This chapter contains a description of the context in which the strategy project has been concieved and how the work has been carried out.
5.1 Background
For many years different stakeholders have been working on the development of thermal gasification of solid biomass in Denmark.
Particular attention has been given to decentralized gasification of wood chips to produce electricity and heat. Some of the concepts developed so far are approaching the
commercial stage, but there is still no genuine commercial breakthrough for the gasification technology.
In recent years there has been an increased Danish interest in several other gasification technologies: production of liquid biofuels and bio-SNG, biorefineries, addition of gasifiers for power plant boilers, flexible gasification plants that can switch between power
generation and second generation liquid fuels, interaction with fuel cells, etc.
The development of Danish based gasification technology has been described in the
"Strategy for research, development and demonstration of biomass technologies for electricity generation and CHP in Denmark" (The Biomass Strategy) from 2003. The strategy does not address the gasification in detail, but it is indicated that the Danish development effort on small scale gasification plants should be focused on few development tracks, just as priority should be given to implementation of long-term testing and demonstration of a few technologies. In the strategy R&D is expected to deal with solving current operational problems. The Biomass Strategy has not been updated since 2003.
Use of biomass is expected to play a central role in the Danish energy supply, and thermal gasification of biomass is a technology that could contribute to this. In an energy system with a very large windpower generation capacity thermal biomass gasification can be the perfect match in terms of balancing the fluctuating nature of the wind and thus providing for a high coverage from renewable energy sources.
Because of the increased focus on a wider application and development of gasification technology in Denmark, there is a need for a separate RD&D strategy that can help prioritise the areas where, in Danish eyes, the greatest needs and perspective of development exist.
On this background the Bioenergy section of the Confederation of Danish Industries has initiated the strategy work and asked FORCE Technology for assistance. The energy funds EUDP and PSO at Energinet.dk have been asked to support the strategy work.
5.2 Aim
The purpose of the strategy project is to prepare a Danish RD&D strategy for thermal biomass gasification. The aim is to focus and target the Danish technological
development efforts within gasification, so the technologies can help to meet national
Strategy for research, development and demonstration of thermal biomass gasification in Denmark
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targets for the use of renewable energy, independence from fossil fuels and CO2
mitigation while promoting Danish industry growth and export potential in the field.
The strategy will:
• provide an overview of the Danish competences, strengths and the framework for gasification technologies
• identify the RD&D needs of the area and focus the development effort
• be usable by Danish companies and research and development institutions for a targeted effort
• be usable by public funders to prioritize funding
• be usable by regions, growth fora and municipalities to prioritize efforts
• visualise the long term Danish development efforts
• facilitate coordination of the Danish development efforts with the international efforts in this area.
5.3 Scope
The strategy is limited to address the technical development needs within thermal gasification of biomass with the primary aim of generating electricity and heat or energy carriers - fuels. Technology for conversion of producer gas to an energy carrier falls within the strategy.
The strategy does not cover:
• Manufacture and use of biogas (gas produced by biological processes). A Danish biogas strategy was prepared in 2009
• Gasification of coal or other fossil fuels
• Combustion of biomass
• Recommendations for the framework conditions for promotion of the technology.
5.4 Methodology
The strategy project has been divided into four main activities as follows:
1. Organization and project management 2. Mapping process - technology description
3. Analysis of potentials and focusing - RD&D priorities, funding need 4. Reporting and dissemination
The strategy work is based on a high degree of participation from the gasification
business in Denmark. Activity 1 built the group of technology suppliers that was assumed to provide the written content for activity 2 and dealt with gathering funding for the project from the suppliers. The funding work has been ongoing throughout the project period.
It has been the aim to contact all Danish stakeholders dealing with biomass gasification technology. The basis has been a list of stakeholders from the Danish Energy Agency coupled with a small survey of new stakeholders.
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Activity 2 has dealt with mapping of Danish technologies, RD&D priorities, funding needs and current Danish projects. The main tool in this activity was the questionnaire that can be seen in the Annex 5 – Questionnaire used in the survey. The input from the suppliers and other actors has been reproduced directly in this report. There has been no
ressources allocated for a critical assessment of the input.
In part 3 each technology was assessed based on the input from activity 2 and an independent focusing of objectives, priorities and funding for Danish biomass gasification is made. In order to do this, a small focus group attended by two international
gasification specialists besides FORCE has been assembled. The idea is to ensure
professionalism and independence in the focusing exercise. The working language of the project is English.
Activity 4 was the reporting of the gathered material and the technology assessment and handling the public stakeholder consultation of the report as well as dissemination of the results.
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