Wednesday June 27 2012 | the times
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commercial report: rotaWaVe Biocoal
revolutionary technology could transform biomass industry
B
iomass is set for a revolution following the development of pioneering technology which creates commercially viable biofuels by Scottish company, Rotawave Biocoal, part of the Energy Environmental Group
(EEG). Set up in 2003 by Bob Rooney and Peter Scholes, EEG specialises in the manufacture and development of environmental products for the energy industry, employs over 80 people in Aberdeen and the Isle of Wight and comprises four companies; Rotawave Biocoal, Rotawave Oil and Gas, Vikoma and Screw Conveyer. Developed over the last four years, the microwave processing technology was transferred from use to biomass. Mr Rooney said: “In 2009 we acquired patented technology which led to the creation of Rotawave Oil & Gas to capitalise on the growing need for the proper disposal of drill cuttings. Rotawave’s microwave technology cost-effectively extracts water and petroleum products from drill cuttings allowing for environmentally friendly removal.” It is this technology’s transfer into renewable energy markets which has captured the attention of the worldwide biomass industry. Rotawave Biocoal recently signed a multi-million dollar deal with Cate Street Capital, a US investment company which focuses on green technologies, to exclusively manufacture the technology and market it in the US and Canada. The unique patented microwave based process allows for the extraction of water, petroleum products and organic oils at very low cost from various resources including oil drill cuttings, refinery and food waste streams. This technology has now been adapted to turn biomass into biocoal. The Targeted Intelligent Energy System (TIES), developed at the behest of a major UK utility, is a biocoal producDense pellets tion system that uses microwave technology to produce energy dense pellets from wood that can be used in coalfired power stations. The technology system gets its name from its main features: n Targeted - the selective nature of microwaves target energy into biomass individually heating particles the required amount. n Intelligent - the microwave control system allows users to continuously monitor the energy inputs at the speed of light, in turn the computer system minimising the energy consumption n Energy - the process transfers energy, not heat overcoming the typically insulating properties of biomass. n System – it is a safe, low energy, integrated system Furthermore the technology is based on the advanced simultaneous use of electromagnetic frequencies in combination with a unique continuous phase separation drum. This maximizes heat and mass transfer within the system hence reducing plant size, material hold up and operating costs. A flexible system using microwave energy, unlike standard thermal processes, allows a wider range of feedstock types/sizes to be processed, this
Bob rooney
gives the operator flexibility to choose the most economic plant inputs. As the thermal heat used within the process is generated from sustainable biomass sources it creates a renewable process. The system is very energy efficient with the biocoal containing over 80 per cent of all process energy inputs. The resulting high density black pellets from the TIE system have similar properties to coal allowing for outdoor storage, and direct use by coal powered stations, but without the CO2 release. This energy dense form of renewable energy allows savings in transport and storage costs. The idea to build plants where the trees are has offered an opportunity to not only create a sustainable material source but to reduce the impact of transport costs. It is the first application of microwave technology in biofuel production to continuously create low carbon fuel from organic matter. The microwaves within the patented continuous drum system form part of an integrated process which generates more thermal energy than it consumes. Mr Rooney explained: “This game-changing technology could revolutionise the use of biocoal on a worldwide scale and help biomass take a step closer to becoming the fourth power source. As the UK moves towards reduced emissions targets, our torrefaction units offer a true alternative for coal-fired power stations. The end product pellets look and act like coal but are low in carbon, offering a low-cost conversion option.” Biocoal is a sustainable and practical energy source which offers an inexpensive way of converting power stations to meet the European Large Combustion Plant Directive and GHG sustainability targets, as biocoal is low sulphur and low CO2, being 88 per cent lower that EU coal in GHG emissions from forest to furnace.
Many UK and European coal fired powers stations will have to close as they cannot currently meet emissions targets. However, by co-firing biocoal with coal or converting to 100 per cent biocoal electricity generation large operators can meet these targets. Co-firing can therefore allow us to recycle coalfired power stations and their associated power infrastructure and also offer a better solution for the design and build of new low-carbon power stations, potentially saving hundreds of millions in capital costs across the UK. The UK Government has recently cited bioenergy as having a major role to play in its 2050 pathways work with the potential to provide about 30 per cent of the UK’s 2020 target. The only other naturally occurring energy containing a carbon resource that is large enough to be used as a substitute for fossil fuels, biomass could play a key role in the future energy mix and security of supply. Biomass has a wealth of advantages as a fuel source, widely available whilst being able to provide heat, electricity and fuels; it also offers an opportunity for carbon sequestration - by 2050 sustainable sources could be enough to supply the world with 10 - 20 per cent of primary energy requirements. Whilst many argue that biocoal is an unsustainable energy source sustainable sourcing is a key aspect to the future commercialisation of biofuel and the application of microwaves has allowed for less specific organic matter to be used. Managed forests in North America are already sustainable as many were used to supply materials to other sustainable industries. Recently, paper mills and dimensional lumber industries have declined in these areas, so this new technology will give the forests and workers a new future. As a result, Rotawave Biocoal’s business has gone from strength to strength with the North
American roll out initiated and a site purchased in the USA. A 100,000 tonnes per year plant is scheduled for commissioning processor later this year with a commitment for a further nine plants to be built by 2017. The market potential for this technology runs to over 200 plants by 2030 reflecting the growing requirement for bioenergy, the EU alone has projected a doubling of the use of biofuels over the next few years. Rising global energy needs and rapid climate change require a low greenhouse gas solution, a more environmentally friendly source of power must be found. Power generators will use this type of biomass char to reduce emissions, earn carbon credits and maintain operations into the future. Given the increasing demand for power around the world, use of biocoal will grow exponentially and this low carbon process offers just the solution. Mr Rooney added: “With Rotawave we are leading the transformation of the nascent biomass industry and, with the interest from major utilities all over the world; we are truly excited about the potential of our technology’s ability to make biocoal a compelling, commercial commodity.”