Insight

biogas upgrading Bioenergy However, the significant financial benefits for the owners of farms and other biomass-producing facilities means that the demand for these systems is steadily increasing, and not only among large customers.

While there is no onesize-fits-all solution, Thyson is committed to making the process as simple and cost-effective as possible in order to lower the barriers to entering this important market and is continuing to evolve its products and processes towards affordable, standardised solutions.

The role of biogas According to the German Renewable Energy Agency — an organisation that represents the industry in Germany — a single square kilometre of agricultural land can produce between 600,000 and

1,200,000 m3 of biogas every year. That’s enough to supply gas to between 400 and 800 average UK households.

The UK has more than 152,000km2 of farmland, meaning there is potential to supply more than 60 million homes if this biogas production could be harnessed. While this statistic arguably assumes a more intense average level of cultivation than is actually the case, Brinklow proves that this is not a solution to be ignored. It remains an excellent illustration of the potential importance of biogas to the UK energy mix, as well as a compelling additional revenue stream for farm operators. l

For more information:

This story was written by Glen Lancaster, sales manager at Thyson Technology. Visit: www.thyson.com

Propane for injection into the biomethane flow

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www.williamscrusher.com September/October 2016 • 37

Bioenergy biogas upgrading When a Swiss community needed to upgrade its green portfolio, the responsible entity for the project turned to an engineering specialist for dry AD and biogas upgrading

The mountains are alive with the sound of green music

K

ompogas Winterthur AG is a Switzerlandbased renewable energy company owned by the City of Winterthur and Axpo. In 2014, the company opened an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant. This plant processes around 23,000 tonnes of kitchen and green waste every year from more than 78,000 households based in the Swiss cities of Winterthur and Frauenfeld.

The project strives to transform organic waste with an AD process into a valuable fossil fuel substitute called biomethane. So when it came to selecting new technology for its AD and upgrading operation, the project needed a robust product which could consistently and cost effectively produce energy.

Familiar with the renewable energy technologies of Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) — and aware of the company’s reputation in this complex field — the responsible project team began to investigate whether HZI could help. As discussions unfolded, the company realised that HZI could take care of its problems.

The project’s AD plant uses two in-house HZI technologies — Kompogas and BioMethan — to produce

The AD plant with biogas upgrading is a very efficient solution within a long-term energy policy in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

1,050,000Nm3 of biomethane per year. It also produces liquid fertiliser and compost.

Tackling climate change In 2011, the City of Winterthur launched a 2050 energy policy including a long-term reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to two tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person per year, and corresponding measures to promote sustainable energy technologies. To this end, the

38 • September/October 2016

city has taken a 34% interest in the construction and operation of the new biogas plant.

The largest shareholder involved in the project is Axpo (Switzerland’s largest energy provider) with 52%.

Managing the gas grid is the responsibility of the City of Winterthur’s municipal utility. Part of the natural gas/biogas mixture is made available via three local natural gas fuelling stations selling a mix containing

10% biogas. The lion’s share of the biogas produced is incorporated into various gas products consumed by private households and large customers.

Producing biogas with amine scrubbing The AD plant handles sourcesegregated waste from municipalities, garden markets, and private individuals.

After shredding and sieving,

Bioenergy Insight

biogas upgrading Bioenergy into top-grade compost that is collected by nurseries, market gardens and farmers for use as fertiliser. Part of the press juice is fed back into the digester to directly initiate the fermentation process. The remainder is used in agriculture as certified organic liquid fertiliser.

Clean exhaust air

From municipalities, garden markets, and private individuals: biowaste for energy production

the substrate is fed into the Kompogas PF1500 digester, which is part of the fully automated facility. The biogas produced in the digester is conditioned, i.e. cooled for dewatering and desulphurised by adsorption onto activated carbon filters, before being transferred via a gas storage into the upgrading plant.

The BioMethan amine process, a proprietary technology of HZI, offered a high biomethane purity for the Winterhur project.

It also offered low energy consumption and minimum methane slippage. The amine scrubbing technology is a heat-driven process, where the CO2 is separated from the CH4 in the incoming biogas stream to produce biomethane equivalent to natural gas.

Before it is injected into the gird the produced biomethane is compressed up to 5 bar.

In 2011, the City of Winterthur launched a 2050 energy policy. This included a long-term reduction in GHG emissions to two tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person per year.

Thanks to an organic filter, exhaust air from the entire process is collected and fed into a biofilter filled with several layers of torn root wood to remove ammonia, and subsequently released into the atmosphere. This avoids the emission of unpleasant odours and means that the plant enjoys broad acceptance in the community.

In the current climate of trying to go green, an installation like this will help to divert organic waste from landfill and convert it into green energy. l

For more information:

This article was written by Jan Ludeloff, international sales manager at Hitachi Zosen Inova BioMethan.

Visit: www.hzi-biomethan.com

Top-grade compost Two sieve screw presses are used to separate the digestate from the digester into a liquid and a solid fraction. The press cake is stored and further stabilised in subsequent composting. This process allows the material to mature

Bioenergy Insight

In the heat-led amine scrubbing process CO2 is separated from the incoming gas stream to upgrade biogas to natural gas quality

September/October 2016 • 39

Bioenergy biogas upgrading Selecting the wrong equipment during a biogas upgrade process can prove costly

Trial and success

W

hen it comes to anaerobic digestion (AD), trials can range from making minor changes with the feedstock mix or dwell time to assessing the effects of major equipment upgrades, such as new combined heat and power (CHP) units or digestate processing equipment.The level of effort involved in setting up and running a trial can, in many cases, vary according to both the complexity of the subject being investigated and the potential benefits of the changes being made or proposed.

For example, reducing the size of feedstock by chopping it into smaller pieces, or increasing the level of mixing feedstocks before the digester are relatively easy to implement, and may improve gas production or reduce processing times. As such it is fairly straightforward to see if such measures have had the desired effect. However, trying to test large equipment such as digestate treatment units, gas upgrade machinery or new generator sets is much more complicated, although the potential rewards can also be greater.

Trial considerations When looking to trial new add-on or replacement equipment ahead of an investment decision, it is easy to become focused on the practicalities of a trial. The first consideration of course is whether or not a realistic trial can be conducted. A number of companies produce small and medium-sized trial units of key technology.

HRS has a trial version of its digestate concentration system (DCS), which allows potential purchasers the opportunity to test its unique system for reducing the amount of digestate produced while increasing its value.

But how will the trial unit get to site? Where can it be located? Is there a suitable power supply? Who will manage the project? These are all valid questions that will require answers, but equally important is the

no point testing something which reduces electricity use by 10% if what is needed is something that exports heat for an outside process.

The next step is to work out what exactly is needed and how it can be measured. For example, the DCS provides a number of benefits including increasing the solids content of the digestate, reducing overall digestate volumes and improving nutrient content. In the case of a new radiator it may be that

HRS trial evaporation unit that can be taken to site to trial the technology before investing

design of the trial itself.

After all, there is no point in investing large amounts of time and effort if an AD operator fails to obtain answers to his main queries or, in the worst case, fails to even to know what he hopes to find out.

Know your objectives The first step is to talk to the company involved. It is important to know what the unit is designed to do and that it is suitable for what is needed. There is

40 • September/October 2016

running temperatures at the CHP are reduced, improving generator efficiency and reducing the number of oil changes needed. It would therefore be more useful to measure exported power and the physical properties of the oil than to keep an eye on running hours.

how much liquid digestate its plant currently produces in a given period, how will he know if it has been reduced?

Most trials carried out in the industry will be comparison trials, such as “before” and “after” or, depending on plant configuration, perhaps trialling two different practices alongside each other or alternately over a period. While such a set-up may not be ideal from a purely scientific or statistical point of view, in most cases they should be robust enough for practical purposes. When combined with regular monitoring or scientific analysis (for example a nutrient analysis on digestate produced with and without passing it through the DCS) they should provide sufficient confidence to tell an AD operator whether or not the changes he is proposing will work and to inform the appropriate investment decisions.

It is easy to be dazed by the process of setting up trials, but AD operators will find that most manufacturers and suppliers are only too happy to help demonstrate the effectiveness of their equipment, subject to logistical constraints. l

Measure the results A company also needs to be able to measure what it has been doing in order to give suitable comparisons. If an AD operator does not know

For more information:

This article was written by Matt Hale, international sales manager at HRS Heat Exchangers. Visit: www.hrs-heatexchangers.com

Bioenergy Insight

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September/October 2016 • 41

Bioenergy logistics How a biomass boiler made its way from China all the way to its new home in the UK

The journey of a thousand miles

T

uscor Lloyds has never been your typical logistics outfit, taking on some of the most difficult and inaccessible work in the industry. When a UK biomass plant required a door-to-door solution for its newly purchased biomass boiler, the projects team seized the challenge. Having worked on similar jobs in mainland China, Tuscor Lloyds was quickly recommended for the project, which was to be the first of many throughout the summer.

Neel Ratti, general manager at Tuscor Lloyds, notes that due to “the speed of growth in renewables”, supply chains in the industry are different to those in traditional ones.

“Companies that contact us are looking at us to drive down supply chain costs.

Savings in the supply chain create more competitive economies of scale for their renewable energy projects,” Ratti adds.

Cased machinery pieces after loading at factory location in Changsha, Hunanp province, China

China, to oversee all operations prior to the deep sea sailing.

The journey began with the collection at the factory based in Changsha as three specialised trucks were used to load the cargo over two days.

All the cargo was measured on location and it was discovered that many of the

pieces were not correctly declared on the packing list. Immediate adjustments to the OOG permits were required. But the team knew the real complications would begin when the shipment was split into two parts. The first being the Breakbulk piece, travelling 50km to the

The kit The boiler and components were consolidated into 46 pieces weighing 260 tonnes in total (the equivalent of 130 average sized cars or 52 African elephants.) The pieces consisted of one 83-tonne Breakbulk item at 15m in length as well as seven flat rack containers holding the remaining out of gauge (OOG) cargo. Due to the magnitude of the project, a member of the team travelled to Changsha, Hunan Province,

river barge load in Xiangtan harbour, whilst the remaining OOG pieces travelled 1,100km by road to the Yangshan terminal in Shanghai.

Once loaded onto the barge, the boiler began its epic journey along the Yangtze River — taking two weeks in total to travel through Wuhan and Nanjing before arriving at Luojing port in Shanghai.

Here it was transferred to the coaster for the last leg to Yangshan deep sea terminal, located in the middle of Hangzhou Bay, to meet the remaining pieces that had been stuffed in Shanghai and stored in local warehousing.

Local knowledge

Boiler unloading after a sea freight journey from Shanghai to Felixstowe

42 • September/October 2016

Many import managers will share in the pain of the events that unfolded at the offshore deep sea terminal in Yangshan, Shanghai. In shipping, it is

Bioenergy Insight

Bioenergy plant design Wood shredding activity is on the rise and so too are the number of operators rethinking their plant design

Turning over a new leaf

T

he intelligent reuse of wood is not a new phenomenon. As one of the world’s oldest materials, this sustainable resource has been proudly recycled and/ or repurposed by mankind for thousands of years.

But the wood processing landscape has continued to change extensively.

What’s happening to the wood?

In the US and Canada for example, pre-consumer wood waste has been virtually eliminated, but the level of wood debris in MSW (municipal solid waste) and C&D (construction and demolition) streams shows there is still room for improvement. There are at least 30 million tonnes

of such recoverable material available in North America, per year. Wood isn’t, as yet, being best utilised in this respect, but awareness of the opportunity is growing.

Elsewhere, in the UK, the Wood Recyclers Association has calculated that approximately 2.8 million tonnes (60%) of the country’s waste wood is being recycled. But, according to the Health and Safety Executive, that figure, along with the number of companies involved, is expected to rise.

In Austria ­— where forestry and wood processing industries are important elements of the country’s economy — biomass is widely regarded as the most important renewable energy source, with Austria’s ratio

for biomass production and utilisation above average.

A lack of uniformity surrounding global analysis methods means it’s difficult to paint a conclusive picture of wood recovery worldwide.

However, wood is increasingly being acknowledged as a valuable resource that needs to be comprehensively salvaged and processed. In some parts of the world, this acknowledgement is so great, that shredding capacity actually exceeds the amount that biomass plants can take.

Market forces shape plant design It may sound odd to think that extraneous forces such as this would influence a plant’s design at an operational level.

But the careful selection of a

plant’s component parts can have a significant impact on a wood processor’s bottom line. The design of a plant and the procurement of specific technology can therefore be a very strategic move indeed.

Of course, it is still possible to make money from wood processing for biomass, even in countries where capacity is high. However, in many areas, gate fees are increasing and the commodity value of the processed material has dropped. In order to achieve maximum commercial viability from wood shredding, plants therefore need to be designed for easy operation, with low running costs and maintenance simplicity in mind. This will minimise biomass production costs per tonne. If the wood can

Untha’s XR Mobil-e waste shredder

44 • September/October 2016

Bioenergy Insight

plant design Bioenergy be shredded without the need for post treatment, such as a screen, this further streamlines the process, not to mention the need for additional capital expenditure.

Considerations beyond capacity Whilst wood processors have long focused on the impact that a shredder’s throughputs and capacity can have on their profitability, the gradual maturity of the market means performance is now being analysed slightly differently.

Particle homogeneity, for instance, is becoming increasingly important. The biomass market demands a fuel manufactured to a defined specification, for maximum energy value.

So, if a shredder produces fines (dust-like, nonspecification material) as low as 5%, it’s possible to yield up to 20% more saleable biomass material per tonne than traditional machines on the market — often without the need for additional screening systems.

The shredder becomes an even greater revenuegenerating asset, whilst the disposal costs associated with these unwanted outputs is also reduced.

Such cost-driven criteria are therefore extremely important when designing new wood processing plants, and when replacing outdated shredding technology on existing sites. Some operators may even decide to re-design their plant purely for these fiscal reasons, recognising that low whole life running costs can reap significant financial and operational efficiencies in the longer term.

The need for flexibility Perhaps it is because of these market forces, that there has been a notable increase in the demand for “flexible” waste shredders too. Some manufacturers

Bioenergy Insight

have long claimed to engineer “universal” machines capable of handling varied waste streams, but investment in a “one size fits all” solution has often meant the need for operators to compromise on results.

Technological innovation, however, has brought about the ability to design truly flexible shredding systems that can proficiently handle wood before being reconfigured ­— in as little as

safety or insurance reasons, it’s still important to assess what is available in the marketplace and what best fits a processor’s needs.

At the very minimum, the shredder should be supplied on tracks, with an in-built magnet and conveyor, for convenience. Electric-driven, energy-efficient options are now available too, which save on power consumption whilst minimising the environmental impact on staff and

Plant design has evolved from simply thinking about getting from A to B 0-2 hours — to process other, very different waste streams.

Such versatility may prove crucial for some operators during periods of market value fluctuation, not to mention the evolving nature of the waste landscape on the whole. Few organisations now stand still in terms of the wastes they produce, which means recycling and recovery firms need to adapt.

A move away from ‘tradition’ In many parts of Europe, wood processors have long operated diesel-driven mobile shredders, with often questionable noise, pollution and energy efficiency statistics. Some would argue this is because it has been the only technology available, whilst others would suggest it has simply been regarded as the norm – if it’s what a competitor has traditionally used, they should too.

Yet in truth, many firms don’t need a mobile machine as it never moves from a sole location. With static wood shredding technology as advanced as it now is, there’s therefore no need to buy mobile equipment if it’s always going to be in one place.

In plants where mobility is important, perhaps due to

neighbouring communities.

And shredders with a quiet operation — ideally below 80 dB(A) — should be prioritised, to protect the hearing and wellbeing of staff.

But what else?

help to prevent hot, glowing or lit material from exiting the machine, thus reducing the risk of fire. That is consideration number one.

A slow speed shredder — which operates with high torque to ensure throughputs aren’t compromised — is consideration number two.

In such technology, dust levels are significantly minimised and the potential for a spark is also reduced, which drastically lessens the risk of fire when compared to other machines.

Reduced levels of airborne dust would also protect the health of personnel continually exposed to the operational conditions of wood shredding.

Complex considerations

Fight fires The wood shredding market has been blighted with a number of devastating fires that have put personnel, the business and the wider community at grave risk. In the UK for example, the Health and Safety Executive is therefore urging processors to think carefully about their plant design to ensure these risks are mitigated as much as possible.

Thorough cleansing regimes are imperative, to minimise the level of dust on site, and the installation of sprinkling systems throughout a plant can help combat a fire if combustible material ignites. However, a number of shredder manufacturers have also acknowledged the support that they can provide, to control the danger.

Operators should therefore think carefully about the machinery they procure to shred their wood. In-built fire suppression systems throughout a shredder’s hopper, cutting chamber and discharge conveyor can

Of course every wood shredding scenario is different, and the considerations an operator must make can soon feel quite complex. That said, plant design has evolved from simply thinking about getting from A to B. Yes, it remains crucial to manufacture a high quality biomass product, as cost effectively as possible.

But, because technology has evolved, why not think beyond ‘tradition’ and look at ways to improve energy efficiency, plant safety, personnel wellbeing and environmental impact. Do this well, and there will be multiple opportunities to improve the bottom line along the way. l Sources:

- The Current State of Wood Reuse and Recycling in North America and Recommendations for Improvements, Dovetail Partners, May 2013 - www.hse.gov.uk/woodworking/ recycling.htm - Biomass streams in Austria: Drawing a complete picture of biogenic material flows within the national economy, Gerald Kalt, Austrian Energy Agency, 2015 - Occupational Hygiene implications of recycling wood, Health & Safety Laboratory, 2011

For more information:

This article was written by Christoph Lahnsteiner, product manager at shredding specialist UNTHA. Visit: www.untha.com/en

September/October 2016 • 45

Bioenergy landfill gas

Landfill gas has gone from an explosive hazard to a major player in the bioenergy sector

Explosive potential

M

ethane, a major constituent of landfill gas, came to the public eye in the late 1980s, when there were a number of explosions linked to the landfilling of biodegradable wastes.

Probably the most high profile of these was the incident at Loscoe in Derbyshire, UK, in 1986. Although there were no fatalities, one house was completely destroyed by the blast and the three occupants injured. The buildup of methane, produced by microbial activity within the waste mass, forced its way out of the landfill and followed paths of least resistance, cracks in the geology or man-made conduits, until it either dissipated to the air or collected in a confined space.

This led to a rapid changes in the way landfills were regulated and the way in which they were constructed and managed, both to contain gas and leachate. This was achieved initially through the use of compacted clay, and shortly after sealed linings were developed to provide containment. Alongside this there was also better management to reduce the

production of gas and leachate (working in discreet cells and applying layers of cover to prevent water ingress).

Wells were also installed to vent methane from sites, to prevent build-up of pressure within the landfill and ensure the safe dissipation of gas.

Landfill gas and climate change

Climate change became a more prominent issue in the 1970s, especially following the “oil crisis� of the mid 70s, but it was not until the 90s that much more of the science behind global warming came to the fore. The Kyoto Protocol was the first major global attempt to limit greenhouse gases (GHG). It was adopted in December 1997 and came into force in February 2005.

As a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol, the UK was bound to reduce emissions of GHGs by 12.5% below 1990 levels by 2008-2012, a target which the country successfully met.

Beyond this, the Climate Change Act 2008 requires the UK to further reduce its own CO2 emissions to 26% below 1990 levels by 2020.

In addition, the Landfill Directive (1999) states that landfills must use or flare

46 • September/October 2016

landfill gas in an effort to reduce CH4 (methane) emissions released into the atmosphere. Landfill gas is produced while a landfill is active and continues for decades after it closes.

Its careful and ongoing management is an essential factor in reducing emissions to atmosphere of this potent GHG. Methane has a global warming potential of 25 times that of CO2 on a century-long timescale. In 2010, more than 700,000 tonnes of methane were released into the atmosphere from UK landfills.

This represents about 3% of UK total GHG emissions.

Reducing these emissions at regulated facilities is the remit of the Environment Agency, which permits landfills and monitors them for compliance against permit conditions.

Some of these conditions relate to the control of emissions from site, including landfill gas. Older permits tend to require control measures to reduce the risk of gas escaping through capture and venting, either passively or via flaring.

Newer permits require that the gas is utilised and it may either be injected to grid or burned in gas engines to generate electricity.

Landfills are unique by their geology, topography, and the wastes that they take. Deciding upon the right systems for abstraction and use of the gases generated requires careful planning, robust engineering, and extensive monitoring.

Making use of old sites Landfill sites are a major source of methane emissions in the UK, but thanks to these reduction and control measures, emissions of methane from landfill sites fell by 59% between 1990 and 2007. More is being done to reduce figures even further, with more ambitious targets for reduction in GHGs. One option for reducing GHGs further is to look at fugitive emissions. These come mainly from closed and historic landfill sites. It is much more difficult to deal with historic and closed landfills, as these do not have permits and because they are not receiving waste. As such, they do not generate funds to undertake engineering works. There are however, some potential ways to drive some investment in this direction. Emissions from closed and historic landfills could be counted

Bioenergy Insight

landfill gas Bioenergy towards emissions targets, thus making it worthwhile to install the necessary wells and plant to flare the gas.

This would require a more collaborative approach than for sites currently permitted, but does provide an option to further reduce emissions.

There is also a technical barrier to be overcome with older landfill sites. As the deposited waste degrades and starts to stabilise, less gas is produced. New low calorific value flare stacks have helped to overcome this problem and can burn methane in lower concentrations from older sites. Some flares have already been installed and are being piloted to assess their effectiveness and cost benefit.

Utilising the gas Once suitably cleaned, methane from landfills can be injected back into the

grid or can be combusted in landfill gas engines to generate electricity. In sustainability terms, this is where the greatest gains can be made.

Landfill gas is classified as a renewable energy source and as such qualifies for Renewable Obligation allowances. In 2011/12, landfill gas received 5,003,236 Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC), which represented 14.4% of the UK total (23% in England).

As an electricity supply, landfill gas generates at a consistent level, meaning it is not seasonal or weather dependent, and has retained its share of production over a period of five years. It is, however, now seen as mature market and receives lower value for the ROCs. What does the future hold?

Landfilling is a disposal operation and, as such, it

sits at the bottom of the waste hierarchy. Successive European legislation has sought to ban materials from landfill and decrease the biodegradable content of the deposited wastes. This is because landfilling represents a waste of resources, can be difficult to manage in terms of gas and leachate, and because bigger sustainability gains can be made further up the waste hierarchy, such as in prevention, reuse, recycling, and recovery.

The net impact of these policy and regulatory drivers has been a reduction in our dependence upon landfill and also in the amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfill. Ultimately, this will translate into fewer landfills available for gas abstraction and also lower gas yields, as there will be less material to degrade and generate gas. Current landfills will

remain active for years to come and will continue to produce gas and generate electricity. However, the possibility exists that we are at “peak landfill gas” and in future years there will be a slow decline in production.

The capture, flaring, and utilisation of landfill gas has played an important role in creating a safer environment, reducing our GHG emissions, and the production of renewable energy. This has driven innovation and investment in the sector and is a good example of adapting to a changing policy landscape.

These lessons can surely be repeated elsewhere in the energy and waste hierarchies! l

For more information:

This article was written by Mike Tregent, a chartered environmentalist with more than 25 years’ experience in the waste regulation and waste planning industries.

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September/October 2016 • 47

Bioenergy company profile Implementing drying technology could improve efficiency in a biomass plant, as well as cut costs

Cut and dry

A

ltentech is a privatelyheld Canadian technology development company based in Vancouver, British Columbia (BC), Canada. Over the past nine years the company has successfully developed a new drying technology, the Biovertidryer 1.3. This game-changing technology provides many advantages to incumbent drying technologies being used in the bioenergy field and provides a means to add value to feedstocks through effective and efficient moisture extraction.

The technology is patented in 42 countries and has attracted global interest from a variety of end users.

The company is working closely with engineering firms and the University of British Columbia (UBC) in continuous improvement of the technology and understanding drying characteristics of a variety of feedstocks. Professor Shahab Sokhansanj works as an adjunct professor at UBC and has assisted Altentech through the development of the dryer, Sokhansanj also works for the Department of Energy Oakridge National Laboratory in the US and received his doctorate on the study of drying.

Flowing with gravity Sokhansani says: “The dryer’s innovative concept and its design take cue from the perfected systems used every day on farms. The difference is that unlike grains, sawdust and wood chips do not have

Altentech’s Biovertidryer 1.3

adequate mass to flow with gravity. The unique feature in Altentech Biovertidryer is that it grabs the material and moves it downward as the material dries. This confined drying configuration minimises the free fly of loose light material that either enters the atmosphere or catch fire in regular horizontal moving belts.”

Altentech’s first commercial operation has been in Mission, BC, where the dryer is providing custom drying services to coastal pulp mills and other industries.

“Our technology is truly a game changer!” states Paul Adams, VP of Business Development at Altentech.

“We are able to extract moisture with incredible efficiency and in large

48 • September/October 2016

volumes. With low energy inputs, high production, minimal emissions and a remarkably small footprint we have a dryer that will save clients money and eliminate issues with pollution associated with drying woody biomass.”

The dryer is manufactured in Canada and is modular in nature which allows for global sales and the ability to ship in traditional shipping containers.

Currently, Altentech has the capacity to build four dryers simultaneously with a lead time of approximately 12 weeks.

“We have also developed a software package with leading software engineers at Rockwell Automation,” Adams says.

He adds: “Our Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and Mobile Control Centre (MCC) feature the latest hardware and touch screen interface and when combined with the instrumentation installed on the dryer, the operations are basically hands-free. We can control moisture content to a very precise level and the system will regulate itself to meet a target moisture or to match a mass flow to a secondary process.”

Footings and foundations The structure of the dryer is designed to withstand worse case seismic conditions on the west coast and worst case wind loading situations.

Scrubbing technologies

Bioenergy Insight

company profile Bioenergy for conventional dryers are typically more expensive than the dryers themselves and have significant costs relating to operation from both chemical and electrical needs.

“We eliminate this need as our exhaust stream is untreated and meets the most stringent air quality regulations,” Adams notes.

He adds: When you add up the cost savings from the efficiency of our system, the lack of secondary scrubbing equipment, the low cost of infrastructure needed and cost savings in safety/insurance due to low temperature drying, a return on investment can occur very quickly.

“This also opens the door for people to consider drying when this was previously cost prohibitive. A lot of material is being burnt inefficiently

Drying is a necessary step in most secondary processes that work with woody biomass in power generation and a lot of water is being transported unnecessarily.”

Challenges Drying is a necessary step in most secondary processes that work with woody biomass whether it is being used for simple combustion, manufacturing wood pellets, torrefaction, gasification, liquid fuel development or just benefiting logistics.

“There is simply too much woody biomass being wasted in what is becoming a very competitive field with a finite

resource,” Adams says.

He adds: “Pulp mills are investing massive amounts in boiler systems that can (but shouldn’t) burn wet fuel.

These systems provide a means to burn fuels wet but this means drying occurs inside the boiler, which massively reduces the boiler’s efficiencies.

“Most of these types of industries also have significant volumes of excess heat from other processes, as our dryer can use any direct heat source that is available we can often capture these sources of heat and provide low-cost energy

to the process. Every aspect of the process then improves, the user eliminates fossil fuel use, reduces carbon pollution, improves their steam rates, uses less material and maximises their profit levels.

“By using fibre efficiently this sector can look at vertical integration of other profit centres within their operations to assist in remaining solvent in a world which has declining demand for paper.” l

For more information:

This article was written by Darren Frew director of Planning and Communication at BC Bioenergy Network. Visit: www.altentech.com

The 7th Nordic Wood Biorefinery Conference 28-30 March 2017 Stockholm, Sweden

The 7th Nordic Wood Biorefinery Conference will present the latest ideas and developments in biorefinery separation and conversion processes as well as new bio-based products from the wood biorefinery: energy, chemicals and materials Confirmed speakers

Side events

Professor Oded Shoseyov, University of Jerusalem Professor Magda Titirici, Queen Mary University of London Richard Gosselink, University of Wageningen Darren Baker, Innventia Anna Kalliola, VTT Juha Linnekoski, VTT Anna Wiberg, Innventia Per Tomani, Innventia Mika Härkönen, VTT

• • •

Visit to LignoBoost demo plant Professional development course An open house at Innventia

For more information about NWBC 2017, please visit: www.innventia.com/nwbc2017 Organized by:

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In cooperation with:

Proud sponsors:

September/October 2016 • 49

Bioenergy xxxx market be both profitable and sustainable?

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