Essent's Amer power plant takes a historic step towards a biomass power plant

Essent has performed a successful test at the Amer Power Plant by co-firing more than 50 percent biomass.

During the test, coal was replaced by wood pellets for the production of sustainable power. This was the first time in the world that a power plant that originally ran on fossil fuel had been converted at this scale to renewable fuel for the production of sustainable energy. Wood pellets are made from clean wood (sawdust) which is compressed to form pellets.

The test demonstrated that 50 percent biomass is technically possible for a short period of time. In order to be able to achieve the objective of 30 percent continuous co-firing of biomass now to 50 percent co-firing in 2015, further investments in the next coming years are required.

Since 2001, Essent has produced sustainable energy through large-scale co-firing of biomass. The Amer Power Plant in Geertruidenberg is currently already the largest biomass power plant in Europe: 30 percent of the fuels that are used to generate green energy is already sustainable. Towards the end of 2009, an important milestone was reached. Since 2001, 3 million tonnes (3 billion kilograms) of biomass has been used to produce green energy. Enough for one and a half million households. To this end, fifteen hundred inland vessels carrying wood pellets docked at Amer Power Plant's biomass quay.

'Green coal'

The latest form of biomass for which Essent envisages a significant future is so-called biocoal. This does not involve a form of coal. Biocoal is a name given to woody biomass that is 'torrefied' (heated to a maximum of 300°C) so that this takes on the characteristics of hard coal. This ensures that biocoal can be fired in power stations together with ordinary coal. Essent is to carry out comprehensive testing over several years using biocoal in the Amer Power Plant. It is expected that more than 400,000 tonnes of biocoal will be co-fired as a substitute fuel for coal over the next five years. This will result in biocoal being responsible for a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. Essent has entered into contracts with Stramproy Green Coal and Topell Energy for delivery of the biocoal.

Today Topell Nederland, a joint venture of RWE Innogy (49.9 %) and Topell Energy (50.1 %) is starting the construction of a biocoal production plant with a capacity of 60,000 tons per year. It is due to be commissioned early in 2011. The investment in the plant will total some € 15 million. RWE Innogy had already taken a share in the young, Dutch technology company Topell Energy two years ago as part of its venture capital activities.

Use of biomass indispensable for fulfilling climate objectives

With its large-scale co-firing of biomass, Essent is making a significant contribution to the objectives agreed on a European level to generate electricity sustainably. Essent has 900,000 Green Energy customers, making it market leader in green energy in the Netherlands.

In order to be able to fulfil the climate objectives set for 2020, the use of biomass as a substitute fuel for coal – as well as the continued development of (offshore) wind farms – is a necessity. Essent's aim to achieve a biomass co-firing percentage of 50 percent by 2015 will most definitely contribute significantly to the climate objectives.

Throughout the world, the potential of biomass produced from sylvicultural and agricultural remains is huge. Power plants in which such biomass is able partly to replace fossil fuels already exist on a large scale. Essent is proving this with the Amer Power Plant in Geertruidenberg. The use of biomass is one way in which CO2 emissions can be driven down extremely quickly and on a large scale. Not only quickly, but in a cost-effective manner.

Published: 28 June 2010