Suchergebnisse

Energy Procedia Vol.4, 2425-2431 ; As the geographic situation of Finland seems to allow no domestic carbon sequestration, cross-border CO2 logistics is needed. In this paper, the alternative transportation options for CO2 from a Finnish capture plant case are assessed. The assessment includes selection of the most favourable storage areas, route planning for both ship and pipeline transportation, and cost estimates for both alternatives. An actual CCS demonstration is planned by the proprietor power companies of the chosen case plant, a coal condensing power plant on the coast of Western Finland, giving an interesting opportunity to discuss the results in the light of the current development of the demonstration plant. Transportation costs are presented for a ship transportation chain from the case plant to the North Sea and for a pipeline running towards the coast of the Barents Sea. The storage areas were chosen because of the potential storage capacity and currently operational injection activities in both regions. Pipeline transportation is found considerably more expensive than ship transportation as an option for CO2 transportation from the case demonstration plant to the different storage sites. The levelized costs of shipping the captured CO2 to the geological formations under the North Sea are estimated to amount to 11,8 /t CO2, excluding the costs for liquefaction. Matching a CO2 source within EU to a sink outside EU depends on a consistent regulatory framework. In addition to accountability of emissions allowances within the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), the issues include liabilities of CO2 handling and storage, other legislation both on national and on Community level as well as international maritime conventions.

Biomass and Bioenergy Vol.38 Nr.March, 117-127 ; Policy-makers apply multiple policy instruments simultaneously in the climate and energy policy field at both EU and Member State levels. This creates interactions between instruments that can be complementary and synergistic but also conflicting. This article focuses on the interactions of climate policy instruments and their impact on biomass use. The objectives are to examine interactions of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) with the main national climate policy instruments and to identify the influence of these on biomass use. The work draws experiences from seven EU countries (Austria, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom), with a special focus on Finland and Sweden. The analysis explores the effects of policy interactions and is based on an examination of literature, and interviews with biomass experts in research, industry and policy spheres. Results indicate that the combined effects of climate policy instruments have a tangible impact on biomass use, whereas the causal links to the EU ETS are difficult to assess separately. Policy impacts found include increased competition for biomass resources, changes in fuel mixes and a contribution to upward pressure on wood prices. Differences in these effects are linked to differing national policy mixes and energy-carrier portfolios - an example being the relative differences in the importance of peat to the energy mix in Finland and Sweden. Analysis and comparison of the effects in the selected countries can yield insight on how to improve the design of policy interventions that impact biomass use. This study confirms the importance of identifying interactions between policy instruments so as to recognise - and manage - synergies and conflicts. The development of more synergistic and coordinated policy instrument mixes would also be beneficial for the bioenergy field

Energy Procedia Vol.63, 6745 - 6755 ; In the future greenhouse gas emission targets will be more ambitious and therefore solutions for of CO2 emissions reduction more than 80% are sought. In thermal power plants these high levels of emission reductions can be reached with CCS technologies or by utilizing high shares of biomass based fuels. Following from the national targets of Finland, the power plants being planned at the moment need to take these targets into account in the planning phase as options that need to be fulfilled at least in the future if not immediately. In this paper high plant level CO2 emission reduction targets are analysed for two large power plants that are planned to be constructed in Finland in the near future. Both are located close to urban areas and supply also district heat to neighboring cities. Both also face high political pressure to significant emission reductions in comparison to existing system. This paper is based on a case study of a planned combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Finland having fuel power of 420MWfuel. The boiler island is plant based on circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler technology enabling combustion of high shares of biomass. The paper is shortly describing technologies that are needed for reduction of CO2 emissions when carbon capture based on oxyfuel technology and biomass firing based on high shares of forest residues are considered. The implications of applying these technologies and suitability for CHP environment are considered and economic feasibility of the solutions compared. Also the possibilities and feasibility of reaching negative emissions with combination of biomass firing and CCS is briefly assessed. Results show significant emission reduction potential associated to both technologies. The major costs associated to CCS are caused by the equipment investment, loss of electricity production due to energy penalty and transportation and storage of CO2. The costs associated to biomass combustion with high shares are mainly caused by higher prices of biomass fuel in comparison to coal and lower power-to-heat ratio. Large biomass share has an increasing impact also on plant investment and O&M costs. On the other hand, significant savings are achieved in terms of CO2 allowances. When discussing the biomass option one must also address questions related to availability of sustainable biomass, effecting pricing and competition of raw material between different uses such as forest industry or liquid biofuels production. And this further highlights the discussion on carbon stocks and carbon debt especially when Bio-CCS is considered. If the profound emission reduction targets are to be met, economically the difference between the technologies considered is not clear in all circumstances. All the most important parameters for the economic lifetime of the power plant include significant uncertainty therefore in this paper main focus has been in sensitivity analysis. The study reveals some major economical restrictions of the applicability of these emission reduction solutions. The pros and cons of the technologies in the light of feasibility and the role of these technologies as carbon abatement tools are discussed. The major factor effecting the technology decision is plant location in relation to availability of biomass, coal and CO2 transportation & storage options, as well as heat demand (possibility to utilize CHP) in addition to political atmosphere and acceptability of technologies. ; International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Technologies, GHGT-12, 6 - 9 October 2014, Austin, Texas, United States

Biomass and Bioenergy Vol.38 Nr.March, 109-116 ; The Member States of the European Union are on the way to fulfill targets for renewable electricity use set in 2001. In this paper, the implementation of directives concerning renewable electricity is assessed on EU level and in three example countries: Finland, Germany and the Netherlands. Conclusions are drawn regarding policy measures and barriers hindering the exploitation of renewable energy, with a special focus on bioenergy and biomass. Furthermore, in the light of the above-mentioned analysis, the role of bioenergy in the national efforts of reaching the targets for renewable energy use in 2020, as set in the directive 2009/28/EC, is discussed

VTT Tiedotteita - Research Notes 2441 ; The study carried out within the Bioenergy Network of Excellence analyses the implementation of important EU directives and policies relating to bioenergy in Europe to identify major RD&D needs in the field. Major EU directives, commonly known as the Promotion of Renewable Electricity, Biofuels and Landfill Directives, along with the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and parts of the Common Agricultural Policy, are some of the most important drivers behind the growth of bioenergy in the EU27 today. The report compares how Germany, Finland and the Netherlands have implemented the directives, examining the policy frameworks in each country and the plans and mechanisms in place to reach national targets. A wider European perspective for each directive is then drawn out, and recommendations for RD&D actions to meet the EU directive targets or obligations in each area are outlined. The report also takes a broader look at the effects the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and the Common Agricultural Policy are having on the use of biomass in the EU with RD&D recommendations for each area. Bioenergy NoE advocates stronger communication and co-operation among various EU-wide projects and initiatives focusing on bioenergy development. Industry commitment to RD&D projects is, however, the only direct path for bringing state-of-the-art technology and products to market. Building sustainable production pathways and addressing competition with food products is crucial to developing environmentally-sound biofuels. Research in renewable electricity from biomass should prioritize development of higher efficiency power production and power-to-heat ratios in combined heat and power plants over new technology development. In the biofuels field, RD&D should prioritize the development of more sustainable, second generation biofuels. To meet landfill diversion targets, thermal conversion and energy recovery of municipal solid waste in some EU countries will have to increase. Meeting the European targets set for 2020 requires significant technology development in order to introduce a new generation of biofuels and feedstocks: this is the focus for Bioenergy NoE RD&D.

VTT Tiedotteita - Research Notes 2556 ; The objective of this study is to give an overview of the potential for applying CCS in the Nordic countries (Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland). The realistic potential of CCS in the region has been evaluated by taking into account existing and future energy systems and policies, emission sources, potential storage sites, technological, economical and political constraints as well as public acceptance. Special attention has been given to identifying promising regional CCS solutions that would have a significant CO2 emission reduction potential and could possibly involve cooperation between Nordic countries with synergical benefits for these. The report includes mapping of CO2 emissions in the Nordic countries from major sources, mapping and quantification of storage possibilities as well as scenarios of possible future CCS deployment in the region. In addition to the mapping, an overview of relevant CCS technology development and R&D activities in the Nordic countries is given. Public awareness of CCS, energy and climate policy frameworks, as well as political issues relevant to the deployment of CCS in the Nordic countries are also addressed.