How Does It Work?
EnergyPark Sutton Bridge has been designed to meet the specific needs of this area. It will combine two types of advanced technology to produce clean, green, renewable energy
- Biomass gasification
The biomass feedstock that we receive into EnergyPark Sutton Bridge will be combusted as a fuel in five specialised combustion units. These units operate in a reduced air environment (gasification) and conform to the Environment Agency’s Integrated Environmental Permitting regime.
Gasification is a partial oxidation process whereby a carbon source such as coal, natural gas or biomass, is broken down into carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2), plus carbon dioxide (CO2) as well as low molecular weight hydrocarbon molecules such as methane (CH4). The gasification technology proposed is built in the UK by Biomass Power Limited – a market leader in the design, manufacture and installation of biomass power station equipment. The facility would have the capacity to handle around 350,000 tonnes of feedstock per annum.
Although the biomass fuels at Sutton Bridge are not classified as waste, the combustion units are designed to comply with the rigorous operational standards of the Waste Incineration Directive (WID). Accordingly, the environmental impact of emissions from the burning of the biomass fuels will be minimised, as the operational standards of the WID are associated with the lowest emission standards of comparable industrial combustion processes.
- Renewable Energy Production
The hot gas produced as a result of the combustion of the biomass fuels will be used to generate steam that will drive a steam turbine to produce renewable electricity and heat. The gases will then be cleaned in a sophisticated pollution control system, with appropriate continuous emissions monitoring, prior to discharge to atmosphere by means of a chimney designed to provide effective dispersal.
- Plasma Vitrification
Fly ash residues from the process will be collected for enhanced plasma vitrification – melting at high temperatures – to remove polluting materials and produce valuable by-products such as glass and metals. The plasma process, which will be supplied by Tetronics, will ensure that there will be no solid residues from the biomass combustion process that will require disposal to landfill.
All elements of the integrated facility can be found operating around the world and the technology is proven. Biomass Power has three working plants in the UK since 2006 and one under construction in Italy (2011). Tetronics plasma is in use in the UK, Italy and Japan and has years of operating data and experience.
