Presentation given at the CLA's Woodfuel Conference at Doddington Hall on Wednesday 30 October by Dr Andrew Horsley, Business Development Director, Arbor Heat and Power.

1. Optimising Woodfuel Project Returns
Through Heat and Power Generation
CLA Woodfuel Conference
Dr Andrew Horsley, 30th October2013, Doddington Hall

2. About Arbor Heat and Power
• Innovative but pragmatic renewable energy
solutions tailored for built environment
• Upfront consultancy services through to
implementation and maintenance
• Investment in research and development to
identify technologies for future applications

3. Introduction
• Woodfuel energy projects traditionally
focussed around heat only
• Heat and Power (CHP) can be cost effectively
generated from woodfuel using gasification
technology
• Project planning and design requires different
considerations
• Financial returns and carbon savings can be
greatly enhanced over “heat only” projects

4. Biomass CHP - Concept
Natural Gas/Oil/Biomass
Backup Boilers
Renewable Heat
Supply
Thermal
Store
Heat Supply for space
heating and hot water
Renewable
Fuel Supply
Waste Heat
to Dry
Woodchip
House, Wood Fuel
Drying or Leisure
CHP System
Biomass
Gasification
Syngas
Renewable Electricity
Supply
National Grid
Import/Export
Electricity to balance
demand/supply

5. What is Advanced Gasification?

6. Modelling Heat and Power Use

7. Modelling Heat and Power Use
Plant Operation over Selected 7 Days
1500.00
Demand kWth
1000.00
500.00
Boilers kWth
0.00
1
25
49
73
97
121
145
-500.00
-1000.00
Thermal Store kWth
CHP kWth
-1500.00
Plant Operation over Selected 7 Days
400.00
300.00
Demand kWth
200.00
100.00
Boilers kWth
0.00
-100.00 1
-200.00
25
49
73
97
121
145
Thermal Store kWth
-300.00
-400.00
-500.00
-600.00
CHP kWth

8. Biomass CHP Package 30kWe
• Scalable Solution down to 30kWe
• Other sizes 200kWe, 400kWe and 800kWe
• Many potential applications

9. Biomass CHP Package 30kWe

10. Woodfuel Requirements
•
•
•
•
•
Coarse screw cut or screened wood chips
Even quality with few fines
Readily stored and dried
Moisture content around 15-18%
Wood drying opportunities are attractive
projects in their own right

11. Woodfuel Requirements

12. Wood Drying Concepts

13. Financial Returns
• Offsetting traditional fuels: electricity and
oil/gas
• Renewables Obligation Certificates – 2 per
MWh electricity
• Renewable Heat Incentive 7.3p/kWh flat rate
• Exporting surplus electricity back to the grid

14. Typical Project Economics
Arbor ElectroGen (30kWe)
Thermal Output
565,530 kWh
Electrical Output
230,252 kWh
Heat Offset Value
£47,238
Electricity Offset Value
£29,933
RHI Value
£40,153
ROC Value
£19,341
Annual Costs (fuel/maint.)
£46,000
Annual Net Benefit
£90,655
Capital Cost
£407,947
Payback Period
4.5 years
Carbon Saving
295 tonnes

15. Summary
• Woodfuel can be converted to heat and power at small
scale with highly attractive economics
• Project considerations are slightly different than for
wood heat projects – smaller capacities with longer
operating hours
• Careful integration and design is paramount
• Wood fuel drying opportunities can offer heat loads to
optimise operation of plant throughout year
• A viable alternative to biomass boilers in the right
circumstances
• Carbon saving potential makes integration in rural new
build developments with strong planning objectives
ideal

16. The Future – Next Generation Systems
• Small scale waste to
energy CHP plants
– Removing waste
disposal costs
– Providing clean low
carbon energy
• First pilot plants in
planning stages

17. Contact
Andrew Horsley
 andrew.horsley@arborhp.com
 07970 785429
 www.arborhp.com