Sustainable Energy Sustainable Energy IrelandIreland

Exploiting the Resource

David Raubenheimer

March 2004

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Fibrowatt OverviewFibrowatt Overview

• Developer owner operator• Power from agricultural residues• 65 MW operational• 2,650,000 MWh produced, 3.7

million tonnes fuel• Overview of Fibrowatt’s plants

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NUTRIENTS

CARBON (CO2)

Flue Gases

Ash

ELECTRICITY

EN

ER

GY

BIOMASSBEDDING

& FEED

MANURE

The Carbon CycleThe Carbon Cycle

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Power StationsPower Stations

Power Station

Company MW Location

Eye (World’s first)

Fibropower 12.7MW Suffolk

Glanford Fibrogen 13.5MW N Lincs

Thetford Fibrothetford 38.5MW Norfolk

FibropowerFibropower

Commissioned Jul 1992 Design output 12.7MW

Burns 150,000 t/yr of poultry litter & other biomass

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Fibropower - Operational Fibropower - Operational ExperienceExperience

• Development of know-how• Fuel characterisation difficult• Biomass knowledge fragmented• No available standards• Now runs exceptionally well• New fuels trialled

FibrogenFibrogen

Commissioned Nov 1993Design output 13.5MW

3-5 yr Govt contract for 85,000 t/yr of meat & bone meal

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FibrogenFibrogen

• Commercially similar to Fibropower

• 8% larger• New fuel handling – design trials• Technically very successful• Achieves 90 – 100% availability• Converted to burn MBM

FibrothetfordFibrothetford

Commissioned 1998 Design output 38.5MWBurns 460,000 t/yr of poultry litter & other biomass

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FibrothetfordFibrothetford

• Significant scale up – 3x• New fuel storage – design trial• Environmentally sensitive site• Environmental standards changed• Construction contractors more

cautious• Scale up caused technical

problems• Now running well

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How it Works – How it Works – in the plantin the plant

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Technology – Current Technology – Current PlantsPlants

Fibropower Fibrogen Fibrothetford

Fuel Handling Cranes Cranes Augers/Conveyors

Fuel Feeding Mass Pneumatic Air Distributor

Grate Reciprocating Chain Grate Chain Grate

Boiler ‘Folded’ ‘Folded’ Bi-Drum

Balance Conventional Conventional Conventional – Ash more complex

Emissions Control

Electrostatic Precipitator

Bag Filter/

Semi dry scrubber

Bag Filter/

Dry line injection

Steam Conditions - 65 Bar, 450°C to 475°C – all plants

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Fuel Pits at FibrogenFuel Pits at Fibrogen

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Thetford Fuel HallThetford Fuel Hall

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Fuel Trucks UnloadingFuel Trucks Unloading

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Fibrogen - MBM Fibrogen - MBM ConversionConversion

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Inside Inside the the

BoilerBoiler

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Technology - ResultsTechnology - Results

• Poultry litter burns very well• Characterisation is difficult• Handling needs care• Combustion performance• Certain arrangements excluded

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Technologies ReviewedTechnologies Reviewed

• Have reviewed a number• Stepwise development strategy• Fluidised Bed• Gasification• Digestion• High tech may be

counterproductive

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What a Project NeedsWhat a Project Needs

• Available, contactable & characterised fuel supply

• Affordable electrical connection• €4+ million to develop• 2 - 5 yrs development, 2 yrs

construction• Incentivised construction

contractors• Available land and local support

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What a Project Needs (2)What a Project Needs (2)

• Power Purchase Agreement– Bankable

– Long term (construction +15 years)

– Technology specific

• Ash fertiliser sales routes• Abundant political support

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SummarySummary

• 2,650,000 MWh• 3,700,000 tonnes of fuel • Significant teething problems

overcome• Structure new market with care• Particularly the Power Sale

arrangements• Consistent and broad political

support