Paper details

Title:

Biomass Chemical Looping Combustion: Advanced Combustion Technology for Low Cost CO₂ Storage and NO_x Free Bioenergy Generation

Author(s):

Salimbeni, A., Béal, C.

Document(s):

Abstract:

In October 2014 the EU Council formally agreed on a 40% GHG emission reduction target for 2030. This national binding target would force EU Member State to develop specific strategies and new policy measures. It is general consensus that energy and transport sectors are major contributors to the global CO2 emissions registered in EU and worldwide, to this end, much more should be done to support biobased power generation at large scale, also forcing the introduction of CO2 capture and storage and for GHG emission reduction, by introducing new technologies and improve national incentive schemes. One of the most interesting practices is represented by carbon capture, storage (CCS) and reutilisation (CCU) technologies; unfortunately, due to the high cost of CO2 separation and the lack of incentives available, CCS is not yet economically viable for conventional mid-large scale power plants. At the same time, CO2 capture represents the key for the future sustainable development of bio-energy sector. Scope of this paper is to present the huge potentials of chemical looping combustion (CLC), a disruptive sustainable combustion technology, which has been investigated in the last 10 years mainly for fossil fuels, which is demonstrating to be very promising for bioenergy generation. Chemical Looping Combustion is an innovative combustion technology where the fuel does not get in contact with combustion air. The necessary oxygen for the oxidation reaction is transported from the air reactor two the fuel reactor via a solid oxygen carrier, consisting mainly in a wide range of metal oxides, avoiding the energy demanding gas-gas separation step inherently. Furthermore, this technology allows energy generation with no-NOx formation and producing almost pure CO2 and steam, facilitating the Carbon capture and thus largely improving the overall sustainability of the combustion process. The application of Biomass as fuel is not yet developed, but thanks to the specific properties of biomass feedstock, the Biomass chemical looping combustion presents valuable aspects both in terms of environmental sustainability and techno­economic feasibility. EUBIA, in cooperation with industries and universities, is working to bring this technology to industrial scale, with the aim to move European bioenergy sector towards a cleaner future development.

Keywords:

bioenergy, CO₂ capture, combustion, sustainability, environmental impacts, CO₂ reduction

Topic:

Industry Sessions

Subtopic:

Power & Heat processes and systems

Event:

23rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

ICV.4.36

Pages:

1802 - 1808

ISBN:

978-88-89407-516

Paper DOI:

10.5071/23rdEUBCE2015-ICV.4.36

Price:

FREE