Biomass and waste

However, the amount of biomass that is technical feasible to utilize is 35-40 TWh/year, provided a sustainable outtake of biomass. The economical potential is, dependent on the electricity prices. Following today’s development of electricity prices for Norway, where we are approaching an European level, the economical potential will be very close to the technical potential giving an increase of more than two times of today’s level. Utilization of biomass for energy production will also lead to new jobs.

The Norwegian Bioenergy Association (NoBio) estimates that per installed TWh; 300 new jobs are created. The Nordic countries have the last 15-20 years had a significant increase in use of bioenergy. A total production of 213 TWh/year and a growth of 6-7 TWh/year led bioenergy to be the largest renewable energy source in the Nordic countries in 1998 for many, many years. In comparison, the hydropower production in the Nordic countries in 1998, in a normal year, was 200 TWh. The European Union have stated (1997) that will seek to increase the use of bioenergy should be trippled by 2010. SINTEF Energy Research performs studies of resource availability, extents and utilization for biomass and waste fuels.

Wood burning constitutes more than 7 TWh heat in Norway

Trondheim Energiverks energy from waste plant at Heimdal, Trondheim. The plant recover the energy in houshold waste and supplies district heat to a large portion of Trondheims citizens.

SINTEF have over several decades gained knowledge in order to help industry, government and organizations assessing the consequences of utilizing biomass and waste as a fuel in different applications. Knowledge about biomass and waste as fuel is important in order to design plants with high efficiency and low emissions.