Economy of converting wood to biocoal

The pre-treatment step has a significant influence on the performance of bioenergy chains, especially on logistics. In nowadays conditions it is important to have technologies allowing to convert biomass at modest scales into dense energy carriers that ease transportation and handling. There are such technologies as charring and torrefaction. It is a thermal treatment of organic waste (only woody biomass is considered as a raw material in this work), which aims to produce a fuel with increased energy density. Wood processing is attractive under meaning of green house gas emissions. Charring and torrefaction are promising technologies due to its high process efficiency. It may be also attractive in the future as a renewable fuel with improved storage properties, increased energy density (compared to raw wood) for co-combustion and/or gasification.

Network Structures and Modularity among Biofuel Heating System Manufacturers

The aim of this thesis was to study network structures and modularity among biofuel heating system manufacturers in the Finnish bioenergy sector by utilizing the perspectives of numerous Finnish bioenergy specialists. The study is qualitative due to the fact that the research material was gathered with semi-structured theme interviews during May and June 2010. The research methodology used in the thesis combines conceptual and action-oriented approach. Networks, value nets, and modularity were studied from different perspectives. Three network and platform strategies were discovered and a general network structure was formed. Moreover, benefits and disadvantages of networks and modularity among biofuel heating system manufacturers were illustrated. The analysis provides a comprehensive perception of the industry. The results of the research were constructed by implementing existing theories into practice. Also future recommendations for the biofuel heating system manufacturers were given. The results can be considered to be beneficial because the number of previous studies about the subject is relatively small. The reliability of the study is eminent because the number of the interviews was inclusive.

Biopolttoaineiden saatavuus ja hankintalogistiikka Kaakkois-Suomessa

"Biopolttoaineiden saatavuus ja hankintalogistiikka Kaakkois-Suomessa" -hankkeen tavoitteena oli tuottaa ajantasaista ja paikkaan sidottua tietoa energiatuotantoon soveltuvan biomassan saatavuudesta ja biomassapotentiaalin tehokkaan käytön mahdollistavasta logistiikkajärjestelmästä Kaakkois-Suomen alueella. Tarkastelussa mukana olleet polttoaineet eli metsä- ja peltobiomassat sekä turve ovat ns. paikallisia polttoaineita, joiden hankinta tapahtuu maaseudulta, ensisijaisesti mahdollisimman läheltä kutakin käyttöpaikkaa. Hankkeessa tutkittiin mahdollisuuksia lisätä paikallista polttoaineenhankintaa, kuljetusmääriä ja -kalustoa järkevästi 2010-luvulla toteutettavan energiapolitiikan myötä kasvavan polttoainetarpeen puitteissa. Rautatie- ja vesitiekuljetusten hyödyntämistä logistiikassa tutkittiin kahden tapaustutkimuksen avulla. Tutkittavia asioita olivat myös tuotantoketjujen lisääntyvä työvoimatarve sekä maantieteellisesti laajenevan raaka-ainehankinnan kasvihuonekaasupäästöistä aiheutuvat ympäristövaikutukset. Tärkeimpinä tuloksina saatiin tietoa siitä, kuinka laajalle alueelle biopolttoaineiden hankinta eri asiantilojen vallitessa Kaakkois-Suomen alueella ulottuu, ja millaisia hankintalogistiikkaan liittyviä ratkaisuja voidaan ottaa käyttöön alueellisen polttoainepulan muodostuessa. Logistiikan kannalta Kaakkois-Suomen etuja ovat monipuoliset kuljetusverkostot, mutta toisaalta varsinkin hyvät yhteydet ulkomaille rajoittavat paikallisesti investointiaktiivisuutta bioenergian tuotanto- ja käsittelykaluston osalta. Lisäksi maaseudun yrittäjien keskuudessa epävarmuutta aiheuttavat heilahtelevat raakapuumarkkinat ja muuttuva energiatukipolitiikka.

Perspectives for the production and usage of wood chips as a source of energy in the North-West of Russia

The development of bioenergy on the basis of wood fuels has received considerable attention in the last decades. The combination of large forest resources and reliance on fossil fuels makes the issue of wood chips usage in Russia an actual topic for the analysis. The main objective of this study is to disclose the current state and perspectives for the production of wood chips and their usage as a source of energy in the North-West of Russia. The study utilizes an integrated approach to explore the market of wood chips on the basis of comprehensive analysis of documentation and expert opinions. The analysis of wood chips market was performed for eight regions of the North-West district of Russia within two major dimensions: its current state and perspectives in the nearest five years. The results of the study show a comprehensive picture of the wood chips market, including the potential for wood chips production, the specific features of production and consumption and the perspectives for the market development within the regions of the North-West district of Russia. The study demonstrated that the market of wood chips is underdeveloped in the North-West of Russia. The findings of the work may be used by forest companies for the strategic planning.

Energiapuun haketuksen ja murskauksen kustannukset

Energiapuun tuotannossa puu on hienonnettava kuljettimille ja kattilaan sopivaan kokoon. Tämä tehdään Suomessa yleensä joko metsätien varressa välivarastolla, keskitetyssä terminaalissa tai voimalaitoksella. Puu hienonnetaan joko terävillä terillä hakettamalla tai tylpemmillä työkaluilla murskaamalla. Hakkeessa on vähemmän käsittelyä haittaavia pitkiä tikkuja ja sen valmistamiseen tarvittava energia on hiukan pienempi kuin murskaimilla. Viimeksi mainitulla on merkitystä lähinnä karsittua puuta haketettaessa. Murskain puolestaan sallii enemmän epäpuhtauksia raaka-aineessa, joten esimerkiksi kantoja käsitellään vain murskaimilla. Tässä tarkastellaan erityisesti pienpuun haketuksen ja murskauksen kustannuksia. Pienpuuta saadaan nuoren metsän kunnostuksista ja ensiharvennuksista. Se voi olla joko karsimatonta kokopuuta tai karsittua rankaa. Kokonaiskustannukset pienpuun haketukselle tai murskaukselle ovat tämän tutkimuksen mukaan välivarastolla noin 3,4 euroa/MWh ja terminaalilla tai voimalaitoksella noin 2 euroa/MWh. Pääomakustannukset ovat pienpuulla tavallisesti 1-1,2 euroa/MWh, keskitetyllä terminaalilla toimittaessa noin kolmanneksen vähemmän, jos pääomalle asetetaan 10% tuottovaatimus. Työvoimakustannukset ovat 30-80 snt/MWh varaston ja laitteen koosta riippuen, käyttöenergia dieselmoottoria käytettäessä noin 50 snt/MWh, sähkömoottorilla noin 30 snt/MWh. Muut kulut, mm. huolto, ovat yhteensä 40-80 snt/MWh. Energiapuun hankinnan kokonaiskustannuksista raaka-aineen hienontamisen osuus on 10-30% puutavaran lajista ja käytetystä työmenetelmästä riippuen. Terminaaleilla ja voimalaitoksilla toimittaessa on usein kiinnitettävä huomiota melun- ja pölyntorjuntaan. Muun muassa näistä syistä saattaa kiinteä, sähkökäyttöinen murska olla sopiva sellaisiin kohteisiin, joissa käsiteltävät määrät ovat suuria ja toiminta pysyvää. Melun ja pölyn kunnollinen torjunta vaatii suuria rakenteita, joita on vaikea yhdistää liikuteltaviin laitteisiin.

Bioenergia – verkoston operatiivinen ja strateginen kehittäminen

Nykypäivän entisestään kovenevassa globaalissa liiketoimintaympäristössä jatkuvan ja pitkäaikaisen kilpailukyvyn ylläpitämiseen ja kehittämiseen vaaditaan laajalti kyvykkyyksiä, kompetensseja ja erilaisia resursseja. Etenkään pienet yritykset eivät pysty vastaamaan nykypäivän liiketoiminnan vaatimuksiin ja tavoitteisiin, jolloin ne tarvitsevat osaamista ja resursseja ulkopuolisilta toimijoilta, jopa mahdollisilta kilpailijoiltaan. Painotus on kilpailutilanteessa siirtynyt yksittäisistä yrityksistä verkostojen välisiksi turnauksiksi liiketoiminnan armottomilla pelikentillä. Diplomityö pohjautuu Lappeenrannan teknillisen yliopiston tutkimuskeskuksessa (TBRC) toteutettuun moniosaiseen tutkimukseen lämpöliiketoiminnan verkostorakenteista ja niiden ominaisuuksista. Tavoitteena on yleisen tietouden kasvattaminen pienten lämpölaitosalan toimijoiden verkostorakenteista, niiden eroista ja tulevaisuuden kehitysmahdollisuuksista. Pääpaino diplomityössä on juuri verkostojen kuvaamisella ja tietouden kasvattamisella, mutta myös rakenteiden ja toimintojen kehittämisessä vertikaalisen ja horisontaalisen verkostokehityksen viitekehyksen avulla, huomioiden operatiiviset ja strategiset tarpeet kilpailukyvyn ylläpitämisessä. Tutkimuksessa tunnistettiin huomattavia eroavaisuuksia lämpölaitosten toiminta-tavoissa sekä verkostorakenteissa ja niissä tapahtuvissa transaktioissa. Kirjallisuudessa esitettyjä onnistuneiden ja tehokkaasti toimivien verkostojen ominaisuuksien korrelaatioita lämpöliiketoiminnan operatiivisiin ja strategisiin toimintoihin vertaillaan tarkoitukseen muokatulla laadun talo -matriisilla. Tärkeimmiksi tulevaisuuden kehityskohteiksi analyysien perusteella havaittiin resurssien ja tietotaidon tehokkaamman jakamisen, yhteistyösuhteiden laajuuksien ja lukumäärien kasvattamisen sekä yhteistyösuhteiden strategisuuden lisäämisen.

Developing markets of energy biomass – local and global perspectives

The thesis explores global and national-level issues related to the development of markets for biomass for energy. The thesis consists of five separate papers and provides insights on selected issues. The aim of Paper I was to identify methodological and statistical challenges in assessing international solid and liquid biofuels trade and provide an overview of the Finnish situation with respect to the status of international solid and liquid biofuels trade. We found that, for the Finnish case, it is possible to qualify direct and indirect trade volumes of biofuels. The study showed that indirect trade of biofuels has a highly significant role in Finland and may be a significant sector also in global biofuels trade. The purpose of Paper II was to provide a quantified insight into Finnish prospects for meeting the national 2020 renewable energy targets and concurrently becoming a largescale producer of forest-biomass-based second-generation biofuels for feeding increasing demand in European markets. We found that Finland has good opportunities to realise a scenario to meet 2020 renewable energy targets and for large-scale production of wood-based biofuels. The potential net export of transport biofuels from Finland in 2020 would correspond to 2–3% of European demand. Paper III summarises the global status of international solid and liquid biofuels trade as illuminated by several separate sources. International trade of biofuels was estimated at nearly 1 EJ for 2006. Indirect trade of biofuels through trading of industrial roundwood and material by-products comprises the largest proportion of the trading, with a share of about two thirds. The purpose of Paper IV was to outline a comprehensive picture of the coverage of various certification schemes and sustainability principles relating to the entire value-added chain of biomass and bioenergy. Regardless of the intensive work that has been done in the field of sustainability schemes and principles concerning use of biomass for energy, weaknesses still exist. The objective of Paper V was to clarify the alternative scenarios for the international biomass market until 2020 and identify the underlying steps needed toward a wellfunctioning and sustainable market for biomass for energy purposes. An overall conclusion drawn from this analysis concerns the enormous opportunities related to the utilisation of biomass for energy in the coming decades.

Impact of irrigation on yield and energy balance of the production of oil and cake of two sunflower varieties

The energy balance for the production of sunflower oil and cake was carried out during the agricultural and industrial stage phase, where it was considered a cold extraction by hydraulic pressing, with the plant location in a rural area with a radius of 30km range. Data on productivity was used in two varieties of sunflower (Helio 358 and Aguará 04) grown in different seasons (2007/2008, 2008/2009), under different irrigation levels. Data showed that irrigation resulted in an increase in productivity of both varieties, and the best response was observed for Aguará 04 variety. Moreover, the increased intensity of irrigation negatively affected the energy balance, reducing the ratio between energy produced and energy used in the production chain. The most significant inputs in the energy intake were fertilizer followed by diesel oil, when irrigation was not used for. When the irrigation technique was used, the most significant inputs, in order of representativeness, were: energy, fertilizer and equipment.

Identification, assessment and ordering of concepts for agro-energy planning and possibilities of spatial analysis

ABSTRACT The present study aims to present the main concepts of the sugarcane straw to energy planning. Throughout the study, the subject is contextualized highlighting broader aspects of sustainability, which is considered the main driver towards agro-energy modernization. Concerning sugarcane straw, we first evaluated its availability regarding technical and economic aspects, and then it summarized the straw production chain for energy supply purposes. As a proposal to support agro-energy planning, it is presented some spatial tools that have been barely used in the Brazilian energy planning context so far. Therefore, working on straw to electricity associated with supply chain basis, we developed a conceptual model to spatially assess this bioenergy system. Using the model proposed, it is described the whole supply chain at state level, which accounted the potential of a single mill to explore straw, as well as main costs associated with straw acquisition, investments on the straw recovery routes and electricity transmission. Bearing these concepts in mind, it is fully believed that spatial analysis can bring important information for agro-energy action plans.

Current status of the waste-to-energy chain in the County of North Savo, Finland

The aim of this report is to describe the current status of the waste-to-energy chain in the province of Northern Savonia in Finland. This work is part of the Baltic Sea Region Programme project Remowe-Regional Mobilizing of Sustainable Waste-to-Energy Production (2009-2012). Partnering regions across Baltic Sea countries have parallelly investigated the current status, bottle-necks and needs for development in their regions. Information about the current status is crucial for the further work within the Remowe project, e.g. in investigating the possible future status in target regions. Ultimate result from the Northern Savonia point of view will be a regional model which utilizes all available information and facilitates decision-making concerning energy utilization of waste. The report contains information on among others: - waste management system (sources, amounts, infrastructure) - energy system (use, supply, infrastructure) - administrative structure and legislation - actors and stakeholders in the waste-to-energy field, including interest and development ideas The current status of the regions will be compared in a separate Remowe report, with the focus on finding best practices that could be transferred among the regions. In this report, the current status has been defined as 2006-2009. In 2009, the municipal waste amount per capita was 479 kg/inhabitant in Finland. Industrial waste amounted 3550 kg/inhabitant, respectively. The potential bioenergy from biodegradable waste amounts 1 MWh/inhabitant in Northern Savonia. This figure includes animal manure, crops that would be suitable for energy use, sludge from municipal sewage treatment plants and separately collected biowaste. A key strategy influencing also to Remowe work is the waste plan for Eastern Finland. Currently there operate two digestion plants in Northern Savonia: Lehtoniemi municipal sewage treatment sludge digestion plant of Kuopion Vesi and the farm-scale research biogas plant of Agrifood Research Finland in Maaninka. Moreover, landfill gas is collected to energy use from Heinälamminrinne waste management centre and Silmäsuo closed landfill site, both belonging to Jätekukko Oy. Currently there is no thermal utilization of waste in Northern Savonia region. However, Jätekukko Oy is pretreating mixed waste and delivering refuse derived fuel (RDF) to Southern Finland to combustion. There is a strong willingness among seven regional waste management companies in Eastern Finland to build a waste incineration plant to Riikinneva waste management centre near city of Varkaus. The plant would use circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler. This would been a clear boost in waste-to-energy utilization in Northern Savonia and in many surrounding regions.

Vientiyhteistyö strategisena allianssimuotona

Tutkimuksen tavoitteena on ollut selvittää suomalaisten bioenergia-alan pk-yritysten halukkuus tehdä vientiyhteistyötä ja selvittää millaiset vientiyhteistyömuodot soveltuvat alalle. Tutkimuksessa on lisäksi selvitetty mitkä tekijät vaikuttavat menestyksekkääseen yhteistyöhön. Tutkimuskysymykset ovat: 1. Mitkä tekijät vaikuttavat strategisen allianssin ja vientiyhteistyön menestykseen? 2. Minkälaiset vientiyhteistyömuodot soveltuvat parhaiten bioenergia-alalle? Tutkimuksessa on käytetty kvalitatiivisia tutkimusmenetelmiä. Ensimmäisessä osiossa on vastattu kirjallisuuskatsauksen avulla ensimmäiseen tutkimuskysymykseen. Toisessa osiossa jälkimmäiseen tutkimuskysymykseen on vastattu analysoimalla teemahaastatteluita, joihin on valittu suomalaisia bioenergia-alan pk-yrityksiä. Tutkimuksessa saatiin selville, että luottamus ja sitoutuminen ovat yhteisiä päätekijöitä, kun tarkastellaan strategisia alliansseja ja vientiyhteistyötä. Muita menestykseen vaikuttavia yhteisiä tekijöitä on partnereiden valinta, yritysten yhteensopivuus, ystävyyssuhteet ja henkilökemiat, johtaminen sekä pitkän aikavälin suhteet. Bioenergia-alalle parhaiten soveltuvat vientiyhteistyömuodot ovat tutkimuksen mukaan yhteistyö suorassa viennissä (jälleenmyyjien tai tuontiagenttien kautta) ja markkinointiyhteistyö.

Solids removal in pyrolysis

Pyrolysis is a process for turning biomass into liquid fuel. The process consists of heating the biomass in inert conditions and quenching the resulting vapors into oil. The oil has many potential uses, such as heating fuel in peak heating plants. In order to broaden the application base and improve the quality of the oil, solids removal has to be addressed. The solids may also increase the probability of plugging in downstream equipment. The purpose of this research was to gain an understanding of the formation of solids in the pyrolysis process and to assess options for reducing the solid content of the oil. From literature it is known that the solids can be removed either by hot vapor filtration, liquid treatment or multiple cyclones. Hot vapor filtration decreases yield, but improves the stability of the oil while simultaneously removing solids and ash. Liquid treatment techniques are good for removing large particles but involve losses of pyrolysis liquid. Cyclones are a traditional robust technique used regularly in pyrolysis. In the experimental part of this thesis, a 2 MWfuel pyrolysis setup with 2 cyclones in series was operated and monitored. Solid and liquid samples were collected from various parts of the process for further examination. Sampling and sample treatment techniques were developed. The chemical properties of the pyrolysis char were also analyzed and assessed as a function of reactor temperature and fluidizing velocity. By measuring the particle size distributions it was noticed that there were much smaller particles collected from the second cyclone than fed into pyrolysis. The solids in the pyrolysis oil were even smaller. This was most likely caused by attrition and shrinkage. Due to better separation efficiency of the cyclones in large particles, excess attrition should be avoided.

The effects of location, feedstock availability, and supply-chain logistics on the greenhouse gas emissions of forest-biomass energy utilization in Finland

Forest biomass represents a geographically distributed feedstock, and geographical location affects the greenhouse gas (GHG) performance of a given forest-bioenergy system in several ways. For example, biomass availability, forest operations, transportation possibilities and the distances involved, biomass end-use possibilities, fossil reference systems, and forest carbon balances all depend to some extent on location. The overall objective of this thesis was to assess the GHG emissions derived from supply and energy-utilization chains of forest biomass in Finland, with a specific focus on the effect of location in relation to forest biomass’s availability and the transportation possibilities. Biomass availability and transportation-network assessments were conducted through utilization of geographical information system methods, and the GHG emissions were assessed by means of lifecycle assessment. The thesis is based on four papers in which forest biomass supply on industrial scale was assessed. The feedstocks assessed in this thesis include harvesting residues, smalldiameter energy wood and stumps. The principal implication of the findings in this thesis is that in Finland, the location and availability of biomass in the proximity of a given energyutilization or energy-conversion plant is not a decisive factor in supply-chain GHG emissions or the possible GHG savings to be achieved with forest-biomass energy use. Therefore, for the greatest GHG reductions with limited forest-biomass resources, energy utilization of forest biomass in Finland should be directed to the locations where most GHG savings are achieved through replacement of fossil fuels. Furthermore, one should prioritize the types of forest biomass with the lowest direct supply-chain GHG emissions (e.g., from transport and comminution) and the lowest indirect ones (in particular, soil carbon-stock losses), regardless of location. In this respect, the best combination is to use harvesting residues in combined heat and power production, replacing peat or coal.

Commercialization of Modern Renewable Energy

The threat of global warming and its consequences are widely recognized, and the question of how to proceed with the long transition towards fossil fuel -neutral economies concerns many nations and people. At the same time the world’s primary energy use is predicted to increase significantly during the next decades as a result of global population and welfare increase. Improved energy efficiency and increased use of renewable energy sources in the world’s energy mix play important roles in the future energy production and consumption. The objective of this thesis is to study how novel renewable energy technologies, such as distributed small-scale bio-fueled combined heat and power production and wind power technologies could be commercialized efficiently. A wide array of attributes may contribute to the diffusion of new products. In general, the bioenergy and wind power technologies are in emerging phases, and the diffusion stage varies from country to country. The effects of firms’ technology choices, collaboration and alliances are studied in this thesis. Furthermore, the roles of national energy infrastructure and energy support schemes in the commercialization of new renewable energy products are explored. The empirical data is based on energy expert interviews, financial and patent data, and literature reviews of different case studies. The thesis comprises two parts. The first part provides an overview of the study, and the second part includes six research publications. The results reveal that small-scale bio-fueled combined heat and power production and wind power technologies are still in emerging phases in their life cycles, and energy support schemes are crucial in the market diffusion. The study contributes to earlier findings in the literature and industry by confirming that adequate energy policies and energy infrastructure are fundamental in the commercialization of novel renewable energy technologies. Firm-specific issues, including business relationships and new business models, and market-related issues will have a more significant role in the market penetration in the future, when the technologies mature and become competitive without political support schemes.

Integration of Torrefaction with Steam Power Plant

Torrefaction is one of the pretreatment technologies to enhance the fuel characteristics of biomass. The efficient and continuous operation of a torrefaction reactor, in the commercial scale, demands a secure biomass supply, in addition to adequate source of heat. Biorefinery plants or biomass-fuelled steam power plants have the potential to integrate with the torrefaction reactor to exchange heat and mass, using available infrastructure and energy sources. The technical feasibility of this integration is examined in this study. A new model for the torrefaction process is introduced and verified by the available experimental data. The torrefaction model is then integrated in different steam power plants to simulate possible mass and energy exchange between the reactor and the plants. The performance of the integrated plant is investigated for different configurations and the results are compared.