Echaine Project

Having studied electricity costs for both small- and large-scale systems, comparisons between various systems were performed. In traditional thermal plants, co-firing of wood with fossil fuels has become very popular in large-scale applications. For small-scale wood power production, the externally fired Stirling engine technology is very promising for cost efficient, future power production.

The project work exploited a set of advanced modelling for CHIP technologies including techno-economic, supply, hybrid, economic, cost of energy calculator, optimisation, taxation, and adoption and diffusion models. Support tools available for CHIP planning included decision support and a checklist for basic actions and strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis.

In the framework of the Echaine project , a new GIS tool based on multi-criteria analysis was created. Users of this tool can select a category, such as Europem policy, and a map can be created to visualise the results.

The results, which characterise the wood energy market, were identified and many findings were generated. In terms of the market, different historical developments are taking place and the competition is considered at both the national and regional levels. Regarding socioeconomic factors, good cooperation between the manager and relevant stakeholders can result in significant cost reductions. Stakeholders, wood fuel supply and locality are factors that were shown to vary between the local and national levels. Also, the policies that have an impact on wood fuel and wood energy utilisation rates are very diverse.

Essentially, the GIS tool illustrates the main obstacles for wood fuel and wood energy usage. Thus, users can understand the choices managers make and the reasons behind them. The results have been disseminated on the Echaine webpage, as well as in presentations given in workshops and seminars.

Life cycle analysis (LCA) uses a 'cradle-to-grave' approach to determine the collective environmental impact of all the phases of a product, from its creation to its use and finally, its disposal. The Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH) in Greece performed an LCA for wood energy while participating in the Echaine research project.

The CERTH estimated emissions of pollutants to the air, water and soil during the collection, processing, transportation and consumption stages for energy wood. Subsequent negative impacts on human health, local ecosystems and so forth were also assessed. The same methodology was then applied for traditional types of energy.

Comparing the results for a standard amount of thermal energy production revealed some interesting findings. For example, wood energy boasts a significant advantage in the area of greenhouse gas emissions. Using wood harvest by-products for energy production also avoids problems associated with the disposal of this waste. However, some environmental issues, such as eutrophication, were exacerbated by wood burning.

As the threat of climate change continues to intensify, switching to wood energy offers a number of benefits. Such a move would help EU Member States meet their Kyoto targets while contributing to the regional goal of increasing energy production from a renewable energy source (RES). To this end, the CERTH arrived at some recommendations to help curb the negative environmental aspects associated with the LCA of wood energy. These measures include using low nitrogen oxide NOx burners and hybrid vehicles for transport,among others.

For more information, please visit: http://www.echaine.org.

(Source Cordis Focus http://cordis.europa.eu/news/focus )

.