Page 10 - Energize April 2022

NEWS

Bio-energy solutions: A better

alternative for fossil fuels

he power generation industry independent power plants (IPPs). The IPPs play a prominent role in the generation of power
around the globe has been that is supplied to the grid or specific customers. For most IPPs, a feed-in tariff (FiT) or power
Tundergoing a sweeping purchase agreement (PPA) provides a long-term price guarantee.
transformation over the last few years, and Industrial waste generated from agriculture and forest produce based plants like the
this phenomenon is expected to continue rice mills, sugar mills and palm oil mills, along with wood waste from pulp and paper mills,
in the coming years as well. The rapid can be feasibly used as biomass to produce power for captive consumption. Through the
depletion of fossil fuel reserves, combined appropriate use of steam and increased use of non-bagasse (e.g., wood waste) fuel for
with the environmental impact caused power generation, the pulp and paper industry is continuously concentrating on improving
by CO2 emissions, has pushed the world its energy efficiency.
to look for alternative sustainable energy At present, process heat accounts for the co-generation of around 70% of biomass
resources. This urge to find a suitable power. While industrial process heating applications are powered by these heat sources
substitute has resulted in changing energy worldwide, they are being used for district heating in European countries.
generation mix and prompted the shift Steam turbine companies provide innovative solutions which use low-pressure steam
from conventional energy sources (fossil generated through an extraction turbine for heating applications, by producing both heat
fuel-such as oil, gas and coal) to renewable and electric power (CHP). The cost of power generated through this process is 14 to 15%
energy sources. lower than the cost of power generated through independent power plants. Furthermore,
There has been an increasing focus the customer can get only electric power through IPPs.
on replacing the existing coal-fired power The power generated through CHPs is beneficial for the customer even in comparison
plants with clean-fuel fired power plants to solar energy, which is a renewable energy source, as the energy from the sun can be
to reduce the carbon footprint worldwide. used only during the daytime, whereas the power produced through CHPs can address the
Renewable energy comprising non- combined heat and power requirements of the plant 24/7.
thermal (such as hydro, solar and wind) The rapid increase in electricity consumption, and growing carbon emission levels, are
and thermal energy sources can play a creating the need for alternative energy solutions across the globe. Unleashing sustainable
vital role in reducing carbon emissions. power generation is possible by increasing the focus on electricity generation through
The bio-energy industry, the biomass energy sources that are cost-effective too, as they combine both heat and electricity.
prime thermal energy source, turns
unconventional feedstock into solid fuels Case study1: Biomass based power plant in Turkey
(biomass or wood pellets, sugarcane Driven by a 16 MW condensing steam turbine with an inlet steam parameter of 42 Bar and
residues and palm oil residues, etc.), 450°C with 0,1 Bar exhaust
liquid biofuels (ethanol, etc.) and gaseous
fuels (biogas, landfill gas). These fuels are
then used to produce electricity, heat and
transport fuels.
According to an international report
on solid biomass, at the beginning of 2020,
there were around 4200 active biomass-
based power plants worldwide, which had
an installed power generation capacity
of about 72,5 GW. The installed power
generation potential through biomass-
based power plants is expected to reach
90,9 GW by the end of 2029, by adding
around 1250 plants. This would take the
combined total to 5450 plants.
The endeavor to use locally available
agricultural and forest residues has
benefitted generating power closer to the
point of consumption, which has enabled
the establishment of biomass-based

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