New power production options for biomass and cogeneration

Abstract

Power production and combined heat and power production from biomass is a form of renewable energy that has gained significance and is expected to grow steadily over the coming years. Because of fundamental differences in properties between biomass and traditional fossil fuels for power generation, biomass power plants source their fuel mostly locally and their capacity is restricted by local availability. Biomass conversion technologies can be broadly classified as thermochemical and biochemical. Thermochemical processes include combustion, gasification, and pyrolysis and are mostly suitable for dry biomass fractions. Wet biomass fractions are most commonly converted using biochemical processes, such as fermentation and anaerobic digestion. Integration with power production systems depends on the intermediate energy carrier produced (steam, gas) and is usually achieved through conventional or organic Rankine cycles or reciprocating internal combustion engines. Despite being considered as a carbon‐neutral energy source, power production from biomass can have environmental consequences, which depend on the feedstock type, conversion process, and the type of flue gas–cleaning equipment installed. WIREs Energy Environ 2015, 4:471–485. doi: 10.1002/wene.163This article is categorized under: Bioenergy > Science and Materials Bioenergy > Systems and Infrastructure Bioenergy > Climate and Environment