Via a wide series of trials and tests on a number of different laboratory/pilot scale rigs it is intended to evolve new methodologies and test procedures for biomass or bio-waste/coal blends which will enable much wider use of co-firing to be used with confidence by major utility operators. The methodologies involve the use of fired simulators which represent as far as possible the temperature, residence time and gas atmospheres found in large coal fired boilers.

The data so derived will be anchored against data obtained initially from small furnaces, but then from the boilers of the large Utility Operators, participating in this programme. This will be incorporated into analytical/CFD models of large Utility boilers with a special emphasis on combustion, fouling, gas clean up effects and ash marketability.