Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1942/13631
Title: Valorisation of biomass waste streams in local energy conversion parks
Authors: Pelkmans, Luc
Devriendt, Nathalie
Guisson, Ruben
Pieper, Hannes
Marquez-Luzardo, Nathalie
Venselaar, Jan
Broeze, Jan
VAN DAEL, Miet 
VAN PASSEL, Steven 
Vollaard, Pieter
Reumerman, Patrick
Coppoolse, Kristian
Issue Date: 2012
Source: ORBIT2012, Rennes, France, 12-15 June 2012
Abstract: Biomass is considered as one of the main alternatives for the use of fossil fuels. Current production of bioenergy is strongly driven by policy support and subsidies. Focus mostly lies on the use of clean biomass streams like wood or food crops, often imported from the other side of the world. Energy production plants are specifically dedicated to one specific biomass product with one conversion technology and with one specific output (electricity, or heat, or biofuel). On the other hand, biomass (waste) streams are available at local level, like green household waste, cuttings and mowing residues, by-products of agriculture and industry. These streams are hardly or inefficiently used, processing possibilities are limited and often very costly. Nevertheless these biomass residues are present in substantial amounts and markets are looking for solutions offering higher economical added value for these biomass streams. Within the project ‘Energy Conversion Parks’ a consortium of Belgian and Dutch research institutes is analyzing whether an economically viable concept can be achieved to valorise these locally available biomass streams, through the use of synergies and clusters between different biomass streams and conversion technologies. An Energy Conversion Park (ECP) is a multi-dimensional, synergetic concept, converting multiple local biomass streams into useful energy and other bio-based products, through a combination of conversion processes. The project develops a technological concept and a business plan for five pilot Energy Conversion Parks in the South of the Netherlands and in Flanders, Belgium. The five cases have different starting points, like the types and availability of biomass streams, the presence of other industrial activities that can be linked to, and potential energy exchange with nearby companies. For developing the the five pilot plants, a stepwise approach is taken. First an inventory is made of the locally available biomass, followed by first ideas of a technical concept. Different concept and scenarios are developed depending on the local conditions, and this will crystallize out along the project. For the most appropriate technical concept an economical and technical feasibility study will be made, together with a sensitivity analysis for the most important parameters. Finally the interest of potential investors will be checked as well as societal feasibility to come to a fully developed business case. Important to know is that stakeholder participation has already started from the beginning of each pilot study. This approach is chosen very consciously because of the objective to embed the ECP in the local region. It is envisaged that the technical concepts and business plans developed for each site, will serve as a starting points for investors on these locations. The project is on-going and first results are showing that the bottom-up approach in the five different pilots are evolving spontaneously in a similar way, although the speed of development largely depends on the support and willingness to participate of local parties. All developments are going through a learning process. This process and the experience will be logged in a public manual and knowledge system. The knowledge system will collect the main background data on biomass streams and processing methods, and suggest the optimal approach and points of attention to develop a local energy conversion park. This will help other initiatives to elaborate a similar concept in other locations and contribute to a more sustainable and climate neutral energy supply.
Keywords: energy conversion; biomass residues ; technical feasibility; business plans; pilot demonstration
Document URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1942/13631
Category: C2
Type: Conference Material
Appears in Collections:Research publications

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