On the optimal use of industrial-generated biomass residues for polygeneration

Sammanfattning: Increasing energy demand as well as climate change concerns call for an analysis and optimization of energy services. Efficient use of energy resources, mitigation of environmental effects and supply an increasing demand are just some of the issues that are relevant nowadays in the energy system. In this regard, worldwide efforts are being made to increase the use of renewable energy and to promote energy efficiency measures in order to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.Thus, sustainable solutions that take a holistic approach on covering the demands of the society are needed.  The work presented herein addresses the use of industrial derived biomass residues for energy purposes in different contexts. The analysis was focused on: a) different alternatives to use solid palm oil residues in the Colombian mills for energy purposes including services b) the possibilities of implementing biomass-based heat and power plants in the Swedish energy system and their integration with already established biomass processing industries for polygeneration purposes.The assessment of the palm oil residues consisted on a technical analysis of the possible alternatives for electricity, heat, and biofuels production. For that, a thermodynamic approach was used to evaluate different alternatives.  The assessment of biomass power plant integrated with the Swedish industry considered the thermodynamic, economic and environmental factors associated with certain energy conversion technologies. In this case a multiobjective optimization methodology was used to perform the thermoeconomic analysis. This allowed the evaluation of two contrasting scenarios were polygeneration at industrial level could be suggested: a less economically developed country where environmental policies are limited and industrial energy efficiency has not been implemented and a high income country with energy and environmental policies well established and energy efficiency measures being encouraged.Results show that the palm oil industry in Colombia has the capacity of being self-sufficient to cover of all their energy needs using the solid residues available. In the case of the thermoeconomic assessment of biomass-based integrated polygeneration plants in Sweden the results indicate that it is feasible to produce power while supplying the process steam required by nearby industries and district heating.