Biomass-coal co-combustion: opportunity for affordable renewable energy

This investigation explores the reasons for and technical challenges associated with co-combustion of biomass and coal in boilers designed for coal (mainly pulverized coal) combustion. Biomass-coal co-combustion represents a near-term, low-risk, low-cost, sustainable, renewable energy option that promises reduction in effective CO2 emissions, reduction in SOx and often NOx emissions, and several societal benefits. Technical issues associated with cofiring include fuel supply, handling and storage challenges, potential increases in corrosion, decreases in overall efficiency, ash deposition issues, pollutant emissions, carbon burnout, impacts on ash marketing, impacts on SCR performance, and overall economics. Each of these issues has been investigated and this paper summarizes the state-of-the-art in each area. The focus is on fireside issues. While each of the issues can be significant, the conclusion is that biomass residues represent possibly the best (cheapest and lowest risk) renewable energy option for many power producers. Primary motivations for cofiring Concerns regarding the potential global environmental impacts of fossil fuels used for power generation and other energy supplies are increasing worldwide. One means of mitigating thes