Ontario, Canada (CNW) - Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has launched Phase 2 of its biomass testing program at Nanticoke Generating Station. OPG is testing the use of biomass as a new energy source for Ontario by mixing biomass - primarily of wood pellets and agricultural by-products such as grain screenings and milling spoils that can be easily burned - to generate electricity.

"We continue to look for opportunities to reduce the impact of our station on the environment," said Nanticoke GS Plant Manager Frank Chiarotto. "Co-firing coal with biomass could provide us with an option to reduce our environmental footprint. The Phase 2 test program is a significant milestone as it will involve longer duration test burns".

To date, OPG’s Nanticoke Generating Station has successfully co-fired milling by-products with coal to produce over 1.3 million kilowatt-hours of electricity; enough power to meet the energy needs of 1,300 Ontario homes for one month.

The OPG testing program is part of a longer term effort to reduce the environmental footprint from its four coal plants for as long as they remain in service. Significant progress has been made in the reduction of emissions related to smog and acid rain and particulates. However, progress on greenhouse gas emissions to date has been limited to plant efficiency improvements, according to a press release issued by the company.

OPG is quick to point out it does not use food crops in its biomass program. Biomass is considered to be "carbon neutral", meaning the amount of carbon released when burned is equal to the amount removed from the atmosphere when being grown.

The Ontario government recently ordered its coal-fired power plants to cut harmful greenhouse-gas emissions to levels to two-thirds below 2003 levels by 2011. "We have to figure out how to use our coal plants less," said OPG spokesperson Ted Gruetzner, noting other sources of power such as natural gas, hydroelectric and nuclear will have to shoulder more of the load.

The utility has until November to file a plan for achieving the goal, which requires reductions to begin next year.  

Co-firing with biomass is an option for greenhouse gas (CO(2)) emissions reduction that is being tested in may countries. It is considered "carbon-neutral" and may also result in reductions of other emissions.

Biomass is defined as renewable or sustainable materials of forest, agricultural (plant or animal) or marine origins.  Biomass provides the opportunity to generate renewable energy from existing coal plants.

Jurisdictions in Europe have significant experience with biomass co-firing. Typically, the amount of biomass co-fired varies between 5 per cent and 25 per cent of total fuel input for individual units, depending on the type and availability of biomass. Several jurisdictions including the United Kingdom and the Netherlands use a combination of regulations (mandatory renewable targets) and incentive programs (major tax incentives, GHG tax credits) to promote the generation of power using biomass.

The Netherlands, considered a leader in the use of biomass, has a goal of producing 12 per cent of total energy from coal plants by co-firing with biomass. This would consume two million tonnes of biomass per year.

Biomass currently is used to produce just less than 1% of the US electricity. Studies have shown that this fraction can be increased, both in advanced biomass plants and by blending biomass with other fuels in power generators. Some studies indicate that biomass may be an important transportation fuel, and the land and water resources required may be applied more economically to that use than to growing crops for electric power production.

OPG is very careful in reporting on the testing program not to speculate that far into the future, nor does it wish to raise concerns on policy issues that might arise should there be calls to continue the use of these coal-fired installations beyond their pending shutdown dates by lowering the CO2 emissions levels through co-burning of coal and biomass.

OPG is supporting the provincial Atikokan Bioenergy Research Centre (ABRC) program. Six projects (all academic and private sector partnerships) are proceeding. Some will involve co-firing tests at Atikokan GS before the program concludes in 2009.

Looking Ahead

Biomass is an opportunity that OPG will continue to explore. However, there are many questions that still must be answered related to technical feasibility, fuel supply and transportation systems, and social and economic considerations. OPG, government, academics, forestry and agricultural communities, entrepreneurs and business will all have to contribute to the resolution of these issues before large-scale commercial operations can be considered.

"One of our most significant environmental developments in 2007 was the launch of OPG’s Greenhouse Gas Management Plan. Co-firing biomass with coal is an important part of this ambitious agenda", Cara Clairman, OPG’s Vice President, Sustainable Development.

Ontario’s Energy Minister Gerry Phillips noted emissions of greenhouse gases - which cause global warming - from the coal plants must be 11.5 megatonnes in 2011, down from 34.5 megatonnes in 2003. That will be the equivalent of taking up to 700,000 cars off the road, said Gibbons.

None of OPG’s coal plants, such as the giant Nanticoke generating station on the north shore of Lake Erie, or the Lambton plant near Sarnia, will close as emissions are lowered, said OPG’s Gruetzner.  "We don’t have plans to shut coal plants or do layoffs."

The government decided to keep coal plants open until 2014 in case the province needs them to meet electricity needs.

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For More Information: Canada News Wire (CNW)