Combined Heat and Power, Large-Scale Systems and Forest Industry

Alholmens Kraft, Finland the world's largest biomass-fired power plant plant

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants integrated into existing forestry operations and the processing of forestry by-products currently represent a large share of bioenergy use in Europe. While Nordic countries are leading the way, more R&D is needed to maximise the return of sustainable and economically competitive bioenergy from all of Europe?s forests.

Objectives and Activities:

This Research Area aims to develop new concepts, technologies and business plans to catalyse the development of large-scale bioenergy systems in European forestry operations.  The work has been divided into two topics.  The first, Forest Industry and Bioenergy, covers the harvesting and processing of wood fuels, wood residues from processes and closely examines three energy production technologies utilised in forest industry plants, namely solid biomass boilers, recovery boilers and lime kilns.  The second area, Large-Scale Systems, examines every aspect of the large-scale processing of woody biomass from harvesting of raw materials through to legislation governing large bioenergy plants. 

After determining the complimentary capacities of each of the eight partner institutes in this research area, and formulating R&D goals, the group is now pursuing joint research projects.

The Team:

The Research Area is lead by Satu Helynen, Technology Manager of the Fuel Conversion Knowledge Centre at VTT.  She specialises in energy production and use in industry and municipalities, especially bioenergy.  Satu is supported by Tuula M?kinen from VTT, Reinhard Padinger and Hannes Schwaiger from Joanneum, Luc Rabou and Jaap Kiel from ECN, J?rgen Vehlow and Hans Hunsinger from FZK, Allan Johansson and ?ke Thidell from IIEE, John Brammer and Tony Bridgwater from Aston, Lukasz Jaworski, Marzena Hunder and Leszek Janowicz from EC-BREC and Roger Douillard and Bernard Kurek from INRA.