Other Woody Biomass to Energy Technologies · Reminder: Typical US Pellet Mill Example: 40,000...
Transcript of Other Woody Biomass to Energy Technologies · Reminder: Typical US Pellet Mill Example: 40,000...
Bio Energy and Bio Fuels: Make it Happen
Gareth J MayheadUniversity of California BerkeleyIn partnership with USDA Forest Service Region 5
Forest Products & Construction Equipment Exposition, Redding, February 11 2010
Other Woody Biomass to Energy Technologies
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Overview
Emerging technologies:PyrolysisGasification Liquid fuels
Densified fuels (pellets etc) Market conditionsCalifornia project approaches (making it happen):
Go bigGo microGo re-deployable Go localGo high value
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Gasification
Biomass used to produce fuel gas (typically downdraft gasifier)Fuel gas (producer gas) burnt in engine or turbine to generate electricitySmaller scaleCould apply to off-grid areasPotential to make liquid fuels or other chemicals
AIR AIR
BIOMASS
ASHGAS
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Fluidyne Pacific Class
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Gasifier flare
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Gasification summary
Costs $5,000-10,000/kWh installed (may make sense for off-grid areas)Operations and maintenance (who will do this?)Fuel specification (can be restrictive)Reliability
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Pyrolysis
Pyrolysis is thermal decomposition occurring in the absence of oxygenIt is the first step of combustion and gasificationSome other terms:
BiocharFast pyrolysisTorrefactionTorrificationDestructive distillationAirless drying
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Slow pyrolysis – carbonization
Proven technology (1000+ years)Charcoal productionFlexible feedstock specificationEquipment available for large and small scale productionAQ issuesWorks in the woods!
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Fast pyrolysis
An emerging technologyFew commercial installations10+ vendor companies (eg, Dynamotive, Ensyn, ABRI, ROI)Tight feedstock specification (clean, 1/
16-1/8”, <10% moisture)Energy balance
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Fast pyrolysis
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Pyrolysis outputs1. Liquid (bio-oil - C, H, O and others)2. Char3. Gas
Vary depending upon process conditions (residence time and temperature)…
Source: PyNe
Mode Conditions Liquid Char Gas
Fast pyrolysis moderate temperature, short residence time particularly vapour
75% 12% 13%
Carbonisation (slow pyrolysis)
low temperature, very long residence time 30% 35% 35%
Gasification high temperature, long residence times 5% 10% 85%
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Lignocellulosic ethanol
Multiple technological approachesSignificant DoE investment in projectsGovernment (state and federal) push for this technologyNo commercial scale facilities yetFacilities likely to be large (1000 BDT/day)Prices likely to be ~$50/BDT for feedstock3-6 years from commercialization?
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Keep an open mind and ask:
Is the technology commercially deployed (proven)?What is the feedstock specification?What are the markets for the output products?Do the economics work?Is the process a net energy user?Permitting requirements?Do not rely on technology vendors for balanced information
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Densified Wood Products
Fire logsWood (Presto logs, briquettes, pucks etc)
PelletsDomesticCommercial/dirty
Bricks
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General market situation
Global installed capacity: ~20m tonsUS capacity: ~4.1m tons (69 mills)Raw material shortagesSlow stove sales – low gas and oil prices, economyRecent price reductions in domestic pelletsGrowing market for co-firing with coal (international and domestic)Tough market at present but potential for future growth
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Reminder: Typical US Pellet MillExample: 40,000 ton/yr pellet facility
•100 BDT/day sawmill residues
•Pay up to $50/BDT
•$5.5-$7m build cost
•24/7 operation
•3-5 acre site
•May also make fire logs
•30-35 jobs
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Densified fuels in California
Anecdotal evidence suggests a large residential market for densified fuels existsAlmost no in state manufacturing capacity18 National Forests (20m acres)
Link to forest health projects?
Source: USGS
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Why no manufacturing capacity?Less sawmill residuals
27 primary wood processing facilities closed from Jan 2000-June 2009*
Sawmill residuals are in demand by other markets:
Biomass power (~32 power plants)Landscape amendmentsAnimal bedding
Other markets can often pay above $50/BDT for residualsOther non-traditional feedstock sources require a different approach to business
*Source: California Forestry Association
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Barriers for new projects
1. Feedstock availability and price2. Scale (drying capacity)3. Seasonal markets (cash flow)4. Quality control 5. Developing a market for a new
brand/product6. Overcapacity7. Commodity product = price
volatility
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Approaches Use alternative feedstocksUse different approaches to drying feedstockDevelop non-seasonal marketsProduce a product that competes with cordwoodPartner with an existing densified fuel manufacturer
Technical expertiseMarket access
Manage costs - leverage existing assetsServe local markets – reduce transport costsGrow production capacity gradually with market growth
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Project Approaches
Go bigGo microGo re-deployable Go localGo high value
Source: USGS
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Go bigEnligna, Port of Sacramento
184,000 BDT pellet mill for export market5.8 MWe cogeneration facilityRaw material:
Construction and demolition (hog fuel)Forest: bole material (chipped or ground including bark)Slash subject to specificationAgricultural wasteArboricultural waste
Source: USGS
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Go big – Enligna Approach
Start with export market (Europe/Asia) – long term supply contractsLeverage existing port facilitiesDevelop local markets for:
Domestic pelletsCommercial pellets - supplying institutional boilers (BioEnergySolutions)
360o sourcing radius Diversified feedstocks to manage supply risk
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Go big – Enligna Status
Conditional use permit in placeAQ permit due January 2010Negotiations ongoing for sale of project to industry player
Source: Enligna
Source: Enligna
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Go micro
Source: USGS
Red Rooster Fuels, Humboldt County2,000 tons/yr pelletsRaw material:
Small diameter trees (Douglas fir)Tops (Douglas fir)
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Go micro – Approach
Capitalized pellet mill, debarkers and chippersExisting firewood producerHusband and wife teamLocal markets (stoves and animal bedding)Bagged or bulk delivery
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Go micro – Status
Pellets well receivedDemand outstrips supplyManufacture pellets to order (no inventory held)Streamlining system to produce 10 ton batches
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Go re-deployable
Woodwork, Trinity County10,000 tons/yr pelletsRaw material:
Small diameter treesTops
Source: USGS
Source: BioJoule
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Go re-deployable - Approach
Rapidly re-deployable BioJoule(UK) unitMove equipment to site near forest management operationRelocate when work is completePartnership with existing pellet manufacturer to sell productBed dryerSmall scale CHP sized to heat loadAutomated – few staff required
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Go re-deployable - Status
Early stagesPilot equipment being proved in UKORC based CHP under developmentSubject to funding
Source: BioJoule
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Go local
Bear Mountain Forest Products, Sonora18,000 tons/yr brick mill in SonoraRaw material:
Forest chips
Source: USGS
Source: BMFP
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Go local – BMFP Approach
Make a product that competes with cordwoodUses forest wasteForest health benefits a selling pointUse of a novel bed drying system Build on existing brand Develop local commercial markets
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Go local – BMFP Status
USDA Forest Service Woody Biomass Utilization Grant securedStaged approachNegotiations with partners (raw material supply and site)Initial sales though Costco and others – supply from Oregon millLocate equipment in 2010Start supplying California product to market late 2010
Source: BMFP
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Go high value
Goodwood Products, Watsonville3,000 tons/yr fire logsRaw material:
Forest residuesArboricultural wasteMill residues
Source: USGS
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Go high value – Goodwood Approach
Produce a desirable easy to use high value fire log
Existing stoves/fires“Campfire in a box”
Niche marketing based on environmental benefits
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Go high value – Goodwood Status
Demand outstrips supplyPossible partnership with another company to assist growth
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Conclusions
Densified fuels are proven production technologies serving existing marketsSignificant interest in densified fuelsA diverse range of project proposals moving forwardAttempts to utilize forest residues and other feedstocksDiverse range of productsTrend towards smaller projects targeting local marketsProject finance is challenging
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Ad“Woody Biomass Utilization
Opportunities”Friday, February 12, 11:00am-
12noon Room 125
Topics:Woody biomass utilization basics
Project trends in CaliforniaFunding opportunities
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Thank you
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