Biomass Cofiring Study, Coalition of Northeast Governors (CONEG)

ANTARES performed detailed site evaluations at four Northeast U.S. coal-fired power units. ANTARES also developed preliminary designs of boiler and feed system retrofits for biomass fuels and discussed pros and cons of using biomass fuels with power plant managers and staff. ANTARES analyzed the impacts of biomass cofiring on flyash properties and marketability. Each cooperating utility received a detailed report on the potential to cofire with a biomass fuel at their facility. Utility companies that ANTARES worked with during this project included Delmarva Power & Light, Potomac Electric & Power, Potomac Edison Co., Holyoke Power Co., Public Service Co. of New Hampshire, Atlantic City Electric, Vineland Electric Utility, Niagara Mohawk Power Co., New York State Electric & Gas, Jamestown Bd. of Pb. Util., Pennsylvania Power & Light, Pennsylvania Elec. Co., West Penn Power Co., and Metropolitan Edison Co.

ANTARES and Parsons Power conducted site visits and made assessments using the EPRI BioPower Model (through New York State Electric and Gas participation) in the following categories: unit performance- unit heat rate, capacity, ID fan capability and mass flow rates, plant parasitic loads, and biomass and coal fuel firing rates; Retrofit costs- loading, preprocessing, feed and flow control equipment; Operating cost impacts- staffing, chemicals, delivered biomass fuel costs; Environmental performance- avoided SO2, NOx, and CO2 emissions, ash production, water consumption.

Two of the four sites chosen for detailed prefeasibility evaluations followed up by installing equipment to cofire biomass with coal on a commercial basis. This report is available on-line from the CONEG website at http://www.coneg.org.