1 Ash related problems in biomass combustion plants Inaugural lecture

ash related problems in biomass combustion plants prof.dr. Ingwald Obernberger2 3 Ash related problems in biomass combustion plants In recent years the thermal utilisation of solid biomass for heat and electricity production has gained ever more importance. Within the European Union in particular, biomass is seen as the most relevant renewable energy source besides hydropower and is thus expected to substantially contribute to the CO2 emission reduction targets defined in the Kyoto protocol. However, according to data published by the International Energy Agency in 2004 [1], global primary energy consumption has increased from 6,034 Mtoe in 1973 to 10,230 Mtoe in 2002 and this trend is expected to continue. In 2002 combustible renewables and waste accounted for 10.9 % of global primary energy supply. There is a broad international consensus that the utilisation of renewable energy sources should be further enforced in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In the EU, several political measures have been initiated with the aim of supporting this requirement, including the Whit