Case Study: Wood Fired Heating Plant in Slovak Republic

Case Study (38 KB PDF)

Summary

This project deals with an application of wood chips as biofuel in an energy system of a small size enterprise.

The project realisation started in 1999 with boiler installation at the School Forest Enterprise (the SFE) Technical University in Zvolen under the framework of the Dutch Program for Co-operation in Central and Eastern Europe (PSO-programme). The boiler has a capacity of 605 kWth and is fired by clean wood residues from sawmills owned by the SFE. The biofuel-fired boiler replaced three old brown-coal fired boilers with low efficiency. The special furnace design ensures that woody biofuel burns in an environmentally sound way. Emissions of dust and CO are extremely low and meet the Slovak standards and European norms.

Results of project implementation proves that under local climate conditions the significant increase of current share of biofuels in PES consumption can be achieved, what would bring important benefits to national economy and help meeting Kyoto commitments.

Results

It is estimated that the combustion efficiency is increased by more than 50 % and emissions of ash, dust and CO are significantly reduced.

Moreover, every saved ton of brown coal helps to reduce CO₂ emissions at 3 tons. Moreover, every ton of brown coal replaced by 3-4 tons of biomass, which otherwise would decay as wood residues. This solution will result in saving further 11 tons of CO₂ . Total project result comes to 14 tons of saved CO₂ per one ton of brown coal. Annually it will make up 3,000 tons of saved CO₂ for the boiler with heat capacity 605 kWth.

It is obvious, the energy use of biofuels in centralized heat supply plants is suitable from the environmental viewpoint and it significantly reduces emissions in environment compared to original status - brown coal heat supply.

Another result of the project is reduction of expenses for heating, as the price per one ton of wood chips is five times cheaper than the price of a ton of brown coal.

To find similar reports, click on a keyword below:
Biomass & Bioenergy : Heat/Heating : Industry : ManagEnergy : Renewable Energy Sources & Systems : Research Institute / University : Schools & Colleges

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ECB - Energy Centre Bratislava

TU Zvolen - Technical University in Zvolen Slovak Centre of Biomass Use for Energy