NNE5-2000-00395 Forest Energy - A Solution for the Future Power Needs

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EESD (Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development) : Electricity : Forestry : Solid Biofuels : Thermochemical Conversion

Proposal No:	NNE5-2000-00395
Date Prepared:	February 2004
Source:	European Bio-Energy Projects (EUR 20808)

Introduction

Users of large amounts of energy, such as paper mills, face a new challenge, which is to adapt their strategies and modify their industries in order to progressively increase the share of renewable energy, and especially the bio-fuel use in their activities.

Large power companies within the forest industry are interested in using forest residue along with other raw materials for energy, such as bark, peat and fossil fuel. The increased use of forest residue for energy production requires, however, that the production, deliveries and quality of forest residues is secured. In addition the operations need to be financially viable and profitable.

In the past the production of bio-fuel has been more or less a 'hobby-like' operation. In this project the 'industrial' level of technology will be introduced to several European areas.

Activities

Timberjack has, together with its partners, developed the unique forest fuel production system that has been used at several power plants in Finland during this project. This technology is being further researched and developed as part of the FORENERGY project.

The aim is to demonstrate this new forest fuel production technology in other areas and conditions in Europe. Timberjack and UPMKymmene have, together, already demonstrated this technology in the Nordic conditions and the main challenge is to get it in operation in other EU countries.

Results

Since the start of the project there have been several technology demonstrations in various countries (Austria, Italy, France, Spain and Finland). In Spain there have been two systems in commercial operation since the beginning of 2003.

In Finland there are now over 20 systems in operation and the slash bundling technology has especially become a standard method. The slash bundles contain 1MWh of energy each and are easy to handle and store.

The biggest power plant using this technology is the world's largest biomass plant, Alholmens Kraft, which has a fuel power of 590MW. When optimised in the right way this technology should be applicable to any forested European country.

Impact and exploitation

In this project it is expected that several important areas and conditions will be tested by the technology. The production efficiency and economical viability should be assessed and the project should also show how the biomass can be utilised on a large scale using this modern technology.

The project should show an environmental power generation system that is economically competitive against the fossil systems. During the project there should be at least two to three pilot systems in operation in countries other than Finland.