Large-scale production of charcoal for use in coal fired power and co-generation plants

Objectif

The overall goal is to develop a new process for large-scale production of charcoal for use as sustainable fuel in coal-fired power plants. To comply with power sector quality standards and price levels charcoal production costs will need to be reduced drastically. This will be achieved by developing an innovative process design, with optimised extent of carbonisation, higher conversion yields (30% increase), and significant economies of scale (scale-up factor 10). Specific aim is to reduce production costs by 30%, from 200 to 140 EUR per tonne. Main project activities include: 1) determining charcoal specifications; 2) lab and pilot scale carbonisation experiments, including process modelling & conceptual design; 3) research on feedstock drying & charcoal densification; 4) full-scale co-firing experiments; and 5) engineering of a large-scale carbonisation retort and plant. The 4 SME project partners jointly represent the complete charcoal production and supply chain, whereas the 3 RTD Performers are experts in selected bioenergy fields. Power company Electrabel completes the partnership. If the targeted price level is achieved a large market emerges for the SME Partners.

Kyoto targets (minus 6% greenhouse gas emissions in 2008-2012) and the EU renewable electricity directive (22% renewable by 2010) force energy companies to look for low-carbon technologies and fuels. Co-firing biomass is an efficient and cost-effective method to comply with these objectives, but the use of raw biomass is technically complicated and not always viable. Using wood charcoal as co-firing fuel can overcome these hurdles. Interest of the energy sector in the concept is demonstrated by the participation of end user Electrabel who will perform a full-scale experiment (500 t of charcoal) in its CG-13 coal plant. Electrabel aims to co-fire 240,000 tonnes of biomass (charcoal) per annum by 2008. Other power producers have adopted similar targets.

Champ scientifique

• ingénierie et technologie › génie électrique, génie électronique, génie de l’information › industrie électrotechnique › énergie électrique
• ingénierie et technologie › génie de l'environnement › énergie et combustibles › énergie fossile › charbon
• ingénierie et technologie › génie électrique, génie électronique, génie de l’information › industrie électrotechnique › ingénierie énergétique › production d’électricité › production combinée chaleur et électricité
• sciences agricoles › biotechnologie agricole › biomasse
• sciences agricoles › agriculture, sylviculture et pêche › sylviculture

Programme(s)

• FP6-SME - Horizontal research activities involving SMEs: Specific activities covering wider field of research under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006.

Thème(s)

• SME-1 - Co-operative Research (all areas of science and technology)

Appel à propositions

FP6-2003-SME-1
Voir d’autres projets de cet appel

Régime de financement

COOPERATIVE -

Coordinateur

BTG BIOMASS TECHNOLOGY GROUP BV

Adresse

Colosseum 11, 7521 Pv
217 Enschede
Pays-Bas

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Participants (7)

AS ENER EA

Estonie

Adresse

Turba 3
Pärnu

Liens

GREENCOAL B.V.

Pays-Bas

Adresse

Odensestraat 17
Hengelo

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INSULCON B.V.

Pays-Bas

Adresse

Zilverhoek 4
134 Steenbergen Nb

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PRZEDSIEBIORSTWO PRODUKCYJNO HANDLOWE CENTROPOL JERZY CICHON

Pologne

Adresse

Hoza 65
Kielce

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UNIVERSITAET KASSEL

Allemagne

Adresse

Moenchebergstrasse 19
Kassel

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SWEDISH UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

Suède

Adresse

Arrheniusplan 2c
7070 Uppsala

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ELECTRABEL NEDERLAND N.V.

Pays-Bas

Adresse

Dokter Stolteweg 92, 8025 Az
10087 Zwolle

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