Biomass in large electric utilities
The search for a method to reduce CO2 emissions from power plants has materialised into comprehensive development programmes in the Danish utility sector, and DONG Energy has delivered major contributions to this development, which has addressed several different technologies:

 

• Cofiring of straw in an existing coal-fired PF-boiler. The first plant of this type was commissioned in 1996.

• Separate biofuelled boiler supplying steam to an existing power plant. Operating experience with this type of plant dates back to 1997.

Advanced biomass processes

In co-operation with various partners DONG Energy is involved in the research of the processes of future plants utilising biomass for energy production. This work mainly focuses on straw, which is considered to be the most difficult of all biofuels. Examples of processes being investigated are pretreatments of fuel by either pyrolysis or a washing process aiming at converting straw into a fuel, which can be utilised in almost any type of plant without negative impact on corrosion, slagging, flue gas cleaning and utilisation of residues.