472 / 2018-09-18 03:29:12

Pulp and Paper Mills - the Ideal Sites for Demonstration of Biomass Energy Technologies

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There are numerous ideas being generated and technologies in development for biomass conversion to bioproducts, including biofuels, biochemicals and biomaterials. It is challenging to identify the most promising, cost-effective technologies for investment. Using the right approach to deploy the selected technologies is even more critical for reaching the goal while minimizing risks.

Building a demonstration plant is necessary for successful implementation of biomass energy projects. There have been many lessons in the past. As an example, one of the major reasons for the big losses with the failed Kior project was its rush-in approach without adequate demonstration of its technology.

Where should such a Demo plant be installed? Pulp and paper mills are identified as the most suitable site because of the great opportunities there for process integration. In addition to their location near biomass sources, the mills can provide a variety of by-products, or wastes, as needed supplies for the new biomass conversion system, and they can also utilize intermediate or final products made in the biomass plant.

For example, the needed infrastructure and utilities are available in a pulp mill, including biomass handling procedures and operating experience. The mill has steam supply and usually O2/N2 separator. A modern effluent treatment system is in operation and valid environmental regulations are in force. Waste streams like black liquor, non-condensable gases, sulfur species, alkalis, tall oil, strip-off-gases, lime, lime mud, wood chips and knots, sludge, boiler ash, etc. may be used as feedstocks, additives, or chemicals in the biomass conversion processes. On the other hand, the biomass plant can help consume excess heat from the mill, treat mill wastes, and provide bioproducts to the mill, such as methanol for its bleaching plant and biomaterials for its effluent treatment and sludge dewatering processes. Gas, liquid and/or solid fuels produced from the biomass energy system can be burned in its lime kiln and power boiler to make the mill essentially greenhouse gas free.

High degree of process integration can substantially reduce the capital and operating costs and increase the security of feedstock supply. In case the final products could not be made competitively, the Demo plant should still be able to survive because its intermediate products would continue to be used in the mill, thus, avoiding Demo project failure. In conclusion, not only as the ideal sites for Demo plants, the pulp and paper mills are also the most-suitable sites for biomass conversion commercial plants with the demonstrated technologies.