A new study uses EFI's ToSIA (Tool for Sustainability Impact Assessment, (http://tosia.efi.int) to assess the environmental benefits of integrating a pyrolysis plant with an existing CHP plant.
Biomass as a renewable energy source is an alternative to fossil fuels. Due to its lower energy density compared to fossil fuels, different ways of converting biomass into an energy-dense fuel are sought after. Fast pyrolysis of biomass into pyrolysis oil represents such a method, allowing wider substitution of fossil fuels. Pyrolysis is an energy-intensive process but its efficiency can be improved by integration of pyrolysis reactor into a combined heat and power plant. In this study environmental analyses are conducted on the production of 50 000 tons of pyrolysis oil from wood to substitute for heavy fuel oil. The pyrolysis oil is produced either in a stand-alone reactor or as an integrated part of a combined heat and power plant.
Jaakko Karvonen, Janni Kunttu, Tommi Suominen, Jyrki Kangas, Pekka Leskinen, Jáchym Judl. 2018. Integrating fast pyrolysis reactor with combined heat and power plant improves environmental and energy efficiency in bio-oil production. Journal of Cleaner Production, vol 183, pp143-152.