Title:
Wood to Bio-Methane Demonstration Project in the Netherlands
Author(s):
van der Meijden, C.M., Könemann, J.W., Sierhuis, W., van der Drift, A., Rietveld, G.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
The Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) has developed a biomass gasification technology, called the MILENA technology. The Milena gasification technology has a high cold gas efficiency and high methane yield, making it very suitable for gas engine and turbine applications as well as upgrading of the gas into Bio-Methane. An overall efficiency from biomass to power of over 30% is possible, whereas 70% efficiency is achievable from biomass to gas grid quality methane. HVC Group (situated in Alkmaar, North Holland) is a modern public service waste company. HVC converts waste streams which cannot be recycled into usable forms of energy. HVC has a 75 MWth waste wood boiler in operation which produces heat and electricity, and an anaerobic digester which converts domestic fruit, vegetable and garden waste into Bio-Methane. HVC expects an important role for Bio-Methane in the future and HVC has decided to join ECN with the development, demonstration and implementation of the MILENA Bio-Methane technology. Linked to the Bio-Methane demonstration project is the Netherlands Expertise Centre for Biomass Gasification. The MILENA demonstration project and the Gasification Expert Centre are supported by the following companies and organizations: HVC, TAQA, Gasunie, Dahlman, province of North Holland, the Alkmaar municipality and ECN. In 2010 and 2012 extensive lab-scale and pilot scale tests have been executed by ECN and HVC to proof that the gasification and gas cleaning technology is ready for commercial application. The final step in this test program was a duration test in the 800 kWth MILENA pilot plant coupled to the OLGA tar removal unit. The goal was to show high availability. The result of the test was an availability of the gasifier of 96% and an overall availability (including gas cooling and gas cleaning) of 85%. The results of the duration tests convinced HVC and the other partners that the technology is ready for scale-up. The results produced in the lab-scale and pilot scale installation were used to design the scaled up version of the MILENA gasifier and were also used to define and optimize the overall wood to Bio-Methane system. The last two years a lot of effort was spent to form the consortium and arrange the subsidies required for this demonstration project. At the moment Dahlman, licensee of the MILENA and OLGA technology, is doing the detailed engineering of the plant. The final investment decision is anticipated for the summer of 2013, start of construction of the demonstration plant is scheduled for 2014.
Keywords:
biomass conversion, bio-syngas, demonstration, gasification, methane, allothermal gasification, synthetic natural gas (SNG), dual fluidised bed, dual fluidized bed
Topic:
R&D on Biomass Conversion Technologies for Heating, Electricity and Chemicals
Subtopic:
Gasification for power, CHP and polygeneration
Event:
21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
2BO.1.5
Pages:
462 - 467
ISBN:
978-88-89407-53-0
Paper DOI:
10.5071/21stEUBCE2013-2BO.1.5
Price:
FREE
