Biomass/CHP Plant Feasibility Study
Client: Confidential industrial client
Completion Date: Fall 2009
Location: Midwest
Summary
Burns & McDonnell completed a biomass-based combined heat and power (biomass/CHP) plant feasibility study for a confidential Midwestern industrial client. The proposed plant consisted of approximately 16 megawatts (MW) of power generation and 250,000 pounds/hour of steam generation.
Services
- Existing site assessment
- Technology screening
- Heat and material balances
- Process flow diagrams
- Equipment layouts
- Capital cost estimates
- Operations and maintenance cost estimates
- Financial modeling
- Risk assessment
- Permitting assessment
Background
Burns & McDonnell was contracted to perform a technology feasibility study for a biomass/CHP system under consideration for use at an industrial facility. As part of its sustainability initiatives, the client was interested in:
- Installing a biomass/CHP system to facilitate sustainability goals
- Validating the system as a reliable source of steam and electricity
- Allowing flexibility for future energy needs
- Gaining economical viability
Four potential concepts were generated to meet the client’s sustainability and business objectives. The screening process consisted of three steps.
- An on-site evaluation of steam and electricity requirements as well as a thorough look at overall plant operations was conducted. Burns & McDonnell reviewed steam and electrical consumption data, toured the production facility and proposed biomass/CHP site locations. The project team also met with key operations personnel from electrical, maintenance, environmental and engineering departments to gain insight on design priorities.
- Risk criteria were identified and prioritized. Categories included economic, operating and environmental factors, sustainability goals, social concerns, business risks, safety, and future initiatives.
- The technology assessment was conducted by evaluation of fuel conversion technologies independent of electric generation technologies. Top-ranking fuel conversion and electric generation technologies were combined, screened and ranked. The results of the analysis yielded four potential options.
Burns & McDonnell provided the client with these project deliverables:
- Refined heat and material balances
- Process flow diagrams
- Preliminary capital cost
- Operation and maintenance cost estimates
- Hourly production dispatch cost models
- A detailed economic analysis for the top four options to determine which proved to be the most cost-effective option for generating steam and electricity
- An evaluation of operating cost under the likely scenario of a carbon cap-and-trade program
