E-Energymarket

Biocoal factory of Stramproy not producing, RWE not worried

Editorial news of E-Energy Market by: Energeia

The manufacturing plant for torrefied biomass pellets Stramproy in Steenwijk, has been stopped production on order of the municipality.

The manufacturing plant for torrefied biomass pellets Stramproy in Steenwijk, has been stopped production on order of the municipality. Stramproy has not proven that the production of so-called "clean coal" does not violate the norms for maximum emissions. Investigations should determine whether Stramproy has matters under control and until the moment that this is proven, the production can´t be started. Essent has a procurement contract with the company, but according to spokesman Jeroen Brouwers Essent is not upset by the suspension.

Early March the municipality of Steenwijk had imposed a penalty to Stramproy, because the company was too late with data regarding emissions. When Stramproy delivered the data the municipality withdrew this penalty. But because the data proved to be unsatisfactory, it was decided to close the plant until the situation regarding emissions is clear. Councilor Jos van Steenwijk Nouland says that it must first determine whether Stramproy complies with all environmental requirements. The GGD is also involved with respect to the health of residents.
 
Stramproy is one of the few companies in the Netherlands focusing on increasing the energy density of wood pellets using the technique called torrefaction. Torrefaction is the heating of biomass in the absence of oxygen. The quality of the wood is enhanced to the same quality of coal. Stramproy call it Coolcoal : "a renewable cost effective replacement of coal for power plants.”

In October 2010 Stramproy was the focus of attention when the first truckload Coolcoal was delivered to Essent, for co-firing in coal-fired plant. We are ready, was the message of Stramproy. Essent spokesperson Brouwer said at that time, that first more testing would be required to see if the quality of the high biomass was already good enough. "We have co-fired the lot, but it didn´t have the correct specification to use on a larger scale".

After the first truck was delivered no more deliveries were made and Stramproy continues to improve its torrefaction technique further. Essent has a contract for the purchase of 90,000 tons per year if everything works in Steenwijk as it should be, Brouwer said. "We expect this will be the situation for 2011.  Is Essent not worried that the deal is over now? Not really, Brouwer says. "We have enough biomass. But we like the biocoal, because it has a higher energy density."

Brouwers expects Stramproy to be operational soon again. In the hypothetical case that it fails, Essent is still not without torrefied wood pellets. "Also with Topell in Duiven, we have a supply contract." Essent is a shareholder of Parent company of Essent, RWE is shareholder of  Topell. Agentschap NL expects 2011 to be the year of torrefaction.

 

Translated by E-Energy Market from © Energeia - Benelux in Brief – for more information see www.energeia.nl/beneluxinbrief

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Categories : Torrefication - biomass upgrading, Pellets (biomass upgrading), Cellulosic biomass from forests (wood chips, sawdust, tree tops), Power (electricity) generation, Europe, New products, Research