Case study 8: Process heat from forest residues for the battery industry in Austria (click here)
Microporous, located in Feistritz in the Austrian province of Carinthia, manufactures separator foil for lead-acid batteries and previously relied on a fuel oil steam boiler for its process steam needs. In 2019, the company partnered with BC Regionalwärme Group, Carinthia’s largest private district heating provider, to transition to a more sustainable solution. This collaboration led to the construction of a biomass-based steam generation plant, featuring a grate-fired wood chip boiler, which became operational in November 2022. The plant exclusively uses locally sourced forest wood chips, primarily derived from storm-damaged wood that is unsuitable for other uses. Given that forests cover approximately 60% of Carinthia’s land area, this renewable energy approach aligns well with the region’s natural resources and sustainability goals.
Case study 6: Combustion of waste wood for electricity generation and process heat in two neighbouring factories in the Netherlands (click here)
Since 2020, Foresco Dongen, a wood pallet manufacturer in southern Netherlands, has operated a biomass-fired boiler system to generate electricity and supply heat to its own drying chambers and the neighbouring gelatine producer Trobas. The project showcases how local financial support mechanisms can make such substantial investments economically viable, especially when the plant runs year-round at full capacity to meet both internal and external industrial heat demands. It uses inexpensive, locally available low-grade biomass fuel, and while biomass combustion has long been established in the wood industry, the innovative aspect of this initiative lies in its integration with neighbouring industrial operations.
Industrial Process Heat: case study 10 – Replacing coal with biomass at Golden Bay Cement, New Zealand (click here)
Over the past 15 years, the use of biomass for industrial energy has expanded significantly beyond sectors with their own biomass residues—such as sugar, palm oil, and wood processing—into broader industries seeking cost-effective renewable heat to reduce their carbon footprint. Cement production, a major contributor to global CO₂ emissions due to both fossil fuel combustion and limestone decomposition, is increasingly adopting alternative fuels. For example, Golden Bay Cement in New Zealand, one of the country’s two main suppliers, achieved a 75,000-tonne annual CO₂ reduction by shifting to 60% alternative fuels by 2025, with plans to reach 100% by 2030 as part of a broader strategy to cut emissions by 30% from 2018 levels.
Industrial Process Heat: Case Study 7 – Combustion of wood chips in a dairy in Denmark (click here)
This case study is part of a second series of reports under the IEA Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme, focusing on the use of bioenergy for industrial process heat. While the 2021 series included five case studies and a policy synthesis report, the 2024 update by Task 32 adds five more examples showcasing the commercial viability of biomass combustion across diverse industrial applications. These cases highlight that optimal system configurations depend on factors like local biomass availability, heat demand characteristics, space, and capital. While large energy-intensive industries such as steel and cement have significant potential for biomass integration—albeit requiring large-scale biomass transport—small and medium-sized industries like food and paper often benefit from using locally available biomass, reducing transport needs and enhancing feasibility.
Nitrogen flows in biomass combustion systems – Part II: Options for maximising reactive nitrogen capture and case studies (click here)
This is the second report of IEA Bioenergy on the topic of reactive nitrogen (Nr) flows in biomass combustion systems. This study was done in the period 2023-2024 as a follow up activity of a first parametric study on the same topic to provide more in-depth understanding of relevant formation mechanisms for reactive nitrogen during combustion, and illustrate the system perspective with additional examples from real life combustion plants.
Installing carbon capture technology on a large wood chip fuelled CHP plant in Denmark (click here)
A modelling study on the large wood chip-fuelled CHP plant in Skaerbaek, Denmark, conducted by Task 32, concluded that installing carbon capture technology could enable the plant to fully supply the district heating needs of the neighbouring system, TVIS. The study explored four operational scenarios for 2035 using Balmorel and Optiflow, including one where a methanol plant synthesises carbon from flue gases using green hydrogen from on-site electrolysers. This aligns with broader global energy trends where renewable sources like wind and solar are becoming more viable without subsidies, and biomass-based carbon capture and utilisation (BECCU) is emerging as a promising strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Task 32 aims to demonstrate how biomass combustion technologies can support flexible, integrated energy systems, even in the absence of full-scale BECCS projects. The findings were presented at the IEA Bioenergy/BBEST conference in São Paulo in October 2024, with a report forthcoming.
Combustion of wood chips and grain residues for process heat supply in the largest bakery in Switzerland (click here)
This case study is part of the 2020 inter-task project on Bioenergy for High Temperature Heat in Industry, highlighting innovative applications of biomass in industrial settings. It focuses on the Coop Group, Switzerland’s largest retailer and Europe’s second-largest wholesaler, which invested over €500 million in a new production and distribution centre in Schafisheim. The facility includes Switzerland’s largest bakery and confectionery, producing 60,000 tonnes of baked goods annually. In line with Coop’s sustainability goals, the site integrates a biomass combustion plant to supply thermal oil-based process heat for the bakery. The plant is designed to co-fire 50% forestry wood chips and 50% grain residues—by-products from Coop-owned Swissmill—with the flexibility to operate on 100% wood chips if needed. This approach not only reduces fossil fuel use but also valorises low-value milling residues. The combustion system and flue gas cleaning were specially adapted to handle the high ash and nitrogen content of grain residues, addressing challenges like slagging, fouling, and NOx emissions. To manage rapid load changes in bakery operations, a gas-fired peak boiler supplements the heat supply. This case exemplifies how industrial bioenergy systems can be tailored to local resource availability and operational needs while supporting broader decarbonisation efforts.
Combustion of wood chips and composting residues for process steam generation in a potato processing industry (click here)
Since 2015, Attero has operated a 10 MW biomass boiler in southern Netherlands to supply process steam to the potato processor PEKA KROEF BV. Using low-grade wood chips and composting residues, the system produces 10 tonnes per hour of saturated steam, displacing over 8 million m³ of natural gas annually. The installation features advanced flue gas cleaning and operates year-round to meet the plant’s baseload heat demand. Its economic viability and use of locally available, underutilised biomass make it a replicable model for similar food processing industries worldwide.
Best practice report on decentralized biomass fired CHP plants and status of biomass fired small- and micro scale CHP technologies (click here)
‘This report reviews key small-scale CHP technologies—steam engines, ORC systems, Stirling engines, and thermoelectric generators—highlighting their technical parameters, operational results, and application conditions. It includes fact sheets, monitoring data, and eight case studies (five with twin-screw steam expanders and three with micro-expanders), along with optimisation insights. The report also explores recent developments in hot air turbines and combustion plant optimisation for small-scale CHP systems.
The status of large scale biomass firing – The milling and combustion of biomass materials in large pulverised coal boilers (click here)
This IEA Bioenergy Task 32 report provides an overview of the current status of biomass cofiring. The report shows that the firing and co-firing of biomass as a replacement for coal in large pulverised coal boilers can be a very attractive option for the utilisation of biomass materials for power production, and for the delivery of renewable energy.
Biomass Combustion and Cofiring: An Overview (click here)
This overview was prepared by Task 32 on the basis of the collective information and experience of members of the Task. It describes some of the major issues involved in biomass combustion and co-firing technologies for both domestic and industrial use.
Biomass Cofiring Workshop 5 of the 12th European Conference on Biomass for Energy, Industry and Climate Protection (click here)
As part of the 12th European Conference on Biomass for Energy and Industry held on 17-21 June 2002 in Amsterdam, a workshop on biomass cofiring was organised by IEA Bioenergy Task 32 (Biomass Combustion and Cofiring), Task 33 (Biomass Gasification) and EUBIONET (the European Bioenergy Network). This report shows the overhead sheets that were presented.