Biomass Energy Center Feasibility Study

Burns & McDonnell completed a feasibility study for a confidential industrial client for a 60,000 pound/hour biomass (wood) boiler installation.

Upon completion of this study, Burns & McDonnell competitively bid and won engineering, procurement and construction of this biomass boiler project, including material handing and ancillary systems work. We pursued and were awarded a research grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) to help offset the installation costs of this project. Burns & McDonnell will manage all grant activities with the DOE.

• Analysis of existing unit
• Technical review
• Study analysis

Burns & McDonnell’s scope consisted of these major tasks:

• A technology evaluation to determine the recommended technology for the boiler application
• A fuel-sourcing study to determine the availability of biomass fuel in the area and to determine the delivered price of the fuel to the boiler installation
• An economic incentives study to determine the availability of local, state or federal funding available to the project to potentially improve the project economics
• An environmental permitting evaluation to determine the permits required for the new biomass boiler and to determine the likely permit limits
• Conceptual design of the biomass boiler system, fuel-handling system, ash-handling system and emissions-control devices
• A preliminary cost estimate and schedule for permitting and installation of the biomass boiler project