CofindiaProviding clean coal solutions with Indian biomass

Background The role of fossil fuels used in a conventional way is decreasing due to its high emission costs. Bio-mass based electricity production, including bio-mass co-firing (defined as simultaneous combus-tion of different fuels in the same boiler) with fossil fuels, provides a technically and economically feasible solution for CO2 reduction.

In Europe, increasingly, co-firing of biomass is seen as an effective means to establish the use of biomass materials at a significant level through its partial substitution of coal in utility scale boilers. In India, such co-firing applications are yet to be established. However, there is vast potential for biomass utilisation through co-firing in coal-fired power plants in India providing also a significant potential for technology and other related busi-ness.

The increased demand for power to support the growth in the Indian economy is being met primarily through increased introduction of coal-fired power plants, adding to overall CO2 levels. At present, the major use of biomass in India is as a single fuel in domestic and small industrial applications where it is used inefficiently. From a technical standpoint, there are various technology possibilities where combinations of coal and bio-mass can be used together in co-firing.

Finland has played a significant role in many biomass combustion related projects internation-ally. In support, there are several EU centres of excellence established, providing expertise on these issues. In addition, various end users have

undertaken trials, demonstrations and commer-cial applications of co-firing applications at the large industrial and utility scale of operation. Thus Finland and EU are well placed to take advantage of international cooperation to open up market opportunities in India.

Project objectivesThe main objectives of the project are to• determine and establish the basis by which

Finnish companies could enter the biomass (combustion and co-firing) market in India,

• establish R&D collaboration between India and Finland,

• promote biomass co-firing in India, and• encourage the Indian decision makers to

support the use of biomass in India.

A consortium, comprising of Finnish and Indian organisations, will work together to• gather data on the sources and availability of

biomass/biogenic waste in India,• determine various concepts for co-firing of

renewable biomass with coal in the various types of Indian coal fired plants,

• carry out preliminary techno-economic and environmental assessments of these concepts, and

• consider the policy, institutional and regulatory impacts and then determine the commercial attractiveness of introducing co-firing into the Indian power sector.

Biomass co-firing business opportunities in India

Research project funded by Tekes (the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation), participating companies and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.

Project duration: 01/2013 – 12/2014

Additional information

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

Mr Janne KärkiTeam LeaderTel. +358 40 751 00 53Janne.Karki@vtt.fi

Mr Matti NieminenKey Account ManagerTel. +358 40 544 2262Matti.Nieminen@vtt.fi

www.vtt.fi

Jyväskylän Energia, Keljonlahti CHP-plant

The project will focus on the availability and logistics of biomass and co-firing of biomass with fossil fuels (coal and lignite) in India. In addi-tion, dedicated combustion of biomass (biomass power) will also be evaluated. The aim of the research work is to determine the most suitable technologies for co-firing in India and to intensify the co-operation between Finnish and Indian bio-mass scientists.

Project findings will be disseminated to Finnish and Indian stakeholders. The main tar-get groups of the dissemination of the project´s results in Finland will be power plant equipment developers, biomass equipment suppliers and service companies. In India the counterparties will be major power generation companies, rep-resentatives of ministries and other authorities.

This process will be followed by further ini-tiatives to assist those stakeholders to establish cooperative opportunities, from which the basis for technology demonstrations and subsequent deployment in India will be initiated.

BenefitsIn India, if co-firing approach could be introduced, there would be significant socio-economic bene-fits, arising from increased employment opportu-nities within rural communities for the collection, transportation and processing of agricultural residues and wood wastes. Through co-firing cut down of the GHG emissions would make a remarkable influence globally.

There are many biomass utilisation related system developers and a number of equipment suppliers in Finland. This project will provide valuable market information and will also provide means to establish cooperation with Indian stake-holders. As such it will offer a valuable interface for the Finnish energy industry to take forward opportunities for international cooperation on co-firing and especially bioenergy markets in India.

Figure 1. Towards lower CO2 emissions and higher efficiencies with co-firing technology.

Figure 2. Overall content layout of the Cofindia-project.

Partners in India

• Anna University, Institute for Energy Studies, Department of Mechanical Engineering• Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Department of Energy Science and Engineering• Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Participating companies in Finland

Towards lower CO2 emissions and higher efficiencies with co-firing technology

Fossil + bioco-firing

• High plantefficiency

• Fossil CO2emissions

• Good plantefficiency

• Zero (=biogenic) CO2 emissions

• 0…1 %-pts eff. penalty

• Up to 50% CO2reduction

Highest OPEX* and CAPEXHighest OPEX* and CAPEX

Higher OPEX* and CAPEX thanwithout co-firing

Higher OPEX* and CAPEX thanwithout co-firing

* operating costs without CO2 allowances

Lowest OPEX* and CAPEXLowest OPEX* and CAPEX

Boiler figures:

Business- Market entry possibilities- Dissemination in Finland

- Company networking

Environment and technology

- Co-firing potential studies- Techno-economic

analyses- Demo project search

Policy- Non-technical barriers

- Policy measures- Promotion in India

Task 1 Task 2 Task 3

Task 4. International co-operation:Joint seminars, research exchange, networking

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