Tomorrow
Biomass
How does it work?
Biomass, which includes trees, plants, garbage, and animal waste, is burned
in a boiler to convert water to steam. The high pressure steam is used
to drive a steam turbine, which turns a generator to produce electricity.
What is its potential as a supply option in SaskPower’s
system?
There is a technical potential of a few hundred megawatts (MWs) of biomass
distributed generation within the province, which would come primarily
from sawmill/pulp and paper operation wood residues. The amount of biomass
that would potentially be used by SaskPower, however, will be less than
the technical potential because some project and site specific characteristics
may make some options economically impractical.
Renewable.
Greenhouse gas emissions are reduced.
Socio-economic benefits would be created through local job creation, generating additional value for the forestry sector.
Electrical generation using biomass helps to manage organic waste.
Biomass will tend to be small scale and distributed. The size is limited due to the cost of hauling biomass over large distances. Economies of scale impact the economics of electrical generation, and larger generation usually equates to lower cost electricity per kWh.
Other air pollutants will be released.
Ash, containing concentrated pollutants, needs to be addressed.
