Biomass Power Generation : Recent Trends in Technology and Future Possibilities Narasimhan Santhanam Energy Alternatives India,

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What Am I Here For? Imperatives for Power Generation Industry Prospective Solutions Role of Biomass in these Solutions Processes and Technologies in Biomass-based Power Generation – Current Trends – Future Prospects

Tech -> Solutions -> Imperatives Process & Technologies Solutions Imperatives

Environmentally sustainable electricity production Electricity for rural and remote areas Socially beneficial electricity production More reliable electricity production from renewable sources

Prospective Solutions Distributed electricity generation Electricity generation with less GHG emissions Combining synergistic revenue streams for economically sustainable power production Combining different renewable energy sources for power generation to ensure stability and reliability

Role of Biomass in the Solutions Wide range of biomass feedstock Waste biomass and energy crops available in a distributed manner Biomass as a feedstock instead of fossil fuels at power plants Possibility of useful products such as biofertilizers and biofuels along with electricity Flexibility to integrate biomass with other renewable sources such as solar and wind.

Biomass-based Power Gen Processes and Technologies Gasification and pyrolysis Use of biomass as partial feedstock in power plants for co-firing Anaerobic digestion

Tech, Processes & Solutions Gasification and pyrolysis Use of biomass as partial feedstock in power plants for co- firing Anaerobic digestion Distributed electricity generation Electricity generation with less GHG emissions Combining synergistic revenue streams for economically sustainable power production Combining different renewable energy sources for power generation to ensure stability and reliability

Gasification and Pyrolysis Scalable Biomass agnostic Distributed electricity generation Production of valuable co-products such as biochar An established technology with potential for innovations

Gasification/Pyrolysis – Current Trends Current Types of gasifiers - Updraft; downdraft; Fluidized bed; Entrained flow. Also: One stage and two stage gasifiers High temperature treatment for easy removal of ash contaning heavy metals. Electric power generated in engines and gas turbines, which are cheaper and more efficient than the steam cycle used in incineration

Future Plasma gasification Use of fuel cells for electricity generation Significant advancements possible for: – Flexibility in biomass range – Slagging problem for biomass with low melting point – Reducing tar contamination in gas flow Gasification/Pyrolysis –Future Trends

Use of Biomass for Co-firing in Power Plants Less net GHG emissions compared to 100% coal power plants Over 200 power plants worldwide using it Could be a critical route used by power plants in the short and medium term as an important GHG reduction strategy

Biomass Cofiring – Current Trends Current Max 20% biomass used Process and material improvements for increased efficiency and decrease costs Many technical bottlenecks in biomass co- firing are ash related; dedicated toolboxes are being developed to tackle these

Biomass Cofiring – Future Trends Future Increase of cofiring %s to 50% w/w Lower-quality (“salty”) biomass, higher fuel flexibility (per unit or by combining different units) Integration with clean coal tech – Boilers with ultra-supercritical steam tech – Oxy-fuel combustion – IGCC Torrefaction - thermal treatment of raw biomass materials in temperature range C under inert atmosphere with aim of partial decomposition. A charcoal-like fuel is the result.

Anaerobic Digestion Can use waste biomass that present disposal problems Can be a distributed avenue for power generation Suitable for industrial and domestic waste biomass

AD – Current and Future Trends Current Modifications in reactor designs and processes for higher efficiency of digestion Newer and more efficient gas engines Future Using the AD effluent to grow biofuel feedstock such as algae

Other Trends and Innovations Use of renewable energy such as solar thermal to produce syngas New technologies and processes for biomass harvesting, processing and handling. Dedicated energy crops for power production Innovations in biomass logistics and transportation.

Biomass Power – Now and Future ParameterNow (2010)Future (2020) Distributed electricity generation Biomass has a minor contribution Biomass will be a major contributor Use in cofiring in power plantsFewer than 1% of power plants use biomass A much larger % of utility power will be from biomass Use of feedstockPrimarily waste biomass and assorted Dedicated energy crops Related revenue streamsSome additional revenue streams already present A more established end user market for co-products Standalone renewable electricity source? Primarily standalone modeWill be used in conjunction with other renewable electricity sources

Inference Biomass has the potential to be a more significant contributor to the world’s “green” electricity For this to happen, significant advances in technology and processes are required The pace at which advances are taking place are less than satisfactory; higher governmental and industry support for R&D and incentives required

Thank you Narasimhan Santhanam Energy Alternatives India, Mob: