Fuel mix supply reliability for biomass-fired heat and power plants

A significant barrier to the development of biomass-fired heat and/or electric power plants is the risk associated with obtaining a reliable supply of fuel of the right quality. A method to assess the various options for harvesting and processing fuelwood is described, with emphasis on woody biomass arising from short rotation coppice. A computer model was used to evaluate the costs of supplying fuel using a range of alternative systems. The model included processing, transport and storage of the biomass. with un allowance built in fur any dry matter loss during storage. The evaluation showed direct delivery to the plant for immediate use without the need for long term storage is the cheapest option. Where storage cannot be avoided, processing the material into either billets or bales is worthy of close consideration. For continuous fuel supply from short rotation coppice, harvesting the crop all year round where feasible could result in cheaper fuel if no yield loss results.