Bioenergy 101: Biomass Properties and Emissions Fernando Preto CanmetENERGY Yukon Bioenergy Forum: Indigenous Bioenergy Opportunities Whitehorse, March, 2016

About CanmetENERGY CanmetENERGY is the science and technology branch of Natural Resources Canada and operates three labs across Canada with over 450 scientists, engineers and technicians The Bioenergy Program at CanmetENERGY-Ottawa assists Canadians in developing cleaner, more energy-efficient biomass conversion processes.

Today there is a growing interest and urgency to develop heat and electricity from clean, renewable sources – like biomass…

Biomass energy (Bioenergy) developments offer sustainable, local energy supply with economic and social benefits:  Economic benefits from new jobs and skills, and new businesses from feedstock harvesting, fibre supply, processing and transport, sale of secondary products and fuels  Fossil fuels displacement, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, reduced waste, protection of ecologically sensitive areas and air quality improvement Bioenergy Opportunities…

Biomass Challenges  Perception  Emissions  Low Density / Distributed Supply  Variation in Properties

Education 6 Biomass is Local Biomass is the only form of renewable energy that is baseload and reliable

7 Perception by many that the use of wood for energy is low-tech, smoky, dirty, and harmful to healthy forests … in fact technologically advanced, highly efficient and clean bioenergy systems are available

Biomass, under sustainable forest management practices is a renewable resource Canada’s forest and forest management are some of the best in the world: CSA; FSC; SFI Certified

wood wood chips sawmill residues manufacturing residues roadside slash forest management debris fire & pest killed forest urban forestry thinning “urban” residues crop residues energy crops Heat Power Liquid biofuels When burned, the energy stored in biomass is released to produce heat or electricity = bioenergy Bioenergy Biomass refers to any organic material derived from plants that use sunlight to grow

wood wood chips sawmill residues manufacturing residues roadside slash forest management debris fire & pest killed forest urban forestry thinning “urban” residues crop residues energy crops These are all biomass but they are not interchangeable

Equivalent Energy Content Straw Wood Diesel

Biomass Fuel Density Different bulk densities and properties make equipment design and operation specific to the fuel for which it was designed (including pretreatment). Once equipment has been engineered for a specific fuel it should not be used with other fuels to prevent efficiency losses, emissions increases and operational problems. Kg/m 3

Biomass Emissions Wood Combustion if frequently targeted as a significant source of particulate (PM 2.5 ) and VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) emissions in Canada This is based mostly on ambient monitoring and historical data. Clean, efficient furnaces and stoves are readily available

Particulate Emissions 14

15

CanmetENERGY Residential Biomass Lab

- old “iron box with a hole in the back” - partial sidewall refractory lining only Level 1 Appliance (FMB)

- current “conventional” design - baffle at back near exit - partial refractory lining Level 2 Appliance (CTS)

- USEPA Certified Stove - Full refractory - Refractory baffle - Air staging Level 3 Appliance (RCY)

Low HighLowHighLowHigh Firing Rate PM (g/MJ) TPM PM 10 PM 2.5 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Appliance Factors Affecting Particulate Emissions

The primary cause of emissions from residential combustion systems is the transient nature of appliance operation

Heat Storage reduces cycling and significantly reduces emissions

FMB Level 1 Appliance

VOC Results CTS Level 2 Appliance

RCY Level 3 Appliance

VOC Results DPP Pellet Stove

Effect of Moisture on Emissions 30% 15%

Biomass Moisture  Biomass moisture content is defined as the amount of water in the biomass expressed as a percentage of the material’s weight.  The moisture content can vary from less than 20% for many of the agricultural wastes, like husks and straws, and up to 60% for fresh cut wood. 28

Effect of Moisture on Boiler Efficiency An increase in the moisture content of biomass from 0% to 40% will decrease the energy available by over 65%

Sampling Filter Plugged Steam Vent Furnace Stack

Sample: TPM 230 mg/m3; VOC 132 ug/m3 Steam Vent Furnace Stack

Summary  Biomass, under sustainable forest management practices is a renewable resource  Biomass is the only form of renewable energy that is baseload and reliable  Technologically advanced, highly efficient and clean bioenergy systems are available  Combustion (conversion) equipment must be matched to the biomass fuel for which it was designed  In order to minimize emissions and maximize efficiency always use seasoned (dry) biomass 32

33 Thank you for your time and attention! Fernando Preto CanmetENERGY – Ottawa Tel:

Biomass Energy Content 34 Grasses Wood Wastes 18.5 MJ/kg Dry Basis -10% +10%

Biomass Energy Content 35 Grasses Wood Wastes 18.5 MJ/kg Dry Basis -10% +10% The factors having greatest influence on energy content are moisture content and ash content [alkali metal in ash]