Aims & Objectives

Introduction

Worldwide, combustion already provides over 90% of the energy generated from biomass. The main benefits of combustion compared to other thermochemical conversion technologies (i.e. gasification, pyrolysis, liquefaction) is that combustion technologies are commercially available and can be integrated with existing infrastructure.

For further implementation of biomass combustion, combustion technology should nevertheless be optimised to keep it competitive as gasification, pyrolysis and other RE sources develop. Co-firing biomass with coal in traditional coal-fired boilers (subsequently referred to as co-firing) represents one combination of renewable and fossil energy utilisation that derives the greatest benefit from both fuel types.

Within IEA Bioenergy, Task 32: Biomass Combustion works on further expansion of the use of biomass combustion for heat and power generation, with special emphasis on small scale wood combustion, medium scale CHP plants, high temperature heat for industry applications and biomass combustion in large plants, possibly co-fired with coal in traditional coal-fired boilers. This is done by generating and disseminating information on technical and on non-technical barriers and anticipated solutions. Task 32 now runs in 2022-2024, an overview of the work programme and upcoming reports will be available soon.

Objectives
Enhancement of industrial participation is realised by formulating joint projects between participating members and industry. The emphasis of the activities in the Task is on:

  1. market introduction for expanding the use of Biomass Combustion at a short term;
  2. optimisation of biomass combustion technology to remain competitive at a longer term.

Work programme
The focus areas in the current triennium (2022-2024) are described on this page.

Operating Agent / Task Leader
The Operating Agent for the Task 32 is the Danish Energy Agency – EUDP, represented by Katharina Meyer.
The Task Leader is Ea Energy Analyses, represented by Morten Tony Hansen

Participation
The countries participating includes Austria, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland. The US is currently observing. Contact information on the country representatives is given here.

The participation of industries is a key success factor in Task 32.
Further, Task 32 is closely related to other IEA Bioenergy activities, especially to activities in the field of Biomass Gasification (T33), Waste (T36), Biomass Deployment (T40) and Flexibility and Integration (T44).
There is also interaction with other IEA Implementing Agreements and industry organisations, such as

IEA Fluidised Bed Conversion
vgbe-Logo_energiegeladen.svg VGBE, biomass power group
The International Centre for Sustainable Carbon