A biomass-fired power plant produces electricity and heat by burning biomass in a boiler. The most common types of boilers are hot water boilers and steam boilers.
Wood chips, residues and other types of biomass are used in the boilers, in the same way as coal, natural gas and oil.
Co-firing Biomass
Co-firing biomass with coal (replacing a portion of coal with biomass) is an effective method of using biomass for energy purposes and to reduce CO2 emissions. Coal plants can be made suitable to replace part of the coal by biomass or even to convert fully to biomass – turning a coal plant into a 100% renewable energy plant.
Biomass For Electricity Generation
Forest products – Woody biomass from multi-functional forests constitutes the majority of today's biomass. Pellets and briquettes are manufactured by compressing by-products from the forestry industry, such as sawdust, bark or small diameter roundwood. They are easy to transport, and therefore suitable for export.
Waste, by-products and residues – Residues include manure, sewage, sludge and other degradable waste. Liquid biomass waste, such as manure, household waste and sewage plant residues, can be digested to biogas.
Energy crops - Energy crops are not used on a large scale for electricty or heat production today. As demand for sustainable biomass increases over time such energy crops may play a more important role in the future. Examples include woody short rotation forestry/crops such as eucalyptus, poplar and willow. But also herbaceous (grassy) energy crops such as miscanthus can be used. Especially with the use of energy crops it is important to ensure these plantations are established and managed in a sustainable manner.
Carbon Neutrality
Carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere when biomass is burned, in the same way as when fossil fuels are burned. But when biomass grows it binds carbon dioxide through photosynthesis.
The carbon dioxide released through biomass combustion is captured by growing biomass. Properly managed biomass is therefore carbon neutral over time.
There is currently a debate on the time period within which biomass is truly carbon neutral. Vattenfall is of the opinion that biomass can and must make a meaningful contribution to the goal of limiting global warming to a maximum of two degrees.
As such Vattenfall actively contributes to the debate on the carbon neutrality of different biomass types and is also directly involved in the definition of criteria that ensure timely carbon neutrality; for example in the Netherlands where sustainability criteria for biomass are defined that include criteria that ensure such timely carbon neutrality.
Wood chips, residues and other types of biomass are used in the boilers, in the same way as coal, natural gas and oil.
Co-firing Biomass
Co-firing biomass with coal (replacing a portion of coal with biomass) is an effective method of using biomass for energy purposes and to reduce CO2 emissions. Coal plants can be made suitable to replace part of the coal by biomass or even to convert fully to biomass – turning a coal plant into a 100% renewable energy plant.
Biomass For Electricity Generation
Forest products – Woody biomass from multi-functional forests constitutes the majority of today's biomass. Pellets and briquettes are manufactured by compressing by-products from the forestry industry, such as sawdust, bark or small diameter roundwood. They are easy to transport, and therefore suitable for export.
Waste, by-products and residues – Residues include manure, sewage, sludge and other degradable waste. Liquid biomass waste, such as manure, household waste and sewage plant residues, can be digested to biogas.
Energy crops - Energy crops are not used on a large scale for electricty or heat production today. As demand for sustainable biomass increases over time such energy crops may play a more important role in the future. Examples include woody short rotation forestry/crops such as eucalyptus, poplar and willow. But also herbaceous (grassy) energy crops such as miscanthus can be used. Especially with the use of energy crops it is important to ensure these plantations are established and managed in a sustainable manner.
Carbon Neutrality
Carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere when biomass is burned, in the same way as when fossil fuels are burned. But when biomass grows it binds carbon dioxide through photosynthesis.
The carbon dioxide released through biomass combustion is captured by growing biomass. Properly managed biomass is therefore carbon neutral over time.
There is currently a debate on the time period within which biomass is truly carbon neutral. Vattenfall is of the opinion that biomass can and must make a meaningful contribution to the goal of limiting global warming to a maximum of two degrees.
As such Vattenfall actively contributes to the debate on the carbon neutrality of different biomass types and is also directly involved in the definition of criteria that ensure timely carbon neutrality; for example in the Netherlands where sustainability criteria for biomass are defined that include criteria that ensure such timely carbon neutrality.
Biomass - A short CO2 Cyclus
CO2-emissions biomass pellets over the entire chain
Biomass become Electricity and Heat
''Fuel is stored in a bunker for a further transport to the boiler. In the boiler, water is heated to high temperature under pressure. Steam from the boiler powers the turbine, which is connected to the generator. Steam that has passed through the turbine heats district heating water, which is distributed through the district heating network's piping.'' (Vattenfall, 2015)
''Fuel is stored in a bunker for a further transport to the boiler. In the boiler, water is heated to high temperature under pressure. Steam from the boiler powers the turbine, which is connected to the generator. Steam that has passed through the turbine heats district heating water, which is distributed through the district heating network's piping.'' (Vattenfall, 2015)
Vattenfall, (2015). Biomass Plant - How It Works. Available at : https://corporate.vattenfall.com/about-energy/renewable-energy-sources/biomass/how-it-works/