European Bio-Energy Projects

MBF
Objectives
The Mixed bio-fuel 38 MWe power plant
project started on 1 January 2000 with
FLS Miljø (DK) as the project coordinator,
and Energy Power Resources Ltd. (UK)
as a partner.
The main objective of this project is to
design, build, own and operate a mixed
bio-fuel 38 MWe power plant in the UK.
The plant’s major sub-systems comprise
the biomass handling, firing system,
supercritical boiler, flue-gas cleaning
system, and turbine island.
The firing system, consisting of feeding
equipment, firing grate and furnace,
had to be upgraded to accommodate
biomass consisting primarily of miscanthus
(with wood chips or straw as a substitute),
poultry litter, and sludge.
The eligible work packages for this
project are:
WP 1 Miscanthus Establishment and
Logistics
WP 2 Upgraded Biomass Firing System.
Mixed biofuel 38 MWe
power plant
Project structure
FLS Miljø is the project coordinator and is
responsible for all technical aspects and
execution of this project. EPR is responsible for
work package 1.
The purchaser of the power generating plant
will be Energy Power Resources Corby Limited
(Corby, UK). The supplier of the plant will be
FLSm and the plant will be constructed under a
turnkey contract and operated and maintained
under the same contract.
Challenges
The objective of the eligible part of the project
is to demonstrate two innovative aspects of
the plant. The first is the short rotation crop
handling since miscanthus will be used as a
primary biofuel on a commercial scale for the
first time in UK. Miscanthus is a fast- growing,
stiff-strawed biomass with good combustion
characteristics. The second innovative part is
the upgraded biomass firing system to burn the
combination of miscanthus, poultry litter, sludge,
and natural gas.
36
Expected benefits
The major benefit of this project to the EU will be
a yearly electrical output of some 256,500 MWh
of CO2-neutral green energy while burning
miscanthus for the first time in UK, and at high
electrical efficiency of 35%. If this plant burnt
coal it would generate 338,000 tonnes of CO2
per year.
Progress to date
Miscanthus establishment and logistics
9 ha of miscanthus has been established. It was
planted at the beginning of May 2000 at a rate
of approximately 3 rhizomes/m2. Plant growth
has been monitored and conditions assessed
approximately once a month. All plants look
healthy and vigorous with no evidence of disease.
A series of events and open days were
undertaken to encourage farmers and growers
to participate in a 500 ha demonstration trail.
These events were successful and a number of
potential host farmers have been identified.
Several potential miscanthus growers have
successfully applied for DEFRA-Energy Crops
Scheme establishment grants. Additional growers
have been identified and plan was to establish
500 ha by June 2003.
During 2000, Anglian Straw Ltd. successfully
demonstrated the harvesting of miscanthus
from trail plots using mower conditioner by
producing high-density Hesston bales.