COGENERATION WITH BIOMASS IN AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY

Manor Farm – Hull (United Kingdom)

Abstract

A Rank® LT3 unit operates in the Manor Farm, located in Hull (North Humberside, United Kingdom). The ORC is integrated into the biomass cogeneration system, so the company receives extra revenue through the UK “Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)”.

Renewable Heat Incentive

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is addressed to those installations existing in the United Kingdom. Its objective is to support heat generation from renewable energy sources. It started at the end of 2011 and affected domestic installations (“Domestic RHI”) and other sectors (“Non-domestic RHI”).

20 years for non-domestic sectors, free of taxes subsidies are guaranteed. However, the incentive depends on the type of renewable generation system used and the power level.

Cogeneration with biomass belongs to the “combined heat and power, CHP” category that receives subsidies through this scheme. This category covers small to large installations, without distinction of heating capacity. The last values published for the incentive are 4.42 pence per kWh, applied to the thermal energy used.

One can find more information about these incentives in the United Kingdom through their website.

The agri-food exploitation

“Manor Farm” belongs to “Jack & Andrews Smales”, a company registered in 2015 focused on the use of post-harvest crops. It is located in the UK’s North Humberside region.

The processes involved in the main activity of this company produce large quantities of biomass in the form of straw. Therefore, biofuel with zero carbon emissions is ready to be used at the same place where is generated.

The construction of the cogeneration system with biomass was carried out by Manco Energy Ltd., which is among the main suppliers of biomass plants in the United Kingdom.

The installation

The installed cogeneration system consists of a Rank® LT3 system powered by a biomass boiler. Heat transfer between both devices is carried out by an intermediate water closed circuit. On the other hand, useful heat is produced as water at 40 °C, covering other installation thermal requirements (drying).

The Rank® LT3 equipment uses very low-temperature heat sources, between 90 °C and 120 °C, and it is easily integrated with conventional biomass boilers. The useful heat produced by the ORC is used on-site for other thermal processes of the farm. Therefore, a cogeneration system with an electrical generation of up to 90 kWe results in a noticeable environmental and economic benefit.