optimising woodfuel project returns through heat and power generation
DESCRIPTION
Presentation given at the CLA's Woodfuel Conference at Doddington Hall on Wednesday 30 October by Dr Andrew Horsley, Business Development Director, Arbor Heat and Power.TRANSCRIPT
Optimising Woodfuel Project ReturnsThrough Heat and Power Generation
CLA Woodfuel ConferenceDr Andrew Horsley, 30th October2013, Doddington Hall
About Arbor Heat and Power
• Innovative but pragmatic renewable energy solutions tailored for built environment
• Upfront consultancy services through to implementation and maintenance
• Investment in research and development to identify technologies for future applications
Introduction
• Woodfuel energy projects traditionally focussed around heat only
• Heat and Power (CHP) can be cost effectively generated from woodfuel using gasification technology
• Project planning and design requires different considerations
• Financial returns and carbon savings can be greatly enhanced over “heat only” projects
Biomass CHP - ConceptThermal
Store
CHP System
Backup Boilers
National Grid
House, Wood Fuel
Drying or Leisure
Renewable Heat
Supply
Import/Export
Electricity to balance
demand/supply
Renewable Electricity
Supply
Heat Supply for space
heating and hot water
Renewable
Fuel Supply
Natural Gas/Oil/Biomass
Biomass
Gasification
Syngas
Waste Heat
to Dry
Woodchip
What is Advanced Gasification?
Modelling Heat and Power Use
Modelling Heat and Power Use
-1500.00
-1000.00
-500.00
0.00
500.00
1000.00
1500.00
1 25 49 73 97 121 145
Plant Operation over Selected 7 Days
Demand kWth
Boilers kWth
Thermal Store kWth
CHP kWth
-600.00
-500.00
-400.00
-300.00
-200.00
-100.00
0.00
100.00
200.00
300.00
400.00
1 25 49 73 97 121 145
Plant Operation over Selected 7 Days
Demand kWth
Boilers kWth
Thermal Store kWth
CHP kWth
Biomass CHP Package 30kWe
• Scalable Solution down to 30kWe
• Other sizes 200kWe, 400kWe and 800kWe
• Many potential applications
Biomass CHP Package 30kWe
Woodfuel Requirements
• Coarse screw cut or screened wood chips
• Even quality with few fines
• Readily stored and dried
• Moisture content around 15-18%
• Wood drying opportunities are attractive projects in their own right
Woodfuel Requirements
Wood Drying Concepts
Financial Returns
• Offsetting traditional fuels: electricity and oil/gas
• Renewables Obligation Certificates – 2 per MWh electricity
• Renewable Heat Incentive 7.3p/kWh flat rate
• Exporting surplus electricity back to the grid
Typical Project Economics
Thermal Output
Electrical Output
Heat Offset Value
Electricity Offset Value
RHI Value
ROC Value
Annual Costs (fuel/maint.)
Annual Net Benefit
Capital Cost
Payback Period
Carbon Saving
Arbor ElectroGen (30kWe)
565,530 kWh
230,252 kWh
£47,238
£29,933
£40,153
£19,341
£46,000
£90,655
£407,947
4.5 years
295 tonnes
Summary
• Woodfuel can be converted to heat and power at small scale with highly attractive economics
• Project considerations are slightly different than for wood heat projects – smaller capacities with longer operating hours
• Careful integration and design is paramount• Wood fuel drying opportunities can offer heat loads to
optimise operation of plant throughout year• A viable alternative to biomass boilers in the right
circumstances• Carbon saving potential makes integration in rural new
build developments with strong planning objectives ideal
The Future – Next Generation Systems
• Small scale waste to energy CHP plants
– Removing waste disposal costs
– Providing clean low carbon energy
• First pilot plants in planning stages
