VGB PowerTech, Klinkestr. 27-31, 45136 Essen

Biomass ash – updateDr.-Ing. Hans-Joachim FeuerbornVGB PowerTech, Klinkestr. 27-31, 45136 Essenhansjoachim.feuerborn@vgb.org

Content Introduction - Use of biomass in Europe Utilisation of ash - basic aspects Experience from co-combustion VGB EWG Biomass Ash / Enquiry / Status Report Properties of biomass ash Utilisation of biomass ash Summary / OutlookASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 2

Introduction – Use of Biomass in Europe Biomass has been used for decades in European countries Mostly used in countries with national resources (wood richareas – as in Nordic countries) At first combustion in smaller units, especially for district heating Based on growing demand on green energy and legalrequirements to reduce CO2 emissions, the use of biomass inbigger boilers (both new and converted) has increased- since midth 90‘ for co-combustion together with coaland/or peat- since late 90‘s increasingly solely/or in bigger share The types of biomass used differ in European countries. Biomass ashes are partly used, but dependent on regionalacceptance and national regulations.ASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 3

Introduction – Use of Biomass in EuropeIndication of amounts of ash produced per country and per type of source(kt/year)Source: IEA BioEnergie Task 32 D4Options for increased util of BMAASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 4

Introduction – Use of Biomass in EuropeAshes an FGD gypsum produced by Phojolan Voima in 2008-2012Trinkwasserverträglichkeit,Total production of biomass ash in Finland: about 450.000 tonnesSource: PVO, FinlandASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 5

Utilisation of ash – basic aspects well known product properties(chemical, physical, ) constant quality (continuousprocess, grain size distribu-tion,chemical parameters ) sufficient amount of relevantconstituents (e.g. nutrient or limecontent) long term availability; otherwisedevelopments are of no use meeting of technical andenvironmental requirements(e.g. aggregate, soil stabilisation,fertiliser)ASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 6Kaukaan Voima CFB Boiler,Lappeenranta, Finland 125 MWe

Utilisation of ash – basic aspectsBased on several studies of ECN, KEMA, BIOS and others first indicationon biomass ash properties was given by KEMA. The main conclusionswere: Characteristics of biomass ashes from bio-energy plants (BEP's) differstrongly from those of coal ashes. Ashes from ligneous fuels feature high amounts of Ca, Si, Mg and Kwhile ashes from herbaceous fuels are dominated by Si, K and Ca. Ashes from herbaceous fuels have lower heavy metal contents (due tosignificantly shorter rotations periods, higher pH values of and lowerheavy metal depositions on agricultural soils, a lower heavy metaluptake occurs). The high contents of alkali metals, phosphorus and calcium makethem unsuitable for the established applications for powder coal andcurrent co-combustion fly ashes.Source: KEMA report IEA BioEnergie Task 32 D4ASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 7

Experience from co-combustion Ashes from (hard) coal combustion are utilised since more than 50years in the construction industry (cement, concrete, roadconstruction, restoration, ) There use is (meanwhile) mostly covered in application standards. The most important standard is EN 450 for fly ash as concreteaddition:- first published in 1994 for fly ash from coal only- first revision since 2000 (publication 2005) to cover the experiencefrom national technical approvals with fly ash from co-combustionmax. 20 % co-combustion material (CCM); max 10 % ash from CCM- second revision since 2006 (publication 2013) to cover theexperience with European technical approvalsmax 40 % co-combustion materials (50 % in case of green woodonly; max 30 % ash from CCM)This is still defined as coal ash!For higher share of co-combsution no experience for use inconcrete is available!ASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 8

Experience from co-combustionRevision of EN 450-1: Existing and revised chem. requirementsPropertyloss on ignition (LOI) class Aclass Bclass Cchloride (Cl )sulphuric anhydride (SO3)free calcium oxide (CaO)reactive calcium oxide (CaO)reactive silicon dioxide (SiO2)sum SiO2 Al2O3 Fe2O3total content of alkalis(Na2O equivalent)magnesium oxide (MgO)soluble phosphate (P2O5)total phosphate (P2O5)1234UnitExistingRevised20052013% by mass% by mass% by mass% by mass% by mass% by mass% by mass 5,02,0 -7,04,0- 9,0 0,10 3,01 2,5 10,0 25 70 5,0 5,0 7,0 9,03n.m.3n.m.n.m.3,4n.m.3n.m.3n.m.% by massmg/kg% by mass 4.0 100-n.m.3n.m. 5.0% by massif the content of free lime is greater than 1.0 % by mass, soundness have to be testedif the content of free lime is greater than 1.5 % by mass, soundness have to be testedn.m. not modifiedtests for initial type testing onlyASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 9233,4

Experience from co-combustionAmount of co-combustion materials in EN 450-1:2005compared to EN 450-1:2012 amount of coal (Kc) not less than 60 % by mass (50 % by massin case of green wood) amount of fly ash from co-combustion material less then 30 % by massK1 A1 K 2 A 2 . Kn AnM 100 3010 M.-%M. %K c A c (K1 A1 K 2 A 2 . Kn An )Ki and Kc amount of co-combusted CCM and of the coalin % by massAi and Ac ash content of the CCM and the coal in % by massASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 10

Experience from co-combustionTypes of co-combustion materials in EN 450-1:2005compared to EN 450-1:2012EN 450-1:2005/ A1:20071)1Vegetable material like wood chips, straw,olive shells and other vegetable fibres2Green wood and cultivated biomass34567Animal mealMunicipal sewage sludgePaper sludgePetroleum cokeVirtually ash free liquid and gaseous fuelsEN 450-1:2012Solid Bio Fuels conforming to EN14588:2010 including animal husbandryresidues as defined in 4.5 and excludingwaste wood as defined in 4.52, 4.132 and4.174(deleted, as meanwhile part of EN 145881)[6] )Animal meal (meat and bone meal)Municipal sewage sludgePaper sludgePetroleum cokeVirtually ash free liquid and gaseous fuelsDefinition for „green wood“ given in EN 450-1 as not given in EN 14588:2010NOTE Other types of co-combustion materials not included in Table 3 (Table 1 of revisedEN 450-1) may be subject to an ETAASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 11

Experience from co-combustionLimiting parameters for co-combustion materialsaccording table 1 of EN 450-1Type12Solid Bio Fuels conforming to EN 14588:2010 including animal husbandry residuesas defined in 4.5 and excluding waste wood as defined in 4.52, 4.132 and 4.174.green wood 1Co-combustion fuel basedgreen wood 2Co-combustion fuel basedgreen wood 3Co-combustion fuel basedbark woodreactive CaOCacao shellsNa2O equivalent (K)palm kernelstotal P2O5poultry dungreactive CaOAnimal meal (meat and bone meal)meat & bone meal3CaOPetroleum cokePetroleum Cokes6total P2O5Paper sludgePaper sludge5total P2O5Municipal sewage sludgemunicipal sewage sludge4Limited by-*Virtually ash free liquid and gaseous fuelsIndustrial HC liquidCo-combustion fuel based* prevented by national environmental regulationsASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 12Source: CEN TR 16443

VGB EWG BioMass Ash / Enquiry / Status ReportTasks Analysis of the legislative conditions for biomass combustion inEurope and single member states Identification of characteristics of biomass ash Identification of fields of application for biomass ash Verification of a common position regarding the utilisation ofashes from co-combustion of more than 40 (50) % and upto 100 % of co-combustion material Exchange of experience about ash management Preparation of a status report on the situation of BMA in EuropeASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 13

VGB EWG BioMass Ash / Enquiry / Status ReportStatus report on the situation with BMA in EuropeSTEP I: Compilation of exisitíng information- Fuel types- Process technology- Ash properties- .STEP II: Evaluation of ash characteristics for- wood based biomass- halms and crops based biomass- Fruit based biomass- Others- Sewage /sewage sludge- .STEP III: Evaluation of BMA utilisation based on- Fuel types- Ash characteristics and- Existing regulationsASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 14

VGB EWG BioMass Ash / Enquiry / Status ReportVGB EWG BMAomass Ash:Status report on the situation with BMA in EuropeSTEP III: Evaluation of BMA utilisation based on- Fuel types- Ash characteristics and- Existing regulationsBiomasstypeWood basedProcesspulverised boilersBMAcharact.LaboratoryresultsHalm based/herbaceousFruit basedFBC-boilersLaboratory results frompilot combustion in ppGrate firing boilersResults fromcombustion in ppEvaluation / identification of fields for utilisationASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 15Others

Properties of biomass ash When collected without consideration of the specific biomassand the combustion process the chemical, mineralogical andphysical properties of biomass ashes are wide ranging. Basically biomass ash is high in SiO2, (Al2O3 and Fe2O3), CaO(MgO), alkalies, sulfate and chlorine. Biomass ash from wood is dominated by CaO besides SiO2,ash from straw by alkalies besides SiO2. Trace element concentration in biomass ash has to beconsidered, especially for Cd (in straw ash), and Cr and Cd (inwood ash).ASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 16

Utilisation of biomass ashBiomass ash utilisation in SwedenTotal production of BMA: 1.5 million tonnesASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 17Source: Svenska EnergiAskorAshes in Sweden 2010

Utilisation of biomass ash European standards for utilisation ofbiomass ash do not exist. But they arebut indirectly covered by product standards (aggregate), in addition nationalenvironmental regulations have to beconsidered. Typical sectors of utilisation: Non-fertilised forest, volume 58 m3/ha.Earth constructionStabilizationFertiliserNeutralisation Use of different types of ashes conserve natural resources and thereforecontribute to sustainability andresource efficiency.ASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 18Forest fertilised by ash in 1947,volume 395 m3/ha.Photos: Metla/Jorma Issakainen, 2009

Utilisation of biomass ashBiomass ash utilisation in FinlandRequirements for BMA in Finnish Fertilization ActFertilization actRequirementConcentration,weight‐% of drymatterPotassium (K) Phosphorus (P) 2,0 %Calcium (Ca) 6,0 %Other than forest fertilization, the neutralization capability (Ca) must be 10 %.Concentration limit value [mg/kg]Ash as fertilizer Ash in forest fertilizationCadmium (Cd)2,525Arsenic (As)2540Selenium (Se)20Several exception for different types of fertilizers, and also the maximum concentration limits per square area.ASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 19

Utilisation of biomass ashProcessing by CINIS Recycling (DK)ASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 20

Utilisation of biomass ashBuilding Material madeof Gravel SludgeThe invention relatesto a curable mixturecontaining partiallydewatered gravelsludge, a hydraulicbinding agent, and ashfrom biomassASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 21

Utilisation of biomass ashAnnex A in aggregate standards (EN 12620, EN13055, ASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 22

Utilisation of biomass ashASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 23

Utilisation of biomass ashASHTRANS 2014 1./2. September 2014 Berlin, Germany SLIDE 24