NNE5-2000-00312 A 1 MWe Biomass Fluidised Bed Gasifier Power Plant with Catalytic Conversion of Tars

Contacts
Summary Information



To find similar Items, click on a keyword below:
EESD (Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development) : Electricity : Thermochemical Conversion

Proposal No:	NNE5-2000-00312
Date Prepared:	February 2004
Source:	European Bio-Energy Projects (EUR 20808)

Introduction

The energy utilisation of green biomass is held back by the incurring tar content of the fuel gas produced. This causes irreversible damage to the gas engines since it blocks the pipe system within them. This problem is being confronted through the catalytic cracking of tars before their introduction into the gas engines. The project will also address a major environmental and disposal problem concerning biomass residues, which is faced by numerous local authorities in the regions of the EU.

Activities

The project implementation strategy is based on a team of excellence and relies on a multidisciplinary approach in order to execute a logical and performance-guided sequence of work packages for its successful completion. The aim is to demonstrate a full-scale gasification plant for the production of renewable energy. The innovative process has been designed in order to upgrade biomass residues to a clean fuel gas and subsequently to power; an approach that can find numerous applications at a regional level in the EU.

The consortium is led by ENVITEC, the most experienced company in Greece on environmental technology, while expert teams provide technical expertise for the design of the plant. In addition, the plant will solve a major environmental problem for the Municipality of Nea Makri (EL), while at the same time assisting with the integration of bioenergy projects with the local community.

The individual parts of the project have already been developed. However, the integration of all components is unique. The work is divided into work packages (WP) covering the design, construction, assembly, commissioning, demonstration and monitoring as well as actions to improve the acceptability of bio-energy by the local population.

Although it is not technical, the consortium considers the last WP as being very critical in order to overcome the non-technical barriers by the population of the regions of the European Union for bio-energy penetration. The project will finally prove the technical and economic viability of the proposed innovative technology and its suitability for power generation. The technology also has a very high export potential, thus supporting European SMEs.

Progress

The project is at the design phase, while construction of the digestion plant is in the pipeline.

Impact and exploitation

The results expected from the project will demonstrate the successful design and efficient operation of a biomass gasification power generating plant. Over a period of one year, the operation and monitoring will demonstrate the overall technical reliability, environmental soundness and economic viability of the proposed methodology.

Dissemination activities carried out during the course of the project will raise awareness and encourage replication of the opportunities and potential of the proposed technology, not only in the European Union but also on a worldwide scale.

Moreover, the project intends to address all those limitations that restrain the wide exploitation of biomass gasification. This will be achieved through the technical solutions provided to all the process phases (pre-treatment of biomass residues, fluidised bed gasification, adequate gas cleaning and specially modified gas engine/generator).