Abstract

A consortium existing of two energy companies, one engineering company and one foundation representing the poultry farmers, has the intention to build a biomass conversation plant in which 350.000 ton/year poultry litter will be converted into energy in a fluidised bed combustion system. The fluidised bed for combustion of such a big quantity of the poultry litter has not been demonstrated yet in the world. The net electric efficiency of the plant (29,6%) will be approximately 6% higher then the last proposed Thermie project (23%).

The project contributes substantially to the European objectives to increase electricity production from non-fossil fuels. The intended installation is going to produce 225.000 MWh electricity a year. The electricity will be delivered to the public grid of the Netherlands. Steam and/or hot water can be delivered to third parties in the direct area. The project contributes substantially to the reduction of the CO₂-emission by using a renewable fuel in a co-generation system.

The project also contributes substantially to the limitation of the poultry litter problem. The poultry farms are producing more litter then required and allowed as a fertilizer on the fields and grazing-lands. Other destinations have to be found and the intended project is a perfect alternative with substantial energy benefits.

Objectives

The objective of the DEPR project is to design, develop and monitor the operation of a commercially viable, fluid-bed combustion plant. This will be capable of burning 350,000 t.p.a. of Dutch poultry litter, whilst complying with the following stringent air emission standards: (10mg/Nm³ for total dust, 150mg/Nm³ for NOx and 100mg/Nm³ for SO₂ , dry flue gas with 6% O₂ ).

The plant is to be built at Moerdijk in the Netherlands, and must operate efficiently and reliably for at least 7,500 hours per annum, generating at least 225,000 MWh p.a. of 'green' electricity. If this is achieved, the plant will represent a sustainable solution to the long-term problem of poultry litter disposal, by converting a difficult agricultural waste into renewable power. The valuable phosphate and potash content of the poultry litter will be recovered as a dry powdered ash, capable for use as an organic fertiliser feedstock. It is expected that the DEPR plant will avoid the production of around 80,000 t of CO₂ equivalent per annum.

Contacts

Contact

• Energy Power Resources Ltd. UNITED KINGDOM

Coordinator

• Frans BIJNEN / Essent Energy Systems Zuid BV

Participant

• Harry DROOG / NV Elektriciteits Produktiemaatschappij Zuid Nederland NETHERLANDS
• Cor MUNSTERS / Stichting Duurzame Energieproductie Pluimveehouderij NETHERLANDS