Wood Pellets for BioPower in the US and in the EU

Anthony Baldridge, Tina Dreaden, Matyas Kosa, Kathy Woody, Christina Young Art J. Ragauskas

07-14-2009 Georgia Institute of Technology Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Outline
What is BioPower? Effect on Climate Change Forces that accelerate BioPower research Wood pellets Production facilities Markets for wood pellets Chemical composition Prospects
Ragauskas, A. J. et al. (2006) Science 311, 484-489 2

Biopower
Renewable biomass energy/ electricity Biomass can be virgin or waste
Forests Cultivated land Sewage Agricultural crop & forestry residues

Petrou, E. C. and Pappis, C. P. (2009) Energy and Fuels 23, 1055-1066 http://www.ipst.gatech.edu/faculty_new/faculty_bios/ragauskas/ragauskas_biofuels_1.html

Why biopower?
Considerations:
worldwide energy demand expected to grow by > 50% by 2025 rising oil prices global climate change economic downturn in U.S.

Biopower from biofuels:

Decrease greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 & CH4) Shift dependence away from foreign petroleum Economic capital
Ragauskas, A. J. et al. (2006) Science 311, 484-489 Koh, L. P. and Ghazoul, J. (2008) Biological Conservation 141, 2450-2460 http://www.ipst.gatech.edu/faculty_new/faculty_bios/ragauskas/ragauskas_biofuels_today.html

Biopower applications
Electricity production
Gas & coal fired power plants

Residential space heating

Pellet burning fireplaces

Transportation fuels
Personal & mass transportation

Junginger, M. et al. (2008) Biomass and Bioenergy 32, 717-729 http://www.ipst.gatech.edu/faculty_new/faculty_bios/ragauskas/ragauskas_biofuels_today.html

Biopower Cycle

Image taken from: www.ornl.gov

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Environmental Impacts of Cycle

Greenhouse gas emissions are of great concern. Finding ways to decrease amount of emitted CO2 , CH4 , and other gases is needed. Biopower addresses these by: Using sources that can produce a carbon neutral system/cycle Use of animal waste can reduce pollution and methane emission Biomass (wood) use prevents wildfires which: Globally are 40% of gross global CO2 emissions Allows for controlled combustion uses (180%) more efficient Motivates forest understory gathering of wood material
http://www.ipst.gatech.edu/faculty_new/faculty_bios/ragauskas/ragauskas_biofuels.html 7

Power Choices and Climate Change By adapting current

methods emitted CO2 and other greenhouse gases could greatly diminish. Currently, wood pellets are gaining use in co firing plants that use coal. Biopower production is rising in the United States and Europe. Substitution of fossil fuel with biomass/ biopower decreases net emissions by 750% (note figure).
Image taken from: http://www.uscg.mil/d1/sfoSouthwestHarbor/Innovation/images/pellet_enviro.jpg http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/biomass/biomass.gif

Categories of biofuels
Solid biofuels
Pellets, sewage, wood
methyl-palmitate ethanol

Liquid biofuels
Biodiesel (i.e., long-chain fatty acids), bioethanol, biobutanol, green diesel

Gaseous biofuels
Thermal or microbial degradation of biomass used to form biogas, i.e. CH4 or H2
Petrou, E. C. and Pappis, C. P. (2009) Energy and Fuels 23, 1055-1066 9

Pertinent research
Plant biochemistry & genetics
increased yield, resistance, sustainability

Biorefineries: conversion & fractionation of raw materials (polysaccharides & lignin) to products
Direct energy, transportation fuels, chemical products (solvents, plastics, fragrances)

Production of biofuels
Cost reduction & efficiency
Ragauskas, A. J. et al. (2006) Science 311, 484-489 10

Biopower support
Global: International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy Task 40 (2003)
Develop bioenergy trade to secure supply & demand in a sustainable way

National: Obamas Economic Stimulus (2009)

$54 billion towards green energy (research, tax cuts, etc.)

Local: Georgia Power will convert coal-fired power plant to burn wood chips (2009)
One of largest biomass power plant in U.S.
http://www.georgiapower.com/nuclear/plantmitchell.asp
Junginger, M. et al. (2008) Biomass and Bioenergy 32, 717-729 Department of Energy, www.doe.gov

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What are Wood Pellets?

Madefromwoodwaste (e.g.sawdustandwoodchips) Densifiedwoodparticles: lessthen10%moisture Cylindrical Diameter:612mm Length:530mm

http://www.ipst.gatech.edu/faculty_new/faculty_bios/ragauskas/ragauskas_biofuels_2.html 12

Applications of Wood Pellets

Household use Central heating boilers: Heat transferred to water heater and heat distribution system for entire home Stoves: Provide heating and cooking for a single room Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Plants Woody biomass-fueled power plants Co-firing wood pellets and coal: wood pellets partially substitute for coal, decreasing net CO2 and SO2 emissions with respect to burning straight coal.

Fiedler, F. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2004, 8, 201. Hartmann, D.; et al. Biomass and Bioenergy 1999, 16, 397. http://www.pelletheat.org/3/residential/burningFuel.html

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Production process overview

milling

drying Rawwoodwaste

(pellet-press or die)

Pelletisation
Holm,J.K.;etal.Energy&Fuels 2006,20,26862694.

Woodpellets
14

http://www.ipst.gatech.edu/faculty_new/faculty_bios/ragauskas/ragauskas_biofuels_2.html

Pellet Production
Pelletisation (CompressionofPellets)

RawMaterial

Dryingand Processing

Cooling

PelletTransport/ Storage

After the raw material is dried, it is extruded through cylindrical channels. The friction between the raw material and the press results in compression of the wood into pellets.
Wang,C.;Yan,J.InternationalJournalofGreenEnergy2005,2,91107.
http://www.ipst.gatech.edu/faculty_new/faculty_bios/ragauskas/ragauskas_biofuels_2.html 15

Compression of Wood Pellets

Vs.

Compressing pellets requires energy so why make densified wood pellets? Dense particles give longer burn times and higher energy efficiency Lower transportation costs Increases storage capacity

Obernberger, I. et al. Biomass and Bioenergy, 2004, 27, 653; Holm, J. K. et al. Energy & Fuels 2006, 20, 2686-2694. http://www.ipst.gatech.edu/faculty_new/faculty_bios/ragauskas/ragauskas_biofuels_2.html 16

Current Production Plants in the Southeast

Image taken from: http://www.pelletheat.org/3/residentail/fuelAvaliablity.cfm#south

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Current Production Plants in Europe

Image taken from: http://www.bioenergyinternational.com

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Market for wood pellets

Depends on:
Availability (cost of transport) Heating-value/cost ratio compared to other fuels

Possible consumers:
Energy suppliers Commercial/Industrial Residential

Creating demand for equipment used in production and consumption of pellets

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Heating Value vs. Cost in the US

Pellet Fuels Institute www.pelletheat.org

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Energy Suppliers
Biomass is the only truly carbon neutral energy DOE: 45x109 kWh/y from biomass in US 1 MWh of biomass power -> 1.6 t of CO2 emission is avoided, hence substituting new carbon release with recycling CO2 => reduction of 30x106 t/y Oglethorpe as an example:
Building: 3, 100 MW biomass electric generating plants by 2015 Fuel: process round wood, primary manufacturing residue, harvest residue 400-500x106 $/facility with 40 jobs in each NRECA, Green Power, Ag Energy Working: 25% of energy from renewable locally grown sources
Department of Energy (DOE) USA Biomass Oglethorpe Power National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Green Power EMC Ag Energy Working Group 21

Other Markets

Commercial/Industrial:
Examples: Theater (Elma, WA), manufacturing facility (Claremont, NH), farm (Sutton, Quebec), prison (Walla Walla, WA)

Residential:
Over 1 million homes using pellet stoves in the US, in 2008 (www.pelletfuel.org)

Equipment:
For pelletizing: mills, grinders, dryers, pelletizing, packaging For consumers: silos, stoves, boilers

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General Chemical Properties of Pellets

high density ensures high heating value and steady combustion behavior lower water content -> better heating value lower ash content -> avoid slag binding agent, preferably natural like corn or maize starch to improve pellet formation
avoid chemical glues which contribute to pollution

F. Fiedler, The State of the Art of Small Scale Pellet-Based Heating Systems and Relevant Regulations in 23 Sweden, Austria, and Germany.

Fuel Properties as a Function of Chemical Constituents

Ideally, wood pellets should contain chemically untreated material that is free of additives However, sometimes this is not the case what results in pollutant emissions, deposit formations, and corrosion issues Emission - increased contents of N, Cl, and S as well as heavy metals Corrosion - increased heavy metals and Cl contaminate ash Deposit formation - increased K - negative effect on ash melting and contributes to higher aerosol formation

I. Obernberger, G. Thek, Physical Characterization and Chemical Composition of Densified Biomass Fuels with Regard to their Combustion Behavior, Proceedings of 1st World Conference on Pellets, Sept. 2002, 24 Stockholm, Sweden, ISBN 91-631-2833-0, pg. 115-122.

Chemical Composition of Wood Pellets (General Analysis)

parameter diameter D length bulk density particle density water content ash content GCV NCV C H N S Cl K abrasion starch content Cd Pb Zn Cr Cu unit mm mm kg/m3 kg/dm3 wt.% (w.b.) wt.% (d.b.) MJ/kg (d.b.) MJ/kg (d.b.) wt.% (d.b.) wt.% (d.b.) wt.% (d.b.) mg/kg (d.b.) mg/kg (d.b.) mg/kg (d.b.) wt.% (w.b.) wt.% (d.b.) mg/kg (d.b.) mg/kg (d.b.) mg/kg (d.b.) mg/kg (d.b.) mg/kg (d.b.) average value 7.1 16.1 591 1.18 7.7 0.51 20.3 19 50.3 5.7 0.22 278 48 493 4.05 0.22 0.14 0.43 13.2 0.6 1.1 minimum 5.9 8.6 520 1.03 5.7 0.17 19.8 18.6 49.5 5.5 0.2 52 10 302 0.58 0 0.06 0.07 9.3 0.1 0.7 maximum 10.2 29.6 640 1.3 9 1.61 20.7 19.4 51.9 6.1 0.64 1,922 126 1,180 12.53 1 0.2 2 25.4 3 2.7 standard deviation 1.2 5.2 39 0.06 0.9 0.3 0.2 2 0.6 0.2 0.1 454 27 252 3.52 0.42 0.03 0.44 3.6 0.8 0.5

38 densified biofuels were studied (60%) were wood pellets collected from 30 different producers located in Austria, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Czech Republic, and Norway

Table/data adapted from: I. Obernberger, G. Thek, Physical Characterization and Chemical Composition of Densified Biomass Fuels with Regard to their Combustion Behavior, Proceedings of 1st World Conference on Pellets, Sept. 2002, Stockholm, Sweden, ISBN 91-631-2833-0, pg. 115-122.

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Example: Wood Pellets, Sweden

Run S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 Moisture Content (%) 10 8.2 11.7 11.7 8.2 10 11.7 8.2 8.2 11.7 10 8.2 Fresh pine fraction (%) 45 100 100 80 80 45 0 0 0 0 45 50 Stored pine Spurce fraction (%) fraction (%) 45 10 0 0 0 0 0 20 0 20 45 10 80 20 80 20 100 0 100 0 45 10 50 0

Fuel pellets production in Sweden is mainly from sawdust and planar shavings of Scots pine and Norway spruce Pellets were analyzed for moisture and composition
M. Arshadi, R. Gref, P. Geladi, S.-A., Dahlqvist, T. Lestander, The Influence of Raw Material Characteristics on the Industrial Pelletizing Process and Pellet Quality, Fuel Processing Technology, 89 (2008), 1442-1447. 26

Pellet Standards Ensure Quality

Pellet standard Parameter Unit Sweden - SS 187120 Class 1 25 4 xd 1 0.6 10 2 0.8 0.7 16.9 0.08
3

Austria O-Norm M7135 4-10 5 xd 1.12 10 2 0.5 18 0.04 0.3 0.02 2

Germany DIN 51731 DIN plus 4-10 50 1.0-1.4 12

-

Class 2 25 5 xd 1 0.5 10 2 1.5 1.5 16.9 0.08

3

Class 3 25 6 xd 1 0.5 12 2 1.5 <1.5 15.1

3 3 3 4

Diameter (d) mm Length mm 3 Density kg/dm Water content % Abrasion/small particles % Ash content % Upper caloric value MJ/kg Sulphur content Nitrogen content Chlor content Additives % weight % weight % weight %

1.5 15.5-19.5 0.08 0.3 0.03

-

4-10 5 xd 1.12 10 2.3 0.5 18 0.04 0.3 0.02 2

0.02
4

0.02
4

Table 4: Pellet standards in Sweden, Austria and Germany

1bulk

density in weight % <3mm must be specified

2particle 3amount 4type

and amount must be specified

F. Fiedler, The State of the Art of Small Scale Pellet-Based Heating Systems and Relevant Regulations in 27 Swedent, Austria, and Germany.

Future of BioPower in the US

*only corn stover and cereal straw

Chart showing predicted BioPower usage, including wood pellets versus the predicted cost of logistics for biomass, including: harvest & collection, preprocessing, storage & queuing, transportation & handling Table shows the predicted growth in biomass production, including: corn stover, switchgrass, cereal straw and woody biomass
DOE, Biomass: Multiyear Program Plan, May 2009 DOE, Vision for Bioenergy and Biobased Products in the US, 2006 28

Future of BioPower in the EU

2005: 41 TWh/y of electricity from solid biomass and 13 from biowaste 20% of all energy consumption must come from renewable sources by 2020, according to the Renewable Energy Roadmap, as accepted and published by the Commission of the European Communities. Their goal of reaching 12% until 2012 most likely wont be met however. Reduce annual fossil fuel consumption by 250 Mtoe annually 600-900 Mt decrease in CO2 emission, saving of 150-200 billion euro

Communication: Renewable Energy Road Map, Brussels, 10-01-2007 29

Main references
Petrou, E. C. and Pappis, C. P. (2009) Energy and Fuels 23, 1055-1066 Ragauskas, A. J. et al. (2006) Science 311, 484-489 Koh, L. P. and Ghazoul, J. (2008) Biological Conservation 141, 2450-2460 Junginger, M. et al. (2008) Biomass and Bioenergy 32, 717-729 Bain, Richard L; Overend, Ralph P. Forest Products Journal. 2002, 52, 2, 12-19 Fiedler, F. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2004, 8, 201 Hartmann, D.; et al. Biomass and Bioenergy 1999, 16, 397 Holm, J. K.; et al. Energy & Fuels 2006, 20, 2686-2694 Wang, C.; Yan, J. International Journal of Green Energy 2005, 2, 91-107 Obernberger, I. et al. Biomass and Bioenergy, 2004, 27, 653 I. Obernberger, G. Thek, Physical Characterization and Chemical Composition of Densified Biomass Fuels with Regard to their Combustion Behavior, Proceedings of 1st World Conference on Pellets, Sept. 2002, Stockholm, Sweden, ISBN 91-631-2833-0, pg. 115-122 M. Arshadi, R. Gref, P. Geladi, S.-A., Dahlqvist, T. Lestander, The Influence of Raw Material Characteristics on the Industrial Pelletizing Process and Pellet Quality, Fuel Processing Technology, 89 (2008), 1442-1447

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