New model assessment for hybrid energy
With the ever-growing need to find cleaner and cheaper fuel sources, it has become apparent that new technologies are a necessity. Moreover, such technologies would need to comply with increasing environmental policies related to the reduction of emissions in all their aspects. Specifically, with regards to co-combustion technologies in which biomass/waste and coal are used, all such related economic and technical aspects would need to be investigated. As such a recent EC-funded project looked at various aspects of hybrid fuel technologies to determine their suitability. Since co-combustion technologies produce wastage in the form of particle deposits and emissions, the project will investigate gas cleaning technologies, associated costs involved and the overall system efficiencies. Additionally other aspects such as emission compliance and benefits will also be looked into. The purpose of such a study is to clearly identify and quantify the cost reduction potential, waste reduction and process improvements. Laboratory testing of various methods is likely to produce important indicators to such. This is important to determine, for if they cannot be clearly shown to be cost-effective and beneficial, the likelihood of it becoming a viable economic processes in minimum. The study is looking for collaboration with partners that can develop a commercial interest based on the techno-economic model and for further research or development support.
