BIOMASS CO-FIRING AND ITS IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONR. JAYASHREEAbstract Biomass co-firing can have a very influential role in achieving this new energy target as it can reduce the potential environmental impacts associated with the combustion of fossil fuels. Greenhouse gases such as CO2, NOx, and SOx emissions can be reduced by replacing a portion of coal with biomass during co-firing. Co-firing biomass with coal is an attractive energy generating option from both economic and environmental point of view. Co-firing could be economic in the sense that biomass co-firing does not require major capital investments and uses the existing coalfired power plant infrastructure. This result in savings on investments in the infrastructure that is necessary attracts biomass supply. Moreover, co-firing is a low-risk option for the production of renewable energy since the risks associated with major capital investments and raw material supplies are much smaller compared to other alternative uses of biomass. Additionally, direct cofiring is one of the most interesting and effective means of reducing GHG emissions from the coalfired power plants. Co-firing minimizes waste like wood waste, agricultural waste and the environmental problem associated with its disposal. |