Document / search engine: Strategic Case Study: Biomass co-firing in lignite-fired power plants as a means of mobilizing agro-biomass resources
Framework project: Delivery of sustainable supply of non-food biomass to support a “resource-efficient” Bioeconomy in Europe
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Website link: https://www.s2biom.eu/images/Publications/S2Biom_D9.6_Case_Study_Biomass_cofiring_in_lignite_plants.pdf
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Short description:
Lignite mining and power generation takes place in most SEE countries: Greece, Serbia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, FYROM, Montenegro, Romania, Slovenia, and Turkey. The contribution of lignite in the electricity mixture of these countries is sizeable and is expected to remain so in the near future through the continued operation of existing units or the construction of new ones. The S2Biom toolset has been used to investigate the agro biomass residue potential in all SEE countries where there is the presence of lignite mining and power generation. The results indicate that it is theoretically possible to implement co-firing at thermal shares ranging from 5% to 20% to selected lignite units while sourcing agro-biomass from the same NUTS3 region where the units are located. A preliminary investigation of the supply chains indicates that it is more cost-efficient to source wheat straw in the form of bales compared to pellets when the transport distance does not exceed 300 km. An investigation of the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of co-firing in selected lignite units of SEE countries has demonstrated that the support level required for the implementation of co-firing can be set at a lower level compared to the European average for bioenergy.
Overall, in most of the SEE countries studied, co-firing should be seriously considered as an alternative to reach renewable energy targets and mobilize agrobiomass resources.
Countries/regions described/represented: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, FYROM, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey
Year: 2016