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Environmental and Sustainable Technology Evaluations (ESTE): Verification of Fuel Characteristics and Emissions from Biomass-fired Boilers 09/2008
Citation:
BECK, L. Environmental and Sustainable Technology Evaluations (ESTE): Verification of Fuel Characteristics and Emissions from Biomass-fired Boilers 09/2008. EPA/600/S-08/026, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
To Publish important information concerning fuel characteristics and emissions from biomass-fired boilers.
Description:
This is an ESTE project summary brief. With increasing concern about climate change and fossil fuel energy supplies, there continues to be an interest in biomass as a renewable and sustainable energy source. EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards has expressed an interest in biomass co-firing in industrial-commercial-institutional (ICI) boilers in the 100 to 1000 MMBtu/h range. The reason for this emphasis is to provide support for development of a new Area-Source MACT standard. There is also interest in development of a guidance memo relating to PM2.5 emissions reductions. The co-firing of biomass in coal-fired boilers offers the opportunity of reducing the emissions of criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases while also reducing the use of finite fossil fuel resources. ETV responded to this interest by initiating a study to verify biomass co-firing in coal-fired boilers. This verification measured the reductions of these emissions from biomass co-fired boilers in the 100 to 1000 million Btu per hour (MMBtu/h) size range. Impacts on ash quality were also measured. www.