Why use biomass CHP?
Biomass combined heat and power can be a very useful technology for sites that have a constant demand for both heat and electricity, particularly when the site is off the mains gas grid and where biomass fuel is readily available.
Small scale biomass CHP systems can run on either wood pellets or wood chip, however it is essential that the fuel used is of the highest quality and has a very low moisture content (wood chip has less than 15% moisture content typically).
Small scale CHP boilers usually rely on pyrolysis (heating the fuel in the absence of air). This produces syngas which is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide with a little carbon dioxide. This gas is fed through a spark ignition engine which in essence is the same as a gas powered CHP unit. The challenge is to produce ‘clean’ gas although in reality maintenance is far greater than with mains gas powered CHP.
Medium and large scale biomass CHP systems tend to utilise steam to drive a turbine, or Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) that uses a turbine driven by gas which boils at a lower temperature than water. Both are mature technologies with excellent durability and reliability, which call for far less maintenance than is required for gasification CHP.
So what constitutes a good CHP project?
The capital cost of biomass CHP is substantially greater than for gas powered CHP, while the running costs for both fuel and maintenance are also significantly higher for biomass combined heat and power systems. However biomass CHP is supported by RHI for the thermal output.
Where most gas powered CHP units can ‘modulate’ (respond to reduced electrical or heat load, usually to around 50% of peak output), biomass CHP boilers will run at maximum output consistently – it cannot run on part load. As a result, the ideal biomass CHP project is for the unit to provide a base load of electricity and heat, with the unit running for as close to 8,000 hours as possible.
Where mains gas is readily available, gas powered CHP can provide a fantastic opportunity to significantly reduce energy bills and carbon emissions.
Is a combined heat and power system the best option for me?
There are some advantages when considering adopting biomass-fueled energy systems. With 10 years’ experience, Treco is best positioned to talk you through your project and if biomass CHP or gas CHP is best suited to your needs. Please contact our technical team if you are interested in any of these technologies.
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Look through our other low carbon technologies
Biomass boilers
Biomass boilers produce heat by burning biological material from a renewable and sustainable source. Virgin wood is the most common type, but the appropriate biomass boiler can also use waste as a source of fuel.
Combined Heat & Power
Combined Heat & Power (CHP) can be used to generate electric and heat by burning biomass or fossil fuel. Sites that have a high and continuous heat and electric demand will benefit the most from this technology through fuel savings.
Drying systems
Biomass boilers can be utilised with a drying system to dry products such as crops and wood to increase their value, or alternatively to lower the weight of waste prior to disposal by evaporating water. This is classified as process heat, with some of these being an approved use on the RHI scheme.
District heating
District heating schemes allow multiple buildings to be supplied heat by a single boiler, thus enabling large savings in installation and operating. These schemes become progressively more cost effective with increased amounts of buildings that are connected.
Treco's RHI calculator
Try our RHI calculator to work out the fuel cost savings, potential RHI payments & payback you can expect from you biomass project. Developed in house by us, all you have to do is enter your boiler size, installed cost, current fossil fuel usage and your preferred biomass fuel type.
Buying, selling & moving existing biomass boilers
Due to recent changes in the government RHI rates, an older boiler can give you a more lucrative pay back tariff.