Stuurgroep Competentiecentrum Biomassa en Afval :

LABORELECLABORELECLABORELEC

SUSTAINABLE PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES125 Rodestraat B-1630 Linkebeektel. 02/382.03.03

Status of biomass co-firing in BelgiumYves Ryckmans

5/4/2023 Version 1

STATUS OF BIOMASS CO-FIRING IN BELGIUM

11 GREEN CERTIFICATES IN BELGIUMGREEN CERTIFICATES IN BELGIUM

The main legal issues for a plant firing biomass in Belgium are the following: obtain a permit for construction and operation of the plant; reach the required emission limits according to the status waste or non-waste (fuel) : in Belgium only

wood pellets and palm oil are not considered as waste; determine the green character of the used biomass and derive the number of granted green certificates

per generated MWh of power according to the regional legislation.

The last one is certainly the major issue as far as the profitability of the plant is concerned. In addition, Belgium has to cope with three green certificates system, one per region Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. The systems are targeted green certificate systems as described in Figure 1.

GrantGreen

certificatesper 1000

kWh

Issuing Body

PowermarketGreen producer

Grey producer

Certified body

Electricity

Certificates

Either

Buy-back tariff Regionor Local Network Regulator

Buy-back HT Network Regulator

Certificatemarket

Grant

Obligation 2005: - FL 3%- W 5%- Bru 2,25%

Penalty : - FL 125 € (green) 45 € (CHP)- W 100 €- Bru 75 €

Suppliers Customers

Target 2010: - FL 6%- W 12%- Bru 3%

IBGE-BIM

][* cert#

MWheEk

GrantGreen

certificatesper 1000

kWh

Issuing Body

PowermarketGreen producer

Grey producer

Certified body

Electricity

Certificates

Either

Buy-back tariff Regionor Local Network Regulator

Buy-back HT Network Regulator

Certificatemarket

Grant

Obligation 2005: - FL 3%- W 5%- Bru 2,25%

Penalty : - FL 125 € (green) 45 € (CHP)- W 100 €- Bru 75 €

Suppliers Customers

Target 2010: - FL 6%- W 12%- Bru 3%

IBGE-BIM

][* cert#

MWheEk

Figure 1: Systems of green certificates in Belgium

Three issuing bodies (resp. VREG, CWaPE and IBGE-BIM are responsible for the certification of the generating units as well as the grant of the green certificates. The suppliers which cannot present the requested amount of certificates according to their sales in a considered period (in 2005, 3% in Flanders, 5% in Wallonia and 2,25% in Brussels) are fined with a penalty of resp. 125 €, 100€ and 75 €. The obligation increases every year such that 6% of renewable power is obtained for whole Belgium by the year 2010, as imposed by the RES-Directive. The details of the existing green certificate system are presented in Figure 2, including realisation up to now and market value.




5/4/2023 Version 1

FL : 50 TWh 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Obligation 0,50% 1,20% 2% 2,50% 3% 3,75% 4,50% 5,25% 6%Certificates x 1000 250 600 1.000 1.250 1.500 1.875 2.250 2.625 3.000Certificates real 150 292 544Penalty € 75,00 € 100,00 € 125,00 € 125,00 € 125,00 € 125,00 € 125,00 € 125,00 € 125,00

Market value € 79,04 € 92,62 € 110,93

W 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010GWh 23.369 23.628 23.891 24.156 24.424 24.696 24.970 25.247Obligation 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% ? ? 12%Certificates x 1000 701 945 1.195 1.449 1.710 ? ? 3.030Certificates real 752 872 975 1.600Penalty € 75,00 € 100,00 € 100,00 € 100,00 € 100,00 € 100,00 € 100,00 € 100,00

Market value € 84,38 € 91,74

Bru : 5 TWh 2004 2005 2006Obligation 2% 2,25% 2,50%Penalty € 75,00 € 75,00 € 75,00 € 100,00 € 100,00 € 100,00 € 100,00

Figure 2: Obligation expected and generated green certificates, penalty and market value.(today, certificates are only exchangeable between Wallonia and Brussels regions).

For the suppliers, there exists the possibility to generate the certificates with their own assets or purchasing them at a market price. The utilities might use their generated green certificates for their own purposes if they are also suppliers, to sell them on the market or to sell them at a guaranteed price either to the high-tension network operator (federal level), or to the distribution network operator (regional level) or to the Region itself (Wallonia only). The guaranteed values are presented in the next Figure according to the renewable source.

658020biomass

65450150solar

659550hydro

658050on-shore wind

NANA90off-shore wind

WFLBELSOURCE

Figure 3: Buy-back tariffs for green certificates according to source and region(BEL for federal state, FL for Flanders and W for Wallony).

The green certificates are granted on the base of a detailed definition of the acceptable renewable energy sources according to each region. The definition is given in the Figure 4. But the renewable source must also be compatible with the hierarchy of the waste management (so-called ladder of Lansink) : this means that energy recuperation is only acceptable from this point of view if prevention of waste generation, re-use on site or recycling of the waste streams is not possible. This issue supposes also that the plant firing




5/4/2023 Version 1

biomass does not generate market distortion with existing activities using the same source like composting or paper or wood board manufacture.

Based upon sustainable developmentSustainable development“All non-fossile non-nuclear energy source that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.“PV, Wind, Geothermal, Biogas, Biomass accepted

BEL

Hydro < 10 MWeBiomass = organic waste from agriculture and forestry

Bru

CHP and Hydro < 20 MWe includedW

Tide&Wave, Hydro < 10 MWe, Biomass according to a)-d)a) vegetable products from agriculture and forestry;b) litter and manure;c) sorted organic-biological waste;d) unsorted organic-biological waste (MSW) with min. 35 %

energy recuperated

FL

Figure 4: Definition of the renewable energy sources. (BEL: valid for all regions, FL for Flanders only, W for Wallonia and Bru for Brussels)

The calculation of the number of granted certificates per generated MWh is based upon the amount of energy used for the production and transportation of the biomass, in Flanders and the related CO2 emissions on the base of a LCA analysis in Wallonia.

This means that biomass is not considered as fully neutral for the green certificate systems as it is in the European Emission Trading Scheme for CO2 emissions. As example, about only 0,75 certificate is granted per electric MWh generated with imported wood pellets.

An exemplary certificate system is the one applied in Wallonia which is quite innovative in the sense that: it combines the support of green power with cogeneration; it is based upon avoided CO2 emissions with respect to references i.e. a steam-and-gas power plant

with an efficiency of 55% for the electricity and a boiler firing natural gas with an efficiency of 90% for the heat. The principle of the system is described in Figure 5.

C2

C3

E

Q

ESTAG

EE=55=55 %C1

tonsCO2/y

EE %

Cogenqq % Q NG Boiler

QQ =90=90 %%

C2 + C3tons

CO2/y

Cbio

kgCO2/MWh

CNG

251kgCO2/MWh

EC

C

QEEkcert

MWhthQMWheEC

CCCk

e

NG

e

bio

q

e **#

,,,2

132

Figure 5: Green certificate system in Wallonia




5/4/2023 Version 1

The “C” Figures are CO2 emissions in kg per MWh of primary energy. The number of granted certificates depends upon an economy factor “k” that is calculated from the quotient between the net economy of CO2

emissions with respect to the references divided by the reference CO2 emission of a STAG power plant for the same amount of generated electricity E. The number of granted certificates has then three contributions : one positive equal to the amount of generated MWh “E” of electricity during the considered period, one positive related to the amount of generated and used MWh “Q” of heat during the considered

period multiplied by the factor 0,63 corresponding to the quotient of the reference efficiencies (55/90), one negative related to the amount of fossil CO2 emissions generated by the considered fuel mix.

To calculate the latter, one has to take some reference CO2 emission factors into account like described in Figure 6. Those factors are based upon a Life-Cycle Analysis.

NON FOSSILE wind/solar/hydraulics 0 organic biodegradable matters 0

milling 4transport on max. 100 km 5drying 10

corn crops 22 wood 23 cultivated wood (short rotation coppices) 45 coleseed oil 65 bio-diesel 80

FOSSILE natural gas 251 gasoil 306 light fuel oil 310 heavy fuel oil 320 coal 385

Figure 6: Specific rate of fossile GHG generation in kgCO2eq/MWh primary energy (CWaPE).

The system has as consequence that co-firing of coal with biomass do not generate green certificates but when firing more than 70% biomass in mass, since the economy factor k remains negative up to this co-firing rate as seen in Figure 7.

Mass ratio Bio-Energy k10% 6% -0,9520% 12% -0,8230% 19% -0,6940% 27% -0,5350% 36% -0,3760% 45% -0,1870% 56% 0,0380% 69% 0,2890% 83% 0,5595% 91% 0,71

100% 100% 0,88




5/4/2023 Version 1

Figure 7: Economy factor for co-firing biomass with coal (efficiency 41%).




5/4/2023 Version 1

22 ELECTRABEL STRATEGY AND BIOFUELSELECTRABEL STRATEGY AND BIOFUELS

According to chapter 1, co-firing can only be applied in the Flanders. Electrabel has selected the following biofuels leading to the generated kWh of electricity per kg as indicated below (efficiency 36%): olive cake : 1 kg = ~ 1,3 kWh wood dust : 1 kg = ~ 1,8 kWh wood chips : 1 kg = ~ 0,8 … 1,5 kWh “pellets” (clean wood) : 1 kg = ~ 1,8 kWh sewage sludge : 1 kg = ~ 1,0 kWh. coffee grounds : 1 kg = ~ 1,6 kWh

The current realisations were carried out in Ruien, Langerlo and Rodenhuize power plants with the indicated power capacity : Ruien : wood dust – ~ 10 MW Ruien : clean wood chips : gasifier - ~ 17 MW Langerlo, Rodenhuize, Ruien : olive cake : S ~ 12 MW Langerlo : sewage sludge - ~ 4 MW

The corresponding performances of those projects are described in the next Figure.

287 000121 70043with coal304 500Total

26 50011 2004LLO28 000sewage sludge

81 50034 60012LLO/Ruien/RDH

64 000olive cake

68 00028 80010Ruien40 100wood dust

111 00047 10017Ruien104 700syngas

Avoided CO2 t/a

Avoided coal t/a

Average MW

Power plant

Quantity t/a

Biomass source

287 000121 70043with coal304 500Total

26 50011 2004LLO28 000sewage sludge

81 50034 60012LLO/Ruien/RDH

64 000olive cake

68 00028 80010Ruien40 100wood dust

111 00047 10017Ruien104 700syngas

Avoided CO2 t/a

Avoided coal t/a

Average MW

Power plant

Quantity t/a

Biomass source

Figure 8: Green power generation, avoided coal and CO2 emissions in 2004

33 ELECTRABEL PROJECTSELECTRABEL PROJECTS

New projects are being undertaken in 2005 with the indicated power level : wood pulverisation in Langerlo power plant: + ~ 20 MW « wood pellets » (see Figure 9):

- in Rodenhuize power plant : co-combustion : ~ 60 MW- in Awirs power plant (Liège) : ~ 80 MW

olive cake in Mol power plant: + ~ 5 MW milling efficiency enhancements in all plants : + ~ 5 to 10 MW coffee grounds : in Langerlo, Rodenhuize and Mol power plants.




5/4/2023 Version 1

Figure 9: Wood pellets bio-fuel for Awirs and Rodenhuize power plants

As seen, the sourcing of the biofuels relies pretty much on import due to limited availability of feedstocks in Belgium: wood dust, wood chips, sewage sludge : Belgium, olive cake : Spain, Tunesia, Middle-East, wood pellets : Belgium, Canada, South Africa, Baltic States, South America, …., coffee grounds : Switzerland, Germany, Spain.

The project in Unit 4 of Awirs power plant must be emphasized. The unit was commissioned for oil and gas in 1967 and converted a first time to coal in 1982 with a de-rating to 125 MW. The project consists now of a second full retrofit of the existing pulverized coal unit for firing wood pellets. Since coal is substituted at 100% rate, it is thought to be a world premiere. The unit has been commissioned again in July 2005 and is now operating in optimisation phase with 100% wood pellets.

The major project constraints were (see also Figure 10): a very short delay for the construction work : only 7 months for the realisation, the full substitution of coal : « World Premiere », the retrofit must be fully reversible to coal in 3 weeks time, the safety issues were very critical to cope with fire and explosion risks related to wood dust : design

of the project was made according to ATEX directives, the delivery of the wood pellet is organised in “just-in-time” for about 1200 tons/day, the steam temperature is decreased to 510°C instead of 545°C, resulting in a net efficiency of 36%, the obtained net power level is about 80 MW instead of 125 MW firing coal.

plant 34% efficiency80,3 MWe

wood pellets 17 GJ/ton4,7 MWhp/ton1,6 MWhe/ton

350.097 tons/year50 tons/h

105 $/ton4,9 €/GJ

52,32 €/MWhegeneration 7000 hours

562.100 MWhgreen certificates 0,70 tau(CO2) min.

393.470 certificates/y




5/4/2023 Version 1

Figure 10: Facts and Figures for Awirs-wood pellets project.




5/4/2023 Version 1

The concept for the retrofit is described in Figure 11. The major work consisted in covering the conveyor belts for avoiding dust spreading, adding metal and spark detection systems, implementing safety extinguishers in the fuel bins, adding two hammer mills with a capacity of 30 ton/h each feeding 8 pneumatic injection lines to new burners.

towards boiler

Hammer mills

Rotating feeders

Existing silo’s

Receiving bins + covered conveying belt

Unloading crane

Pneumatic transport (dense)

Air fans (<70°C)

Conveyors (some new some old) are newly equipped with metal and spark detection and CO detection(manual stop and manual water spreading with sprinklers)

Screening – 10 cm

Figure 11: Technical concept of retrofit for a pulverised coal power unit firing wood pellets

44 RESULTING GREEN POWER FORECASTRESULTING GREEN POWER FORECAST

The green power forecast of Electrabel for 2005 and 2006 is described in Figure 12 and 13.

440 700187 00047Awirs/RDH

275 000wood pellets

17 0007 2004LLO/Mol15 000coffee ground

732 000121 700111with coal610 000Total

28 30012 0004LLO30000sewage sludge

127 30054 00019LLO/Ruien/RDH/Mol

100 000olive cake

118 80050 40018Ruien70 000wood dust127 30054 00019Ruien120 000syngas

Avoided CO2 t/a

Avoided coal t/a

Average MW

Power plant

Quantity t/a

Biomass source

440 700187 00047Awirs/RDH

275 000wood pellets

17 0007 2004LLO/Mol15 000coffee ground

732 000121 700111with coal610 000Total

28 30012 0004LLO30000sewage sludge

127 30054 00019LLO/Ruien/RDH/Mol

100 000olive cake

118 80050 40018Ruien70 000wood dust127 30054 00019Ruien120 000syngas

Avoided CO2 t/a

Avoided coal t/a

Average MW

Power plant

Quantity t/a

Biomass source




5/4/2023 Version 1

Figure 12: Green power forecast of Electrabel for 2005




5/4/2023 Version 1

732 000121 700111with coal610 0002005287 000121 70043with coal304 5002004

1 537 000652 400202with coal1 120 0002006

Avoided CO2 t/a

Avoided coal t/a

Average MW

Power plant

Quantity t/a

Biomass source

732 000121 700111with coal610 0002005287 000121 70043with coal304 5002004

1 537 000652 400202with coal1 120 0002006

Avoided CO2 t/a

Avoided coal t/a

Average MW

Power plant

Quantity t/a

Biomass source

Figure 13: Green power forecast of Electrabel for 2006

55 CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Following issues are essential for making profitable biomass co-firing projects : availability of biofuels in substantial quantities and with reasonable prices lead in a country like

Belgium to import a great deal of the necessary feedstocks, firing biofuels of good quality and cleanness avoids biomass being classified as waste stream what

would result in fairly long delays for getting a permit, and allows the retrofit of existing fossil fuel power plants with limited efforts (CAPEX),

targeted green certificate systems with high penalties (up to 125 €) makes use of nice but expensive biomass possible, without loosing profitability,

social support and acceptance of renewable power plants as well as realistic emissions limits remain by the way of great importance for the feasibility of the biomass co-firing projects.

According to those conditions, Electrabel has significantly increase her contribution to the use of renewable energy sources originating from bio-energy for generating power in Belgium. Electrabel is achieving similar efforts in other European countries like the Netherlands (Gelderland power plant) and Poland (Polaniec power plant), and is also developing wind farms in many regions of the E.U. (Belgium, France, Portugal, Spain, ….).

Stuurgroep Competentiecentrum Biomassa en Afval :

Documents

Transcript of Stuurgroep Competentiecentrum Biomassa en Afval :