Biomass can be a cost-effective and carbon neutral fuel choice. Is biomass a suitable energy option for your proposed or existing development? Is there a good supply nearby? Is the scale and access of/to the site appropriate? Presention for Ecobuild 2011 by Jude Hassall, Energy Project Manager at BioRegional

1. Basics of Biomass Project Implementation
Ecobuild – March 2011
Jude Hassall

2. 1. Use a robust project process
1 Use a robust project process

3. 2. Use available information
2 Use available information
• www.forestry.gov.uk/england‐woodfuel
• www.carbontrust.co.uk/biomass
• www.biomassenergycentre.org.uk
• www.southwestwoodshed.co.uk
• www.northwoods.org.uk
• www.r‐e‐a.net

4. 3. Understand the critical issues
3 Understand the critical issues
Three considerations to maximise chances of
implementing a cost effective and successfully
operating system.
operating system
1. Sizing
2. Fuel storage
3
3. Fuel to equipment matching
q p g

5. Capacity factor
• Biomass systems have a 200‐300% price
p
premium compared to FF systems ‐
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consequently good CF’s are essential to make
best use of that capital premium and
therefore improve payback.

6. Boiler utilisation –
Boiler utilisation capacity factor
• Th ft f ll di
They often fall disappointingly below expectations:
i ti l b l t ti
– Poor site selection
– Inappropriate sizing of biomass boiler
– Inappropriate sizing and use of thermal stores
– Poor integration with fossil fuel stand‐by plant
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– Mismatch of fuel and boiler unit
– Poor overall system design and lack of acceptance
– Poor installation and commissioning
P i ll i d i i i
– Poor fuel quality and management thereof
– Irregular maintenance and attention

7. 4. Carry out an initial assessment
4 Carry out an initial assessment

8. Basic economic analysis
• Use Carbon Trust initial assessment tool for basic
economic analysis. Some preliminary work
required:
required
1. Site annual heating consumption
2. Costs associated with fossil fuel use
3. Proposed boiler size

9. Basic site suitability
• Spatial constraints
– Consider access in boiler room for operation and
maintenance
– Fuel deliveries
• Site access
– Size of delivery trucks
– Height clearance
• Planning constraints
– Vehicle movements
– Emissions
– Area designations

10. Follow CT guide
• Collect additional data
• Site visit checklist
• Prepare feasibility template
• Involve fuel supplier and biomass
boiler installers – pre
p
qualification

11. 5. Carry out detailed feasibility
5 Carry out detailed feasibility

12. 1. Heat demand profile
1 Heat demand profile
Options for estimating heat demand profile:
1.
1 Existing records
2. On‐site measurements
3. Steam systems – steam flow rates
4. Process heat
4 Process heat – pattern of equipment use
5. Building modelling software
6. Benchmarks

13. 1. Capacity factor
1 Capacity factor

14. 2. Determine plant size
2 Determine plant size
• Rule of thumb
• Tender process and supplier expertise
• Boiler sizing tool
• Dynamic modelling
Important and complex task!

15. 2. Ensure a value engineered solution
2 Ensure a value engineered solution
• Value engineering reconciliation of:
V l i i ili i f
– Biomass plant capex
– Fossil fuel, heat storage and fuel storage capex
– Unit cost of fossil fuel and biomass fuel
– Organisation drivers to maximise carbon
savings and minimise capex
g p
• Factors influencing sizing and integration:
1.
1 Which loads are to be supplied
2. When will biomass plant be operated

16. 3. Engage woodfuel suppliers early
3 Engage woodfuel suppliers early

17. 3.What to investigate with your supplier
3 What to investigate with your supplier
• Factors that will affect plant specification and
operation
p
• Factors that will affect fuel store design and
fuel delivery
• Factors that will affect cost

18. 3. Fuel Characteristics and impact on boiler design
3 Fuel Characteristics and impact on boiler design
• Particle size – affects grate and feeding design
l ff df d d
– Pellets and small chip – underfed hearth
– Large chip – moving grate
Large chip
• Moisture content (MC) – affects choice of grate and temperature
– Low MC – underfed,
– High MC – moving grate
• Ash content and melt temperature – affects combustion temperature and
removal process
– Wood has low ash content with high melt point
• Contamination – affects residence time and materials
– Waste Incineration Directive requires boiler to meet certain
conditions of temperature and residence time

19. 3. Fuel quality assurance
3 Fuel quality assurance
• Solid biomass assurance scheme:
www.hetas.co.uk

20. 3. Factors affecting price
3 Factors affecting price
Logistics Quality
li Market
k
• Location in
relation to raw • Moisture content • Source type: virgin
material supply; ( );
(%); timber, reclaimed
timber reclaimed
• Delivery duration • Calorific Value; wood, arboriculture
& distance; • Form of delivered arisings, waste, etc.;
• Delivery volume; fuel e.g. slabwood <
fuel e g slabwood < • C
Contracting type:
i
(capacity & woodchip < pellet
contract buying fuel by
(influences
volume); processing labour); weight, volume, or
• Delivery vehicle; energy;
• Quality of
• Delivery woodchip / pellet • Local demand
frequency compared to
(influences
• Seasonal factors processing competing markets.
technology).

21. 4. Optimise woodfuel storage
4 Optimise woodfuel storage
• The successful operation of any woodfuel system
relies on a well designed fuel store, handling and
reception area
• Optimise fuel store volume
• Flexible fuel store reception
• p g
Optimise fuel discharge rates
– Tipped – fastest (1t/min)
– Blower
Blower – slower, noisier but more flexible (1t/8min)
• Once quantity of fuel is known, estimate volume

22. 4. Woodfuel –
4 Woodfuel fuel store sizing
• Dead space 15‐20% of total volume
Dead space 15 20% of total volume
• Good to size fuel store for full delivery load – partial
load may impact fuel price
l d i f l i
• If there is back‐up and or aux plant it may be
possible to reduce number of days of storage
• Various fuel storage designs – discuss with fuel
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supplier, installer and site owner for best option

23. 4. Assess spatial constraints
4 Assess spatial constraints
• Space in boiler house
• Space for fuel storage facilities
• Vehicle access

24. 4. Spatial constraints
4 Spatial constraints
• Access for maintenance
• Space for backup systems
• Proximity to fuel storage
• Vehicle access for fuel deliveries (turning circles and
height)
• Space for buffer tank / thermal storage
• Location and height of flue (taller and wider than
gas/oil flues)
• For existing buildings access for installation
• Conservation areas, listed buildings
– increases cost

25. 4. Boiler house considerations
4 Boiler house considerations
• Boilers physically larger than fossil fuel equivalents
g q
• Much greater headroom required if access to the top p
of the boiler is required for flueway cleaning on
vertical tube boilers
• Floor space required for:
– Flueway cleaning on horizontal tube boilers
– Feed auger and ash auger removal
– Ash bin(s) cyclone buffer vessel thermal store
Ash bin(s), cyclone, buffer vessel, thermal store,
expansion vessels or spillset

26. 5. Assess necessary permits and consents
5 Assess necessary permits and consents
• Planning consent –
Planning consent contact the LPA as early in the
process as possible
• Building regulations – conservation of fuel & power
B ildi l i i f f l &
• Waste & Pollution
• Health & Safety

27. 6. Cost effective solutions
6 Cost effective solutions
• Appropriate design and application of lean
design / value engineering principles with
g g gp p
regard to:
– System sizing;
– Integration works;
– System housing and installation works;
– Appropriate fuel store design;
– Mechanical handling;
– Driven by project criteria

28. Tips for procurement and
Ti f t d
implementation stage.
implementation stage

29. Good tendering
• Market competition and good tendering practice
– Clear specification to allow cross comparison;
– Comprehensive specification to reduce perceived risk and
associated price loading;
– Site information;
– Appropriate tendering;
– Thorough tender evaluation and CAPEX build‐up;
– Clear identification of CAPEX risk and management
thereof.
h f

30. Tendering & specification
• Prepare good specification – use CT RFP
template
p
• Conclusions of feasibility inform RFP
– Pre‐qualification
P lifi ti
– Tenderers should state variations
– State lead times
– Time of year

31. Tips for woodfuel procurement
• Th i
There is a need to check both client and supplier are
d h k b h li d li
insured appropriately:
– T&Cs are compatible throughout the supply chain?
T&C tibl th h t th l h i ?
– Levels of insurance is compatible with risks?
– Dust and boiler explosions
– Does the sale of heat and/or power affect clients
commercial status?
• Can inform client of general principles but do not
advise on small‐print and/or policy purchases (FSA
p / p yp (
regulated activity)

32. Woodfuel procurement ‐
Woodfuel procurement insurance
• D
Does supplier/ supplier’s insurers indemnify client
li / li ’ i i d if li t
against:
– Damage to the installed equipment due to supply
substandard fuel?
– Prompt removal of substandard fuel?
– Loss of earnings as a result of down‐time due to
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substandard fuel?
• Client needs to be aware of potential I&I issues at
the FS stage but detailed investigations usually
g g
made during project development/ negotiations
with suppliers

33. Woodfuel procurement ‐
Woodfuel procurement HSE
• By statute the site owner and/or operator is
responsible for all HSE issues on the site.
• The site management have to put in place SOPs and
conduct risk assessments on all operations
conducted on‐site
o c e t o pote t a S ssues e ue
• Inform client of potential HSE issues re: fuel
deliveries early in process
• Reputable fuel suppliers should be able to supply
their own SOPs and associated risk assessments

34. Woodfuel procurement ‐
Woodfuel procurement documentation
• Term sheet very useful
Fuel specification (inc. variances and details of supplier QA systems)
Tonnage p.a.
Delivery vehicle type(s) and sizes (inc. turning circle and e.g. tipping
clearances) )
Maximum delivery frequency (e.g. loads/week)
Price/ unit (e.g. p/kWh boiler output, £/T)
Duration of contract
Indexing
Conditions of sale (append example contract)
Insurers/ indemnity limit
Recourse for delivery of out of spec. fuel
Earliest date they can start contract

35. Woodfuel procurement ‐
Woodfuel procurement contracts
• Use Carbon Trust example contract

36. Woodfuel procurement –
Woodfuel procurement delivery docs
• All d li i D li
All deliveries: Delivery note
t
Plus (if not bought by boiler heat output)
• Copy of weighbridge ticket with tare, gross and net weights
Or
• Estimation of volume (if not full load)
Plus (if not bought by boiler heat output)
• Moisture content analysis/ estimate (may be sent after
delivery)

37. Tips for commissioning & training
• Manual in English
• Train end users:
– Plant operation
– Performance monitoring
P f i i
– Troubleshooting
– Daily, weekly, monthly maintenance

38. Tips for operation and maintenance
• Standard O&M contract with installer is common
• Automated systems can reduce attendance time
• Use of high quality fuel, regular checks, avoiding
short‐cycling
• Establish daily, weekly, monthly, 3‐monthly, 6‐
monthly and annual maintenance regime
y g
• Ongoing performance monitoring using heat
meters

39. Maintenance requirement
• Higher specification = lower maintenance cost
– Automatic ash removal
– Cooled grate designs
– Robust wood feeding
– Boiler tube cleaning
• Low specification can lead to lower system
availability
• Complex systems for fuel feed can also
present reliability issues
t li bilit i

40. Conclusions
• Follow a clear process
• Don’t skip steps
Don t skip steps
• Involve relevant parties at the earliest
opportunity
i
• Use available resources to helpp