1. Tim Rook CEng MCIBSE MIMechE
Biomass
Tim Rook CEng MCIBSE MIMechE

2. .
Biomass is a very low carbon source of energy if the biomass originates from a sustainable source. An EA study has shown that SRC chips can be anywhere from 30 to 85% less emissions compared with gas.
However straw can be around 35% more CO2. The study shows how important transport, land change and use of high nitrogen fertilisers can dramatically shift the carbon density of biomass.
Interestingly the study goes on to say that by 2030 biomass for power only will have grid carbon equivalency. Meaning that beyond that point biomass power generation creates more CO2 than the grid norm. A similar situation but in 2018 has been shown for gas CHP.
Therefore heat lead CHP, or at least CHP, will become the more important biomass use. Indeed the situation may lead to stranded assets for power only sites.
Of course markets and technology deployment etc. do not roll out as we expect. The current carbon price is almost as low as it has ever been at about Euro4, not too long ago it was predicted that the carbon price would be Euro70.

3. Price and availability
Biomass supply and price.
In my experience and so far as I’ve been able to research the biomass price has remained fairly stable, especially when compared to power, oil and gas prices.
IRENA predict that globally there will not be a biomass supply restriction in the medium term. This takes in to account efficiency increases, increased land use for agriculture, use of agri-waste and recycled materials. The Carbon Trust has highlighted the potential of grassy and woody feedstock together with technology that can handle a variety of fuels.
However the EU has issued a study that claims high grade pellet supply will see demand outstrip supply by It would therefore be wise to consider multi-fuel installations, more expensive than clean pellets but less long term risk. -
If I were planning a new biomass installation I would therefore be looking for; CHP/tri-gen, multi-fuel capability, fuel source locally at a scale that enables a high degree of engineering diligence but does not take too long in development.

4. There is no doubt that biomass was the winning technology from the RHI; of the 581KTCO2e increase in renewable heat 86% was wood. Incidentally the largest % growth of any heat technology was AD which doubled to 46KTCO2e in 2015. -
Looking at where biomass has been deployed; this can be split in to two main groups of “heat only, RHI enabled” and “Power and CHP, RO enabled”.

5. Heat Only - RHI
SME
Examining the RHI register and reports it can be seen that biomass installations are characterised by being; off gas grid, rural, in SME within the leisure and agricultural sectors, are retrofits and are incentivised financially. The single largest negative consideration was capex.

6. Heat & Power 159 Awaiting Construction 180 - Operational 108 < 5MW
75 CHP
159 Awaiting Construction
11 EfW
In the power and CHP sector; 180 operational sites of which 108 are less than 5MW, 75 are CHP, 11 are energy from waste and 3 are co-firing. A further 159 are awaiting construction. A quick look at the dates that sites are brought in to operation shows a dramatic increase in 2010, roughly in line with incentive release and planning periods.
In both cases the main drivers for deployment are financial, it is therefore here that the government should look for more low carbon heat.
EfW = MW [aberthaw, uskmouth, drax]
3 CoF

7. However not everyone in biomass world is happy
However not everyone in biomass world is happy. Anecdotal evidence and experience from our membership shows that many biomass systems are not functional. Generally failures can be attributed to; fit-for-planning-only, FM failures or excessive costs and engineering interface management. This last reason is the failure of design and construction engineers to integrate biomass properly, and to ensure systems provide the required operating conditions.

8. There are some really good success stories out there, I’d highlight the Blackburn Meadows biomass power station. This provides 30MWe to the grid and up to 25MWth to the city of Sheffield. On going challenges are making CHP viable via district heating, fuel supply and handling and emissions. It is preferable to have a CHP plant close to a population centre to reduce losses and capex, but away from populations for fuel delivery and emissions. -
It is my belief that biomass does have a future and that this will be concentrated in two main sectors; small scale heat only in rural locations and medium scale CHP or tri-gen plants. The first is likely to happen with limited government encouragement as the technology is now more established and fuel supply chains are growing in depth. The second needs more intervention but also it needs good engineering governance, they are sequential complex systems from fuel deliver to flue gas scrubbing. Having excellence in engineering from planning to maintenance will greatly reduce risks for investors.

9. It is also clear that new biomass technologies are being developed and getting these to market quickly will be vital to the UK carbon effort, once again the role on engineering and engineering governance must not be overlooked.