Efficient bioenergy for heat and power
Use of biomass is a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to produce electrical power and heat, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions. Although bioenergy is up, progress in achieving the EU carbon dioxide targets is rather slow. In the EU-funded project PYROGAS(opens in new window) (The integration of intermediate pyrolysis and vapour gasification to create an effective and efficient biomass-to-energy system for combined heat and power), the European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI) and a European small-to-medium-sized enterprise joined efforts demonstrating an innovative concept for efficient bioenergy production. The concept relies on integrating biomass pyrolysis and gasification processes to deliver power and heat. Through pyrolysis, scientists convert a feedstock that can be a low- or negative-value waste into biochar that is then separated as a valuable product. The mixture of pyrolysis vapours and wood pellets is introduced to a fluidised bed gasifier to produce combustible gases. The gasifier is connected to an internal combustion engine to produce power and heat. Pyrolysis tests at laboratory scale were undertaken on a wide range of feedstocks, including wood, miscanthus, meat and bone meal, brewers' spent grain, sewage sludge and deinking sludge. The feeding rate in this innovative reactor called Pyroformer was 10 kg/h. Pyrolysis liquids were then tested in a diesel engine and the quality of biochar for use as soil improver was assessed. Several gasification tests were carried out at semi-industrial scale with a feeding rate of 300 kg/h. The gasifier was then coupled to a 400 kW dual fuel engine for the delivery of heat and power to three buildings in the campus. PYROGAS is the integrated pyrolysis and gasification to produce a cost-efficient flexible process for power and heat production from biomass and waste. Given that the obtained valuable biochar can sequester carbon in the soil, such technology could also greatly contribute to zero or negative carbon energy.
