more sustainable bio-mass solutions

AET is an independent, market leading engineering company and a key supplier of biomass-fired and combined heat and power plant (CHP) installations. The company’s reputation for the development of innovative, eco-friendly energy solutions is the envy of many others in the energy industry. Philip Yorke looks at what lies behind AET’s runaway success and reviews some of its recent ‘greener’ and increasingly more sustainable energy solutions.

Aalborg Energie Technik (AET) is a technological leader in the design and production of high-efficiency biomass energy systems through its thermal utilisation of agro-industrial biomass waste.

For over 30 years the company has focused on developing innovative eco-friendly energy solutions for Europe’s leading utility companies. AET has been involved in the dedicated design of biomass plants for the production of greener energy from the outset. AET’s plants can be fired by a broad range of agro-organic waste products. This includes residual products such as wood chips, wood waste, distiller’s grain, poultry litter and bone meal as well as straw and other organic, biodegradable waste products.

In addition, AET carries out operational maintenance and consultancy work for its clients, as well as complete plant overhauls and

essential maintenance services. AET also assists in the optimisation and operational efficiency of existing biomass plants in values ranging from 25 to 170 MWh.

Harnessing green power

Recently AET secured a prestige order for a state-of-the-art 30MWe biomass power plant to serve residents in Russi, near Ravenna in Italy. This blue-chip contract is the result of a joint venture between the Italian company Termokimic Corporation and AET. The equipment for the installation including an advanced biomass boiler will be developed specifically for the Italian project by AET. The design, management and installation is in association with the plant’s management company, Power Crop Rusi, which in turn is owned and operated by Enel Green Power and Seci Energia of Italy.

The new boiler is designed to achieve a fuel heat input of 88MW and will generate live steam at 122 bara and 542C. This latest ecofriendly plant is capable of producing sustainable power at a continuous rate of 30 MWe gross for the Ravenna region. The annual power production of the new plant corresponds to the consumption of over 84,000 households in the region, and the reduction of carbon emissions will be a significant 17,000 tonnes of CO2/year. The strict emission requirements of the project will be fulfilled using ‘Best Available Technology’, including AET’s advanced combustion system, that serves its latest Biomass Boilers, as well as an electrostatic precipitator, a bag filter and the essential NOx and CO2 catalysts.

Hans Erik Ascou, CEO of AET said, “We have enjoyed great collaboration with our TKC partners and look forward to delivering our latest, highly efficient power plant together with them, which is to be commissioned later in 2018. This will be our second major delivery of a biomass-fired plant to Italy and our most advanced yet.”

Full steam ahead

AET has continued to focus its research programmes on the optimisation of biomass energy technology and to further advance its biomass related plant systems and equipment. The company’s commitment to providing ever greener and sustainable energy means that it can offer high-efficiency and reliable systems that ensure optimal combustion whatever the material involved and achieve the lowest ever flue gas emissions.

The company told Industry Europe that it considered the most important decision in the design of a well-functioning biomass-fired plant to be the choice of combustion system. The well-proven AET system is based upon its Spreader/Stoker and special AET BioGrate design, which is considered to be the system of choice for leading utility companies. It is worth noting that many biomass fuels today have ash content that has a strong tendency to slag and block the heat transfer surfaces. Others often contain foreign matter that requires special measures in the fuel-handling process to protect the equipment, when it comes to the combustion process, to protect the environment. AET’s ‘ best available technologies’ overcome any such issues at source.

Retro-fitting greener energy

There has been a boom in the demand for the advanced design and efficiency of AET’s products in the biomass sector throughout Europe. The company’s biomass boilers and its unique, cogeneration technology offer users the highest levels of efficiency and compliance, even when confronted with the most demanding environmental legislation.

More than ever before, plant owners and operators are being challenged by the on-going demands for maximum energy-efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This is particularly in relation to international legislation, and a growing list of requirements with respect to the environment and the efficiency of their facilities. The list of products and services offered by AET is diverse and too long to list in this article. However it does include fuel conversions from coal to biomass, combustion system upgrades, dedicated engineering support, efficiency optimisation and controls for all Scada systems.

Rewarding innovation

Earlier this year AET was recognised for its innovation and entrepreneurship when it was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year award for its contribution to environmentally friendly and sustainable energy solutions, and for the consistent growth of its chosen disciplines for more than 30 years.

Today the company’s portfolio includes everything from the design and manufacture of advanced biomass installations to providing key services such as design and engineering, and the service and repair of biomass production facilities of all types and sizes. It has done this so well that it has been able to achieve continuous growth not only in its domestic market, but also in its growing number of overseas markets. “This has been a decisive factor in the independent jury’s selection of a winner,” said Allen Terp, partner in EY and responsible for the Entrepreneur of the Year awards for the region of Northern Jutland.

Hans Erik Askou, AET’s CEO, commented, “I am grateful and proud, but also humbled to be heading around 150 highly skilled and dedicated employees that we have assembled here at AET. I am equally proud of the remarkable results that we have created together. I am therefore very confident that with the strong team we have in place now, and the solid growth that we have achieved over the years, we will continue to see even more exciting results in the years to come.” n For further details of AET’s latest innovative biomass-energy and CHP solutions visit: www.aet-biomass.com