Arul Joe Mathias B.E., M.Engg., MBA Dr. Balasankari B.E., M.Engg., Ph.D

Arul Joe Mathias B.E., M.Engg., MBA Dr. Balasankari B.E., M.Engg., Ph.D

Trends in Biomass Power Generation in Asia and Opportunities for Global

Equipment Suppliers

Renewable Energy World Asia 2- 4 November 2010, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

• In the last 10 years:

– considerable change in biomass power generation

– Rise in multi-fuel plant designs (high cost and demand for fuel)

– Improvised combustion technologies

– Several new approaches in power plant implementation

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INTRODUCTION

Trends in Biomass Power Generation

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• Bagasse, palm shell, palm fibre, rice husk and wood waste - commonly used fuels in Asia

• Recent Biomass Price in Asia has gone up to 60 USD/ton

• Use of unconventional fuels such as empty fruit bunch, corn cob, cassava rhizome, coffee husk, etc. are also increasing

– Forces the use of efficient multi-fuel boilers

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BIOMASS FUEL AVAILABILITY, PRICE AND ITS IMPACT

• Even with multi-fuel boiler designs, fuel mix scenario changes from year to year

• Advanced combustion systems are used to tackle varying fuel mix scenarios

• Innovative and creative approaches are used to reduce the initial investment cost and operational cost

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BIOMASS FUEL AVAILABILITY, PRICE AND ITS IMPACT

• Travelling grate systems and reciprocating step grate systems are in high demand.

• Fluidised bed combustion systems are popular in few countries

• CFBC: used rarely for small scale biomass plants

• Vibrating grate systems are tried with few plants, but failed to gain popularity

• Cyclonic combustion systems: only few installations

BIOMASS COMBUSTION SYSTEMS IN ASIA

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• One decade ago: – most common steam cycle was in the range of 40 bar

and 440°C.

• At present: – use of high pressure steam cycle to reduce fuel

consumption

– Steam pressure cycles of up to 110 bar and 510°C are used

STEAM CYCLES IN ASIA

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• Sugar sector: 15 MW to 40 MW

• Palm oil sector: 5 MW to 15 MW

• Rice sector: 5 MW to 10 MW

• Wood industries: 5 MW to 10 MW

• Multi-fuel fired projects: 5 MW to 20 MW

NORMAL BIOMASS POWER PLANT CAPACITY

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• Considerable reduction in the investment cost

• Common pressure cycle: 65 bar, 465 °C

• In multi-fuel boiler: up to 105 bar

• Ash sale price: as high as 400 USD/ton

• The key issue: Rice husk price

TREND IN RICE HUSK POWER GENERATION

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TREND IN SUGAR COGENERATION

• After 1994: 67 bar, 490 oC systems

• After 2001: 87 bar, 515oC systems

• After 2007: 110 bar, 540oC systems

• Extraction-cum-condensing turbine

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• Matured technology

• Along with wood chips - bark, saw dust and other wood wastes are often used

• Demolition wood, tree trimmings are also used

Sustainable supply……………………..?

TREND IN WOOD WASTE POWER GENERATION/COGENERATION

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• For a 10 MW power plant : water requirement is around 1,600 m3/day

• In many countries, – difficult to implement power plant projects using

conventional water cooled plant design

– results in approval delays and creates risk of rejection of approval

• Use of air cooled condenser, instead of water

cooled condenser and cooling tower system

POWER PLANT IN WATER SCARCE AREA

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When compared with water cooled condensers:

– reduction of around 80% water requirement

– overall plant efficiency is lower

– overall power plant investment cost is higher

– only recommended in places with water issues

AIR COOLED CONDENSERS

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• Separate procurement and EPC

• Project implementation cost lower in separate procurement

• In Asia the general trend is to go in for EPC approach – to avoid dealing with the issues of warranty and other

implementation delays

• Knowledgeable developers capable of managing the project implementation effectively prefer to go for separate procurement

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH

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• Compared to corporate financing, project financing is bit difficult to obtain

• Growing trend towards project financing– Banks will ensure that all security arrangements

are in place by conducting proper due diligence, before granting the loan

– Ensures projects are generally of low risk

FINANCING SITUATION

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Opportunities for Global Equipment Suppliers

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Sugar mills in Asia:– Existing cogeneration system ranges from

21 bar and 340°C to 42 bar and 400°C

–Only some of them have implemented 67 bar and 490°C systems

–Wide potential for very high pressure systems in the range of 87 bar and 510 °C to 110 bar to 540 °C

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MARKET FOR BOILERS IN SUGAR MILLS

• In the past 10 years, EFB is being used in boilers, which is a difficult fuel

• Though several equipment suppliers have implemented such projects in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, no one has succeeded 100% in this aspect

• Equipment suppliers who can bring in reliable and proven combustion system can capture the wide markets in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia

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MARKET FOR BOILERS IN PALM OIL MILLS

• 100% proven combustion technology for EFB

• Fuel preparation system for the use of EFB

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MARKET FOR PALM WASTE POWER PLANT EQUIPMENTS

For boilers producing rice husk ash (RHA) of good quality

– RHA is mainly used in the steel industry as an insulator during the manufacture of high quality steel forgings.

– The price of RHA is as high as 400 USD/ton at the steel plant gate level.

– RHA is used in cement industries as a substitute for Portland cement.

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MARKET FOR BOILERS IN RICE MILLS

• Research work is also going on regarding silica chip manufacture as the silica content of the ash is very high.

• The density, unburnt carbon content and moisture content of rice husk ash should be as low as possible

Boiler suppliers who can guarantee high quality rice husk ash are in demand in Asia

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MARKET FOR BOILERS IN RICE MILLS

• Market for efficient high pressure extraction condensing turbines with multiple extractions is high in sugar and palm oil industries

• Rice mills have also increasingly started using the extraction condensing turbines with single steam extraction, mainly for paddy drying application.

• High pressure condensing turbines are also highly in demand in the market.

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MARKET FOR STEAM TURBINES

• Electrostatic precipitators (ESPs), bag house filters and efficient multi cyclones are in demand in Asia.

• ESP performance over a long period of time is an issue– due to various reasons including usage of different biomass

fuels

• ESP suppliers who can give longer performance guarantee period with the usage of different biomass fuels are in demand in the market.

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MARKET FOR POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT

• For more details:www.rcogenasia.com

• Contact:[email protected]@rcogenasia.com