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FA 11: All-rounders fueling the energy market
Thanks to its versatility, biomass promises great potential for
renewables and could fuel growth for the valve industry. Alas,
its image problem has yet to be overcome.
Other renewables are in the limelight of public discussion. Wind
and solar energy plants are in the open and can be seen nearly
everywhere. Biomass however lurks in the shadows of debate, in
a role that is far from justified. In Germany alone, biomass
accounts for 33 per cent of energy generated from renewables,
second place behind wind energy with a share of around 36 per
cent. Without a question, biomass has great potential.
Time is running out
As supply slowly dwindles, the era of fossil fuels such as gas, oil
and coal is drawing to an end. Not every country welcomes
nuclear energy. The energy sector has long realised the signs of
the time.
Companies from countries such as Germany and Austria are
placing their bets on renewables, in parts thanks to subsidies from
their respective governments. In Germany, biomass as an energy
source is supported by the Renewable Energies Act (EEG). The
act includes wood-fired biomass heating and power plants or
fermentation of liquid manure from energy crops in biogas plants.
Its versatility makes biomass highly interesting. Biomass is “the
only renewable that can generate all forms of required energy,
such as heat, electricity and fuels“, underscores Germany's
“EnergyAgency.NRW“. As a source of energy, it is an all-rounder,
regardless of its solid, liquid or gaseous state.
Biomass is booming
Power companies in these countries are harnessing this potential
and are busy constructing biomass power plants. In the Austrian
town of Steyr, a biomass heating plant was put into operation to
supply the district heating grid in Steyr. Both residential and
industrial areas with companies such as the BMW Plant Steyr and
MAN are supplied with heat from a renewable source of energy.
Wood chips are used as fuel in the biomass heating plant Steyr.
Steam is created in the biomass boiler with a thermal output of 30
MW, reaching a pressure level of around 90 bar and a
temperature of 525°C. The steam is overheated in three
superheaters and then flows to a back pressure turbine, which
generates power with an output of 5500 kW. The entire exhaust
steam is used for district heating. A buffer with a volume of 254
cubic meters is used to balance supply peaks. The plant in Steyr
reduces CO2 emissions by more than 50.000 tons annually.
Electricity and district heating
Vattenfall also operates numerous biomass heating plants
throughout Europe, such as the Sellessen power plant in the
German federal state of Brandenburg. Biomass supplied to the
power plant is first separated from extraneous materials like stone
or metal, states the company. “The fuel subsequently reaches the
boiler and is burnt at high temperatures“, utilising the energy set
free to turn water into steam. “A turbine is powered by this steam,
which in turn is connected to a generator“, the company explains.
Electricity is thus generated. In turn, residual heat can be used for
district heating. Residues such as ash however remain after the
burning process. “These can again be used to a large extent.
When possible, Vattenfall makes sure that ash and cinder are
tested for quality and used as aggregates for building materials or
as a base course layer in road construction.“
The most widely used biomass materials are saw dust, wood
waste, tree bark, treated wood, straw, rice husk, biological sludge
or waste materials with high organic content. Biomass materials
are utilised either through burning or gasification.
Important role in the energy mix
German power company RWE enjoys the benefits of using
biomass, too. It is “one of the most important areas we are
focussing on. Biomass can play an important role in a broad
energy mix in Europe“, the corporation emphasises. A lot of
companies see similar potential. This kind of energy generation is
therefore becoming of interest for valve and pump makers.
It is namely quite simple: no valves, no biomass heating or power
plant. In the biomass and gas boilers, in thermal and cooling
cycles, at the injection point and steam temperature control valves
such as main stop valves and steam slides are needed to control
the process. Throttle valves, pressure reducing valves and safety
valves are also needed. In addition, district heating pumps, feed
pumps, condensate pumps and frequency converters can't be
done without.
German valve and pump maker KSB AG has discovered the
attractive market for itself. The company already has long years of
experience in power plant technology and is adapting to biomass
power plants. “We offer individual solutions“ – a must for suppliers,
as biomass comes in various states and can be utilised in many
different ways. Plant dimensions can also vary to a high degree.
They are used in market-gardens, public district heating systems,
paper and pulp factories and entire industrial areas. KSB AG has
the required pumps for feed water pumping, condensate transport
and district heating in its product range.
Attractive French market
MT-Energie has also gained a foothold in the biomass sector. The
company received an order for the construction of eight biogas
plants for agriculture in the Champagne. Each plant is designed
for an output of around 500 kW. Catch crops, liquid and solid
manure and pressed pulp made from sugar beets will be used as
substrates. The 12 million euro order will make a profit for MTEnergie.
MT-Energie's commitment to the French market is bearing fruits.
“We have been working in the French market for several years,
because we have always seen great potential in it,“ emphasises
Torben Brunckhorst, managing partner of MT-Energie GmbH.
Further orders are expected to follow. “The outlook for the French
market is very good.“
France is not the only market which is very attractive. Over 50 per
cent of MT-Energie's current, 216 million euro heavy order volume
of 216 million euro stems from international markets. MT-Energie:
“Next to France, Great Britain, Poland and Slovakia offer a good
outlook for the further roll-out of efficient biogas technology.“
Valves for biomass projects
The valve sector already is profiting from the biomass boom. VAG
supplied the Dutch coal power plant Maasvlakte Power Plant 3 in
Rotterdam with butterfly valves with a nominal diameter of DN
2000. They will be used as controlled pump-check valves in the
main cooling line. As the seawater used for cooling is very
aggressive, the pumps were made from stainless duplex steel.
Apart from coal, the power plant also uses biomass.
Metso, a Finnish company, is also highly engaged in the biomass
market. Valves and instrumentation were supplied to the Swedish
GoBiGas project for sustainable and renewable gas production.
Metso Power is constructing a biomass gasification plant for
Göteborg Energi AB in the harbour of Göteborg. The worldwide
first plant of its kind turns biomass into renewable biomethane for
the gas grid. It includes a slew of control and on/ off valves and
positioners for safety valves in both parts of the plant, i.e the
gasification and methanation sections. In total, the order includes
320 valves, such as regulating flaps, rotary globe valves, segment
and ball valves. The first section was finalized by the end of 2013.
Metso also received an order from Archangelsk Pulp and Paper
Mill to construct a biomass steam boiler. The boiler for the Russian
company will have a capacity of 60 mW and was put into operation
in the first quarter of 2014.
Processes in biomass power plants also need to be defined as
precisely and effectively as possible. Foster Wheeler chose
systems from Emerson Process Management to automate its new,
biomass-powered boiler in a power plant located in Polaniec,
Poland. The Eastern European country has set ambitious goals for
its energy sector. It is investing heavily into power generation from
biomass to meet its goal of a 15 per cent share of renewables in
energy production by 2020.
Converting coal plants
New plants are not the only thing promising lucrative orders. Coal
power plants are being retrofitted to become environment-friendly
biomass power plants. “One of our successful projects for instance
is retrofitting a coal power plant in Amer, the Netherlands, and
converting it into a biomass power plant more friendly to the
environment,“ declares RWE. The former coal power plant in
Tilbury, Great Britain, was also converted by the company into a
biomass power plant with a capacity of 750 MW.
Thanks to the good outlook, companies are taking a closer look.
Metso has started researching industrial use of biochar. The
TISCO-Projekt (Torrefaction – Integration and Suitability for Cofiring) is examining the industrial-scale use of heating materials
made by torrefaction as an aggregate in coal power plants.
Emissions of wood-based heating materials throughout its entire
life-cycle are being examined, from supply to electricity and heat
generation. Metso considers it conceivable that biochar could
replace coal used in power plants to a certain extent.
Overcoming concerns
Despite all of its advantages, biomass is still a hot topic of
discussion due to ecological considerations. Its range of use and
unlimited availability haven't had an impact on the disucssion.
Opponents of biomass also aren't appeased by the fact that the
CO2 output is balanced, as only the amount of CO2 is emitted the
biomass stored beforehand.
In contrast to wind and solar energy, biomass does create
pollutants, namely during the burning process. Long transport
routes can also have a negative impact on the energy balance.
Opponents of biomass will finally argue against biomass with
changes in land use. “Cultivation of biomass stands in direct
competition with food production in various regions“, admits the
“Energy Agency.NRW“. This can have an impact on food supply
and prices in parts of the world.
In order to be fully convincing, it is necessary to produce biomass
in a sustainable, controlled fashion. Should the biomass industry
be able to do so, then this source of energy should climb to the top
in an impressive manner – making it even more attractive for the
valve industry.
Press Contact Valve World Expo 2014:
Petra Hartmann-Bresgen
Kathrin Kleophas van den Bongardt
 +49 (0)211/4560-541
 +49 (0)211/4560-544
 +49 (0)211/4560-87 541/-87 544
 [email protected]
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