Waste Wood Conversion for Coal Fired Thai Power Plant
Biomass and waste to energy systems provider, DP CleanTech has been contracted to convert an ageing coal fired power plant in Thailand to run on waste wood such as eucalyptus bark.
According to the company, the retrofitted plant will provide electricity and steam to the country’s largest bioethanol plant which is currently being built by TPK Ethanol. The new bioethanol plant, in Nakorn Ratchasima, is expected to produce 1 million liters of bioethanol a day.
DP CleanTech says that the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has made ongoing efforts to diversify its power sources by using more coal and adopting nuclear. However, this has been met with resistance by environmentalists and communities.
The company claims that EGAT are now researching integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) technology, which turns coal into gas, but cites the Authority’s deputy governor Somboon Arayaskul’s view that producing electricity from IGCC is about 50% more expensive than using fossil fuels.
Meanwhile feasibility studies into alternative technologies have revealed that coal to biomass conversions provide the cheapest option for alternative sources of energy, and significantly reduce the environmental impact of existing coal power plants, according to DP CleanTech.
The company says that its new biomass boiler and vibrating grate technology will facilitate the full 20 MWe with 45 tonnes per hour of 15 bar steam and 135 tonnes per hour of 6 bar saturated steam required to run the new bioethanol plant.
The biomass boiler will be fueled by waste wood and Eucalyptus bark sourced from the forestry and paper industry in the surrounding area.
According to the company, creating steam and electricity from waste biomass as opposed to coal will significantly improve the TPK bioethanol plant’s green credentials. Furthermore, DP CleanTech claims that its advanced boiler design has been adapted to handle biogas and up to 25 tonnes per hour of Giant King Grass - providing both flexibility and fuel security.
The company says while this is its first project of this kind in Asia, it anticipates many more similar projects to come, as governments and companies try to quickly and cost effectively reduce their dependence on coal.
According to the company, the retrofitted plant will provide electricity and steam to the country’s largest bioethanol plant which is currently being built by TPK Ethanol. The new bioethanol plant, in Nakorn Ratchasima, is expected to produce 1 million liters of bioethanol a day.
DP CleanTech says that the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has made ongoing efforts to diversify its power sources by using more coal and adopting nuclear. However, this has been met with resistance by environmentalists and communities.
The company claims that EGAT are now researching integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) technology, which turns coal into gas, but cites the Authority’s deputy governor Somboon Arayaskul’s view that producing electricity from IGCC is about 50% more expensive than using fossil fuels.
Meanwhile feasibility studies into alternative technologies have revealed that coal to biomass conversions provide the cheapest option for alternative sources of energy, and significantly reduce the environmental impact of existing coal power plants, according to DP CleanTech.
The company says that its new biomass boiler and vibrating grate technology will facilitate the full 20 MWe with 45 tonnes per hour of 15 bar steam and 135 tonnes per hour of 6 bar saturated steam required to run the new bioethanol plant.
The biomass boiler will be fueled by waste wood and Eucalyptus bark sourced from the forestry and paper industry in the surrounding area.
According to the company, creating steam and electricity from waste biomass as opposed to coal will significantly improve the TPK bioethanol plant’s green credentials. Furthermore, DP CleanTech claims that its advanced boiler design has been adapted to handle biogas and up to 25 tonnes per hour of Giant King Grass - providing both flexibility and fuel security.
The company says while this is its first project of this kind in Asia, it anticipates many more similar projects to come, as governments and companies try to quickly and cost effectively reduce their dependence on coal.
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