An Update of DOES Biomass Co-firing Program

摘要

The Department of Energy' biomass co-firing program is sponsored by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and managed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory. Co-firing is an effective way to utilize biomass and reduce carbon emissions. It has additional several advantages compared with using stand alone biomass facility including significantly lower capital costs, a greater ability in accommodating seasonal fluctuations in biomass supplies, and a higher efficiency in using biomass because fossil plants operate at high efficiency conditions. Co-firing also brings benefits to the fossil plants by reducing SO_X and NO_X emissions because biomass contains much less sulfur and has higher volatile content. By using co-firing the carbon emission from fossil fuel is reduced at a much lower cost than other CO_2 mitigation options. The DOE' s program has several years of successful implementation. Following 11 new projects awarded in FY2000 in areas of co-firing for emission reductions, gasification-based co-firing, low-rank coal co-firing, and university applications, five advanced co-firing projects were awarded in FY2001. The five advanced projects focus on biomass gasification and the use of product gas in advanced turbines, combined cycles, and reburn applications. The paper gives an overview of the overall program and the latest achievements in new projects.