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CO 2 Emissions and Economy of Co-Firing Carbonized Wood Pellets at Coal-Fired Power Plants: The Case of Overseas Production of Pellets and Use in Japan

Author

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  • Masami Ashizawa

    (Energy Transformation Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, 2-6-1 Nagasaka, Yokosuka 240-0196, Japan)

  • Maromu Otaka

    (Energy Transformation Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, 2-6-1 Nagasaka, Yokosuka 240-0196, Japan)

  • Hiromi Yamamoto

    (Grid Innovation Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, 2-6-1 Nagasaka, Yokosuka 240-0196, Japan)

  • Atsushi Akisawa

    (Institute of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Nakacho, Koganei 184-8588, Japan)

Abstract

CO 2 emissions reduction from coal-fired power plants is an urgent issue in Japan, as well as around the world. The purpose of this study is to estimate the CO 2 emissions and economy of using carbonized wood pellets produced overseas and co-fired at coal-fired power plants in Japan. We examined carbonized wood pellets produced in Canada and Vietnam, since those countries are major exporters of wood pellets for Japan. The results obtained are as follows: (1) The CO 2 emissions and calculated cost per calorific value of carbonized wood pellets (CP25), which have a fixed carbon content of 25 wt.%, are lower than those of wood pellets at the port of import in Japan. When the fixed carbon of carbonized biomass is controlled at 25 wt.% or more via a carbonizer, sufficient pyrolysis gas (the heat source used for drying and carbonization without auxiliary fuel) can be obtained. (2) Carbonized wood pellets manufactured in Vietnam are more economical than those manufactured in Canada, since the resource of wood is less expensive and the transportation distance is shorter from Vietnam compared to Canada. (3) When carbonized wood pellets at CP25 are co-fired in coal-fired power plants, they do not affect the cost of the electricity generated, even if the carbonized pellets are blended at a high ratio.

Suggested Citation

  • Masami Ashizawa & Maromu Otaka & Hiromi Yamamoto & Atsushi Akisawa, 2022. "CO 2 Emissions and Economy of Co-Firing Carbonized Wood Pellets at Coal-Fired Power Plants: The Case of Overseas Production of Pellets and Use in Japan," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:5:p:1770-:d:760334
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ghorashi, Seyed Amin & Khandelwal, Bhupendra, 2023. "Toward the ultra-clean and highly efficient biomass-fired heaters. A review," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 631-647.

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