Status of biomass co-firing in Belgium
LABORELEC
Yves Ryckmans
12/02/2016
SUSTAINABLE PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES
Version 1
Page 1
125 Rodestraat B-1630 Linkebeek
tel. 02/382.03.03
STATUS OF BIOMASS CO-FIRING IN BELGIUM
1
GREEN CERTIFICATES IN BELGIUM
The main legal issues for a plant firing biomass in Belgium are the following:
 obtain a permit for construction and operation of the plant;
 reach the required emission limits according to the status waste or non-waste (fuel) : in Belgium only
wood pellets and palm oil are not considered as waste;
 determine the green character of the used biomass and derive the number of granted green certificates
per generated MWh of power according to the regional legislation.
The last one is certainly the major issue as far as the profitability of the plant is concerned. In addition,
Belgium has to cope with three green certificates system, one per region Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels.
The systems are targeted green certificate systems as described in Figure 1.
Certified body
Buy-back tariff Region
or Local Network Regulator
Either
Grant
# cert
 k * E [MWhe]
Grant
Green
certificates
per 1000
kWh
Certificates
Certificate
market
Green producer Electricity
Power
market
Suppliers
Customers
Penalty :
- FL 125 € (green) 45 € (CHP)
- W 100 €
- Bru 75 €
Grey producer
Issuing Body
IBGE-BIM
Buy-back HT Network Regulator
Obligation 2005:
- FL 3%
- W 5%
- Bru 2,25%
Target 2010:
- FL 6%
- W 12%
- Bru 3%
Figure 1: Systems of green certificates in Belgium
Three issuing bodies (resp. VREG, CWaPE and IBGE-BIM are responsible for the certification of the
generating units as well as the grant of the green certificates. The suppliers which cannot present the
requested amount of certificates according to their sales in a considered period (in 2005, 3% in Flanders,
5% in Wallonia and 2,25% in Brussels) are fined with a penalty of resp. 125 €, 100€ and 75 €. The
obligation increases every year such that 6% of renewable power is obtained for whole Belgium by the
year 2010, as imposed by the RES-Directive. The details of the existing green certificate system are
presented in Figure 2, including realisation up to now and market value.
Status of biomass co-firing in Belgium
LABORELEC
Yves Ryckmans
12/02/2016
SUSTAINABLE PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES
Version 1
Page 2
125 Rodestraat B-1630 Linkebeek
tel. 02/382.03.03
FL : 50 TWh
Obligation
Certificates x 1000
Certificates real
Penalty
Market value
2002
0,50%
250
150
2003
1,20%
600
292
€ 75,00
€ 100,00 € 125,00 € 125,00 € 125,00 € 125,00 € 125,00 € 125,00 € 125,00
€ 79,04
€ 92,62
€ 110,93
2003
23.369
3%
701
752
2004
23.628
4%
945
872
€ 75,00
€ 100,00 € 100,00 € 100,00 € 100,00 € 100,00 € 100,00 € 100,00
€ 84,38
€ 91,74
W
GWh
Obligation
Certificates x 1000
Certificates real
Penalty
Market value
Bru : 5 TWh
Obligation
Penalty
2004
2%
1.000
544
2005 2006
2,50% 3%
1.250 1.500
2005
23.891
5%
1.195
975
2006
24.156
6%
1.449
2004
2%
2005 2006
2,25% 2,50%
€ 75,00
€ 75,00
€ 75,00
2007 2008 2009 2010
3,75% 4,50% 5,25% 6%
1.875 2.250 2.625 3.000
2007
24.424
7%
1.710
1.600
2008
24.696
?
?
2009
24.970
?
?
2010
25.247
12%
3.030
€ 100,00 € 100,00 € 100,00 € 100,00
Figure 2: Obligation expected and generated green certificates, penalty and market
value.(today, certificates are only exchangeable between Wallonia and Brussels regions).
For the suppliers, there exists the possibility to generate the certificates with their own assets or
purchasing them at a market price. The utilities might use their generated green certificates for their own
purposes if they are also suppliers, to sell them on the market or to sell them at a guaranteed price either
to the high-tension network operator (federal level), or to the distribution network operator (regional
level) or to the Region itself (Wallonia only). The guaranteed values are presented in the next Figure
according to the renewable source.
SOURCE
BEL
FL
W
off-shore wind
90
NA
NA
on-shore wind
50
80
65
hydro
50
95
65
solar
150
450
65
biomass
20
80
65
Figure 3: Buy-back tariffs for green certificates according to source and region
(BEL for federal state, FL for Flanders and W for Wallony).
The green certificates are granted on the base of a detailed definition of the acceptable renewable energy
sources according to each region. The definition is given in the Figure 4. But the renewable source must
also be compatible with the hierarchy of the waste management (so-called ladder of Lansink) : this means
that energy recuperation is only acceptable from this point of view if prevention of waste generation, reuse on site or recycling of the waste streams is not possible. This issue supposes also that the plant firing
biomass does not generate market distortion with existing activities using the same source like
composting or paper or wood board manufacture.
Status of biomass co-firing in Belgium
LABORELEC
Yves Ryckmans
12/02/2016
SUSTAINABLE PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES
Version 1
Page 3
125 Rodestraat B-1630 Linkebeek
tel. 02/382.03.03
BEL Ba sed upon sustainable development
Sustainable development
“All non-fossile non-nuclear energy source that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations t o meet
their own needs.“
PV, Wind, Geothermal, Biogas, Biomass accepted
FL
Tide&Wave, Hydro < 10 MWe, Biomass according to a)-d)
a) vegetable products from agriculture and forestry;
b) litter and manure;
c) sorted organic-biological waste;
d) unsorted organic-biological waste (MSW) with min. 35 %
energy recuperated
W
CHP and Hydro < 20 MWe included
Bru
Hydro < 10 MWe
Biomass = organic waste from agriculture and forestry
Figure 4: Definition of the renewable energy sources. (BEL: valid for all
regions, FL for Flanders only, W for Wallonia and Bru for Brussels)
The calculation of the number of granted certificates per generated MWh is based upon
 the amount of energy used for the production and transportation of the biomass, in Flanders and
 the related CO2 emissions on the base of a LCA analysis in Wallonia.
This means that biomass is not considered as fully neutral for the green certificate systems as it is in the
European Emission Trading Scheme for CO2 emissions. As example, about only 0,75 certificate is
granted per electric MWh generated with imported wood pellets.
An exemplary certificate system is the one applied in Wallonia which is quite innovative in the sense that:
 it combines the support of green power with cogeneration;
 it is based upon avoided CO2 emissions with respect to references i.e. a steam-and-gas power plant
with an efficiency of 55% for the electricity and a boiler firing natural gas with an efficiency of 90%
for the heat. The principle of the system is described in Figure 5.
STAG
Cbio
C1
tons
kgCO2/ CO2/y
E % E
Cogen
q %
MWh
k
Q
E
 E=55 %
C2
Q
NG Boiler
 Q =90 %
C3
C2 + C3
tons
CO2/y
C2  C3  C1
, E MWhe, Q MWhth,
C2
Cbio
# cert  k * E  E 
e
e
Q 
*E
CNG
q
e
Figure 5: Green certificate system in Wallonia
CNG
251
kgCO2/
MWh
Status of biomass co-firing in Belgium
LABORELEC
Yves Ryckmans
SUSTAINABLE PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES
12/02/2016
Version 1
Page 4
125 Rodestraat B-1630 Linkebeek
tel. 02/382.03.03
The “C” Figures are CO2 emissions in kg per MWh of primary energy. The number of granted certificates
depends upon an economy factor “k” that is calculated from the quotient between the net economy of CO2
emissions with respect to the references divided by the reference CO2 emission of a STAG power plant
for the same amount of generated electricity E. The number of granted certificates has then three
contributions :
 one positive equal to the amount of generated MWh “E” of electricity during the considered period,
 one positive related to the amount of generated and used MWh “Q” of heat during the considered
period multiplied by the factor 0,63 corresponding to the quotient of the reference efficiencies (55/90),
 one negative related to the amount of fossil CO2 emissions generated by the considered fuel mix.
To calculate the latter, one has to take some reference CO2 emission factors into account like described in
Figure 6. Those factors are based upon a Life-Cycle Analysis.
NON FOSSILE
 wind/solar/hydraulics
 organic biodegradable matters
 milling
 transport on max. 100 km
 drying
 corn crops
 wood
 cultivated wood (short rotation coppices)
 coleseed oil
 bio-diesel
FOSSILE
 natural gas
 gasoil
 light fuel oil
 heavy fuel oil
 coal
0
0
4
5
10
22
23
45
65
80
251
306
310
320
385
Figure 6: Specific rate of fossile GHG generation in kgCO2eq/MWh primary energy (CWaPE).
The system has as consequence that co-firing of coal with biomass do not generate green certificates but
when firing more than 70% biomass in mass, since the economy factor k remains negative up to this cofiring rate as seen in Figure 7.
Mass ratio Bio-Energy
10%
6%
20%
12%
30%
19%
40%
27%
50%
36%
60%
45%
70%
56%
80%
69%
90%
83%
95%
91%
100%
100%
k
-0,95
-0,82
-0,69
-0,53
-0,37
-0,18
0,03
0,28
0,55
0,71
0,88
Figure 7: Economy factor for co-firing biomass with coal (efficiency 41%).
Status of biomass co-firing in Belgium
LABORELEC
Yves Ryckmans
12/02/2016
SUSTAINABLE PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES
Version 1
Page 5
125 Rodestraat B-1630 Linkebeek
tel. 02/382.03.03
2
ELECTRABEL STRATEGY AND BIOFUELS
According to chapter 1, co-firing can only be applied in the Flanders. Electrabel has selected the
following biofuels leading to the generated kWh of electricity per kg as indicated below (efficiency 36%):
 olive cake :
1 kg = ~ 1,3 kWh
 wood dust :
1 kg = ~ 1,8 kWh
 wood chips :
1 kg = ~ 0,8 … 1,5 kWh
 “pellets” (clean wood) :
1 kg = ~ 1,8 kWh
 sewage sludge :
1 kg = ~ 1,0 kWh.
 coffee grounds :
1 kg = ~ 1,6 kWh
The current realisations were carried out in Ruien, Langerlo and Rodenhuize power plants with the
indicated power capacity :
 Ruien : wood dust – ~ 10 MW
 Ruien : clean wood chips : gasifier - ~ 17 MW
 Langerlo, Rodenhuize, Ruien : olive cake : S ~ 12 MW
 Langerlo : sewage sludge - ~ 4 MW
The corresponding performances of those projects are described in the next Figure.
Biomass
source
syngas
Quantity
Power
t/a
plant
104 700 Ruien
Average Avoided
MW
coal t/a
17 47 100
Avoided
CO2 t/a
111 000
wood
dust
40 100 Ruien
10
28 800
68 000
olive
cake
sewage
sludge
Total
64 000 LLO/Rui
en/RDH
28 000 LLO
12
34 600
81 500
4
11 200
26 500
43 121 700
287 000
304 500 with coal
Figure 8: Green power generation, avoided coal and CO2 emissions in 2004
3
ELECTRABEL PROJECTS
New projects are being undertaken in 2005 with the indicated power level :
 wood pulverisation in Langerlo power plant: + ~ 20 MW
 « wood pellets » (see Figure 9):
- in Rodenhuize power plant : co-combustion : ~ 60 MW
- in Awirs power plant (Liège) : ~ 80 MW
 olive cake in Mol power plant: + ~ 5 MW
 milling efficiency enhancements in all plants : + ~ 5 to 10 MW
 coffee grounds : in Langerlo, Rodenhuize and Mol power plants.
Status of biomass co-firing in Belgium
LABORELEC
Yves Ryckmans
12/02/2016
SUSTAINABLE PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES
Version 1
Page 6
125 Rodestraat B-1630 Linkebeek
tel. 02/382.03.03
Figure 9: Wood pellets bio-fuel for Awirs and Rodenhuize power plants
As seen, the sourcing of the biofuels relies pretty much on import due to limited availability of feedstocks
in Belgium:
 wood dust, wood chips, sewage sludge : Belgium,
 olive cake : Spain, Tunesia, Middle-East,
 wood pellets : Belgium, Canada, South Africa, Baltic States, South America, ….,
 coffee grounds : Switzerland, Germany, Spain.
The project in Unit 4 of Awirs power plant must be emphasized. The unit was commissioned for oil and
gas in 1967 and converted a first time to coal in 1982 with a de-rating to 125 MW. The project consists
now of a second full retrofit of the existing pulverized coal unit for firing wood pellets. Since coal is
substituted at 100% rate, it is thought to be a world premiere. The unit has been commissioned again in
July 2005 and is now operating in optimisation phase with 100% wood pellets.
The major project constraints were (see also Figure 10):
 a very short delay for the construction work : only 7 months for the realisation,
 the full substitution of coal : « World Premiere »,
 the retrofit must be fully reversible to coal in 3 weeks time,
 the safety issues were very critical to cope with fire and explosion risks related to wood dust : design
of the project was made according to ATEX directives,
 the delivery of the wood pellet is organised in “just-in-time” for about 1200 tons/day,
 the steam temperature is decreased to 510°C instead of 545°C, resulting in a net efficiency of 36%,
 the obtained net power level is about 80 MW instead of 125 MW firing coal.
plant
wood pellets
generation
green certificates
34%
80,3
17
4,7
1,6
350.097
50
105
4,9
52,32
7000
562.100
0,70
393.470
efficiency
MWe
GJ/ton
MWhp/ton
MWhe/ton
tons/year
tons/h
$/ton
€/GJ
€/MWhe
hours
MWh
tau(CO2) min.
certificates/y
Figure 10: Facts and Figures for Awirs-wood pellets project.
Status of biomass co-firing in Belgium
LABORELEC
Yves Ryckmans
12/02/2016
SUSTAINABLE PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES
Version 1
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125 Rodestraat B-1630 Linkebeek
tel. 02/382.03.03
The concept for the retrofit is described in Figure 11. The major work consisted in covering the conveyor
belts for avoiding dust spreading, adding metal and spark detection systems, implementing safety
extinguishers in the fuel bins, adding two hammer mills with a capacity of 30 ton/h each feeding 8
pneumatic injection lines to new burners.
Receiving bins + covered conveying belt
Existing silo’s
Unloading crane
Hammer mills
Screening – 10 cm
Rotating feeders
towards
boiler
Air fans (<70°C)
Pneumatic transport (dense)
Conveyors (some new some old) are newly equipped wit h
metal and spark detection and CO detection
(manual stop and manual water spreading with sprinklers)
Figure 11: Technical concept of retrofit for a pulverised coal power unit firing wood pellets
4
RESULTING GREEN POWER FORECAST
The green power forecast of Electrabel for 2005 and 2006 is described in Figure 12 and 13.
Biomass
source
syngas
wood dust
olive cake
Quantity
t/a
Power
plant
Average Avoided
MW
coal t/a
Avoided
CO2 t/a
120 000 Ruien
19
54 000
127 300
70 000 Ruien
18
50 400
118 800
19
54 000
127 300
100 000 LLO/Ruien
/RDH/Mol
sewage
sludge
30000 LLO
4
12 000
28 300
wood
pellets
275 000 Awirs
/RDH
47
187 000
440 700
4
7 200
17 000
111
121 700
732 000
coffee
ground
Total
15 000 LLO/Mol
610 000 with coal
Figure 12: Green power forecast of Electrabel for 2005
Status of biomass co-firing in Belgium
LABORELEC
Yves Ryckmans
12/02/2016
SUSTAINABLE PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES
Version 1
Page 8
125 Rodestraat B-1630 Linkebeek
tel. 02/382.03.03
Biomass
source
2004
Quantity
t/a
Power
plant
Average Avoided
MW
coal t/a
Avoided
CO2 t/a
304 500 with coal
43
121 700
287 000
2005
610 000 with coal
111
121 700
732 000
2006
1 120 000 with coal
202
652 400
1 537 000
Figure 13: Green power forecast of Electrabel for 2006
5
CONCLUSION
Following issues are essential for making profitable biomass co-firing projects :
 availability of biofuels in substantial quantities and with reasonable prices lead in a country like
Belgium to import a great deal of the necessary feedstocks,
 firing biofuels of good quality and cleanness avoids biomass being classified as waste stream what
would result in fairly long delays for getting a permit, and allows the retrofit of existing fossil fuel
power plants with limited efforts (CAPEX),
 targeted green certificate systems with high penalties (up to 125 €) makes use of nice but expensive
biomass possible, without loosing profitability,
 social support and acceptance of renewable power plants as well as realistic emissions limits remain
by the way of great importance for the feasibility of the biomass co-firing projects.
According to those conditions, Electrabel has significantly increase her contribution to the use of
renewable energy sources originating from bio-energy for generating power in Belgium. Electrabel is
achieving similar efforts in other European countries like the Netherlands (Gelderland power plant) and
Poland (Polaniec power plant), and is also developing wind farms in many regions of the E.U. (Belgium,
France, Portugal, Spain, ….).