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Realizing Plants’ Full Potential: Electricity from Biomass
By Becky Schanz and Megan Garvey
Chicago-Kent College of Law
Energy Law Presentation*
Overview of Presentation
Introduction and Background Technologies that Produce Electricity from
Biomass Legal Aspects Conclusion
Biomass:
Biomass is plant matter or other biological material, such as trees, grasses, or agricultural crops.
On average, biomass is made of 75% carbohydrates and 25% lignin.– Lignin forms the woody cell walls of the plants.
Biomass
Wood and Wood products
Biomass
Agricultural Biproducts and Residues
Biomass
Trees, shrubs, grasses and other energy crops
Typically fast growing
Bioenergy:
Bioenergy or biomass energy is any fuel, electric power, or useful chemical product derived from organic matter.
Bioenergy can be derived either directly from the plants or indirectly from plant-derived wastes and residues.
Environmental Factors
Generates same amount of heat and carbon dioxide as from natural processes.
Renewable energy source Reduces erosion by preserving soil
Environmental Factors
Provides a habitat for wildlife species Provides moisture retention and shade, which
cools our atmosphere. Most wood used is remnants from the logging
industry, such as tree tops and wood chips.
Reliability
The United States has an estimated 65-90 billion tons of dry matter.
At 2000 energy use levels, this biomass could supply 14-19 years of energy.
The Department of Energy states that all of the biomass available now has an energy content that would produce an estimated 2,740 Quads.
1 Quad = 1,000,000,000,000,000 Btus
US Sources of Biomass
US Electricity Generation
U.S. Energy Consumption and Electricity Generation, 2001
Consumption................... Electricity Generation.......
Energy Source (Quads *) (% Total) (Bill. kWh **) (% Total)
Total 97.1 3,719.4
Coal/Coal Coke 21.9 22.6 1,904.0 51.2
Petroleum 38.2 39.4 126.0 3.4
Natural Gas 23.2 23.9 627.1 16.9
Nuclear 8.0 8.0 768.8 20.7
Hydro Pumped Storage -0.09 -8.8
Renewables (Total) 5.7 5.9 297.3 7.9
Hydro 2.4 2.5 217.5 5.6
Biomass/Biofuels 2.9 2.9 59.7 1.6
Geothermal 0.32 0.32 13.8 0.37
Solar 0.06 0.07 0.5 0.01
Wind 0.06 0.06 5.8 0.16
_______________________________________________________________ Note: values are rounded. * A quad is quadrillion British Thermal Units (Btu), and is the equivalent of about 180 million barrels of crude oil. ** Bill. kWh = a billion kilowatt-hours; One kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the equivalent of running a 100 Watt light bulb for 10 hours.
US Biomass Generation
The US is the largest biopower generator. It produces 37 billion kWh of biomass electricity which requires about 60 million tons of biomass a year.
The US has more than 7,000 MW of installed capacity.
We have about $15 billion invested and 66,000 jobs.
Biomass Potential in Illinois
Biomass Usage
Marketing & Incentives
Green Power Marketing provides choices for consumers to purchase power from renewable or environmentally friendly sources.
Customers also pay a premium to support investment in renewable energy technologies.
Marketing & Incentives
The EPA Combined Heat and Power Partnership program is a voluntary partnership between EPA, combined heat and power (CHP) industry, utilities, and state and local governments that create CHP programs.
Biomass Uses for Energy
Heating – stoves, process heat Cooking – developing world Transportation – ethanol Electric Power Production
Technologies used to Produce Electricity from Biomass
Direct Combustion - burning biomass with excess air to produce steam
Technologies (cont.)
Co-Firing – replaces part of the coal with biomass, as a supplementary energy source.
Technologies (cont.)
Gasification – heat biomass without oxygen to produce a calorific gas
Technologies (cont.)
Small Modular Bio-Power – develops small, efficient, clean biopower systems
Direct-Fired Combustion
Oxidation of air and biomass Produces hot flue gases that produce steam Steam generates electricity in generators
Direct-Fired Biomass System
Small-Modular Systems
Less than 5 MW Potential to power villages Consist of power generation attached to the
transmission and distribution grid, which is close to the end consumer.
Potential to supply 2.5 billion people who are currently without electricity.
Gasification
Two processes:– Pyrolysis – releases volatile compounds of the fuel
Bigger role here than in coal fired plants
– Char Conversion – carbon remaining after pyrolysis reacts with steam and/or oxygen (combustion)
Biomass has high reactivity
Types of Gasifiers
Direct Gasifier
Indirect Gasifier
Direct Gasifier
Indirect Gasifier
Gasification Process – Direct Gasifier
Plant gets wood chips Biomass is gasified Air is extracted from the gas turbine and fed
into the gasifier Gasification steam is extracted. Remaining fuel gases are cooled.
Gasification Process – Direct Gasifier
Fuel gas combusts and produces electric power and a high temperature exhaust steam
Exhaust steam expands in a steam turbine to produce additional power
Steam is extracted and electricity is sent to a substation
Generating Capacity
The United States has about 7 GW of grid-connected biomass generating capacity.
Coal-fired electric units are 297 GW of capacity, which is about 43% of total generating capacity.
Vermont Project
Vermont has the first industrial biomass gasification process located in Burlington.
The process integrates a high-throughput gasifier with a high-efficiency gas turbine.
Circulating hot sand surrounds the biomass particles and the particles break down and produce gas.
This project uses an indirect gasifier system.
Vermont Project
Hawaii Project
Hawaii Biomass Gasifier is part of the DOE’s initiative to demonstrate a gasification system to turn biomass into electricity.
Its goal is to provide competitive electric power. The plant uses maple wood chips, California
highway clippings, paddy rice straw, fuel from refuse, bark, paper mill sludge, and alfalfa.
This project uses a direct gasifier system.
Advantages of Gasification
Biomass closes the carbon system and therefore reduces emissions.
Biomass is low in sulfur– Biomass contains .05
to .20 % of weight is sulfur– Coal contains 2-3% of
weight is sulfur
Advantages of Gasification
Operates at a lower temperature and wider variety of feedstocks than direct combustion systems.
Can produce a Btu gas that is interchangeable with natural gas.
Produces nitrogen free gas. Less landfill waste. Future technologies are being developed
– Fuel Cell Systems
Disadvantages of Gasification
Some biomass plants have closed because of deregulation of the electric utility industry.
Hard to compete with cheaper sources, such as coal, oil, and nuclear.
Small amounts of tar are released in the gas. The tar can coat parts of the pipe or the equipment. – Catalyst reactor has been developed to decrease
the amount of tar to parts-per-million.
Disadvantages of Gasfication
Still a new technology and the Vermont Plant has not been able to operate continuously yet for a sustained period of days or weeks.
Over storage of wood fuel can lead to odor problems and spontaneous combustion.
Present and Future Costs
Steam Turbine Advanced Gasification
Capital 3-5 cents/kWh 2.63 cents/kWh
Operating (excluding fuel)
2.2-2.8 cents/kWh .4 cents/kWh
Biomass Feedstock
1.2-3.5 cents/kWh 1.62 cents/kWh
TOTAL 6.4-11.3 cents/kWh
4.65 cents/kWh
Costs
Capital costs of building a biomass-fired steam turbine plant is about $2000-2500 per KW of installed capacity.
These costs are expected to decrease in the future.
Future of Gasification
Gasification has a bright future, once the technology is fine-tuned.
If the cost of the process decreases as expected, it will be able to compete economically with current energy sources.
Co-Firing Biomass with Coal and the Legal/Governmental Incentives for Biomass as a Renewable
Co-firing Biomass with Coal to produce Electricity
What is Co-firing?– The simultaneous combustion of biomass and coal in a pre-
existing boiler of a traditional coal-fired power plant – 2 Methods
Blending– (+) Least expensive – (-) Limited amounts; higher possibility of damage
Separate Feed– (+) greater emission reductions; greater amounts of biomass
tolerates; less harmful to existing boiler– (-) requires more resources (equipment, $)
One form of “blending” is directly adding biomass to the coal-belt.
Advantages of Co-firing:“Something for Everyone”
The Existing Power Plant– Existing equipment is still utilized– Easier to meet environmental regulations and hedge
future regulations– Cost savings
Tax incentives Fuel supply options
– Good PR
Advantages of Co-firing:“Something for Everyone”
Biomass
– Encourages development of feedstock infrastructure
– Creates a market for residues and energy crops
Advantages of Co-firing:“Something for Everyone”
The Environment– Reduces GHG emissions
(CO2; CH4)– Reduces SO2 and NOX
emissions– Reduces burden on
landfills– Extends the life of coal-
use for electricity generation
Advantages of Co-firing:“Something for Everyone”
The Economy $$$
Provides an end use for low value/negative value products
Maintains existing market for coal
Increases domestic economic growth and job creation
Increase economic activity in rural/agricultural areas
Increase business for equipment suppliers
Disadvantages of Co-firing
Technological issues– Existing boilers/systems designed (exclusively) for
fossil fuels Negative impact on existing boilers CL-based corrosion Negative impact on boiler capacity
Disadvantages
Diverse feedstock
– Range of different fuel characteristics
Woody – Grassy Residues – energy crops Ash content Fuel nitrogen content
Uncertainties due to different biomass properties
Differences between biomass and coal– Higher moisture content (= low net calorific value)
– Higher CL content– Low heating value– Low bulk density– Higher content of volatile matter (80%:coal 30%)
Disadvantages
Feeding methods– Fuel preparation and handling
Ash-related issues– Biomass = source of aerosols– Pure-coal ash required for concrete use
Just a couple more…disadvantages
Engineering to commercial/economical issues? Requires incentives
– Less incentives for small-scale plants Might require additional investments
– Equipment– Biomass material
Dependant on the availability and price of low-cost biomass feedstocks
Co-Firing Programs
Goals: Promote biomass using the
least-cost approach Broaden the base of utilities
employing co-firing Increase the # and type of co-
firing techniques Provide the underpinning for
advanced designs
DOE’s Biopower Program
– Accomplishments
Switchgrass; willow = successful bio-material Biomass co-firing = technologically successful Viability demonstrated Pollutant emission reductions verified Economic models/feeding techniques developed
Co-Firing Programs
Regional Biomass Energy Program (RBEP)– Federally-funded; located in 5 regions of U.S.– Goal = to increase the production and use of bioenergy
resources Best candidates Full-scale analysis
– Accomplishments: Successful biomass co-firing operations from an operational and
performance perspective requires… Biomass price 20% less than that of coal Reliable and automated procedures
Co-Firing Programs
Co-firing project at Hawaii Commercial Sugar
– Result:
Sugar cane (bio-material) + coal = less NOX emissions!
Co-Firing Programs
Co-firing program for urban wood waste
– Northern Indiana Pub. Service Co + Electric Power Research Institute + DOE
– Urban wood waste + coal (W. bituminous and Powder River Basin)
Current Power Plants Using Co-Firing Method on a Regular Basis
Northern States Power (NSP)– Wood residues + coal
Tacoma Public Utitlies– Wood wastes and garbage + coal
TVA– Wood waste + coal
Southern Company– Wood residues (grnd pallets/hurricane-damaged trees) + coal
NY State Electric and Gas (NYSEG)– Sawdust; furniture factory waste + coal
Furthermore, Numerous Other Power Plants are Exploring the Benefits of Co-Firing
Niagara Mohawk Power Co.
GPU GENCO Madison Gas & Electric Atlantic Electric American Electric Power
Illinois Power Company Plains Electric IES Utilities Northern Indiana Public
Service Co. And MANY more!!
Summary
Co-Firing biomass capitalizes on the large investment and infrastructure associated with the existing coal-fired power plants while traditional pollutants (SO2; NOX) and net GHGs (CO2; CH4) are decreased!!
Legal Aspects and Governmental Incentives pertaining to Biomass
as a renewable form of energy
Federal
State
Federal
1. Energy Policy Act of 2003 (Energy Bill/S. 2095)– Title II: renewable energy incentives– Title XIII: energy tax incentives– Section 206
2. Biomass R&D Initiative of 2003
3. Bioenery Initiative– Exec. Order 13134
Federal (cont)
4. Ag. Risk Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-224); Title III. Biomass R&D Act
5. Green Power Purchasing Goal– Exec. Order 13123
6. Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Program
7. CAA amendments
(1) Energy Policy Act of 2003Energy Bill (S. 2095)
Title II: renewable energy incentives– New incentives for development and use of
renewables– Mandates assessments to assist in long-term plans– Reauthorizes the Renewable energy Production
Incentive Program– Grants for turning forest material into biomass
energy
Energy Bill (S. 2095)
Title XII: Energy tax incentives– Previous “Renewable Electricity (and Energy) Production Credit”
expired for all new projects on 12/31/2003– Creates a NEW Tax incentive!!
Extends placed-in service date for…closed-loop biomass and poultry waste facilities
Adds open-looped biomass, municipal bio-solids, and recycled sludge…as qualifying energy resources
Credit = 1.8 cents/kWh (no inflation adjustment) Allows for tradable tax credits for tax-exempt entities, co-ops, and
municipal utilities Effective: 10/1/2004www.energy.senate.gov
Energy Bill (S. 2095)
Section 206– Grants to improve the commercial value of forest
biomass for electric energy…and other commercial purposes
– The government found that: Risk
– (wildfire; insect infestation; tree mortality; drought) …requires preventive measures =by-products of biomass BUT no suitable market
Energy Bill (S. 2095)
Section 206 (cont.)– Therefore, the U.S. should:
Promote economic and entrepreneurial opportunities in using these by-products
Develop and expand markets
(2) Biomass R&D Initiative of 2003
DOE and USDA
– $23 million allocated to 19 different biomass
projects
(3) Bioenergy Initiative
Exec. Order 13134: Developing and Promoting Bio-based Products and Bioenergy– Policy = national strategy to stimulate the creation
and early adoption of technologies needed to make biobased products and bioenergy cost-competitive
Expand employment opportunities Create new market Reduce Nation’s dependence on foreign resources Decrease pollution
Bioenergy Initiative
President’s goal = triple U.S. use of bio-based products and bioenergy by 2010
DOE + federal organizations = national partnership to develop an integrated industry to produce power…from biomass
(4) Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-224)Title III. Biomass R&D Act
Recognition that biomass has outstanding potential to benefit the national interest
Combined efforts of DOA and DOE Purposes:
1. To understand biomass2. To develop new and cost-effective technologies that would
result in large-scale commercial production3. To ensure economic and energy security and environmental
benefits of bio-products4. To promote the development and use of agricultural and
energy crops for conversion
(5) Green Power Purchasing Program
Applicable sector: federal government Goal = 2.5% renewables by 2005 Effective: 6/2000 Authority: Exec. Order 13123
– Requires federal agencies to increase their use of renewable energy
– Biomass systems installed after 1990 apply as “new” renewable energy resources (emphasis on “new” to reach goal)
Green Power Purchasing Program
2000: – obtaining 13% of goal
March 2004: – 77% of goal !!!
(6) Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Program
Federal grant program through the USDA Commercial/agricultural producers Grants provided for 25% of eligible project
costs Producer must demonstrate “financial need”
(7) 1990 Amendments to CAA
(7) Lowered baseline limitations for SO2 emissions
– = increase in market-price of air emission allowances
– = electricity generators will turn to bio-energy to reduce costs and meet stricter regulations
State Law/Incentives
Illinois
State
1. Mainstay Energy Rewards Program2. IL Clean Energy Community Foundation Grants
(ICECF) 220 ILCS 5/16-111.1
3. Renewable Energy Resources Trust Fund 220 ILCS 687/6-4
4. Renewable Energy Resources Program Grants (RERP)
5. Renewables Portfolio Goal 220 ILCS 5/16-111.1
(1) Mainstay Energy Rewards Program
Green Tag Purchase Program = production incentive– Private company buys the green tags (RECs) which are
brought to the market as “Green-e” certified products– Participating companies receive regular, recurring payments
Dependant on type of renewable; production of energy; length of K
– Biomass is eligible– Commercial and residential sectors– Amount = .1-1cent/kWh (for biomass)– Certification fee and requirements– 200 current participants!
(2) IL Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF) Grants
State grant program– Grants, loans, other financial support – $250 million endowment from ComEd
Non-profit; schools, state and local governments serving IL
Authority = 20 ILCS 5/16-111.1– IL Resource Development and Energy Security Act
Purposes: “Enhance the state’s energy security by ensuring that…(iv) pilot projects are undertaken to explore the capacity of new, often renewable sources of energy…”
(2) ICECF Grants (cont)
Effective 2001 How to apply?
– Submit proposal (competitive basis)
Between 2001-2002: – ICECF awarded more than $17 million in grants for
renewable energy projects in IL!!
(3) Renewable Energy Resources Trust Fund
Public benefits fund required in 220 ILCS 687/6-4
Available for the general public/consumer $50 million for 10 years Collection
– $.50 cents/month from residential and small commercial electric and gas customers
– $37.50/month from large commercial electricity customers
(4) Renewable Energy Resources Program (RERP) Grants
State grant program funded by the Renewable Energy Resources Trust Fund
Distributed in the form of grants (for large systems) and rebates (for small systems)
Involves an annual RFP process
(5) Renewables Portfolio Goal
Specific standard to IL Applies to Utilities 5% by 2010…15% by 2020 Effective: 7/2001 Authority: 220 ILCS 5/16-111.1
– Contains a “goal” but NO implementation schedule, compliance verification or credit-trading provisions
Biomass Utilization for Electricity Production =
SOMETHING
FOR
EVERYONE!!!
