Grid-scale Testing Shows CoalSwitch™ Significantly Reduces Ash, Nitrogen Oxide and Sulphur Dioxide Compared to Burning Coal in Power Plant
February 07 2022 - 8:00AM
Independent testing of CoalSwitch, the novel clean energy pellet
from Active Energy Group (AIM:AEG) demonstrates that the fuel burns
cleaner and produces fewer pollutants than coal while outperforming
other “white” pellets.
“This testing confirms that CoalSwitch™ continues to show its
superior qualities over coal and white pellets, including its
hydrophobic properties, burning at higher heating values than
pellets and reducing ash, nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide
emissions compared to coal,” said Michael Rowan, CEO of Active
Energy Group. “Our clean energy pellet offers a new pathway for
heavy, hard-to-decarbonize industries which are increasingly
pressured to reduce emissions and pollution. CoalSwitch provides a
unique ability to achieve these goals without requiring costly,
complex and yet-to-be-proven mitigation technologies like carbon
capture. Customers can ‘drop-in’ our CoalSwitch fuel and see
immediate and meaningful reductions in emissions and air
pollution.”
The summary of findings from the report on the testing are as
follows:
Use of CoalSwitch™ reduced ash by up to 77 percent vs
coal. The tests showed significant reduction of ash
deposition when CoalSwitch™ was used. When used on its own,
CoalSwitch™ produced 77 percent less ash than coal. CoalSwitch™ /
coal blends also resulted in a significant reduction of ash
deposition, with higher CoalSwitch™ ratios producing less ash.
Use of CoalSwitch™ reduced nitrogen oxide (NOx)
emissions by 20 percent vs coal. The tests showed
significant reduction of NOx emissions when CoalSwitch™ was used.
When used on its own, CoalSwitch™ generated 20 percent less NOx
than coal. CoalSwitch™ / coal blends also resulted in a reduction
of NOx emissions, with higher CoalSwitch™ blended ratios producing
less NOx.
Use of CoalSwitch™ reduced sulphur dioxide (SOx)
emissions by 60 percent vs coal. The tests showed
that burning pure CoalSwitch™ produced significantly less sulphur
dioxide than burning coal. Blended ratios also produced significant
reductions in sulphur dioxide emissions.
CoalSwitch™ has 12.9 percent higher heating value than
white pellets. During combustion testing, the observed
heating value of CoalSwitch™ fuel was 9,313 BTU/lb, which
represents a 12.9 percent premium to traditional white pellets
currently produced for the market by the Company’s competitors,
which underpins the economic value of CoalSwitch™.
CoalSwitch™ can be Milled using existing equipment while
reducing energy use. The primary measurements of interest
were the power requirements of the bowl motor and the ability to
blend both CoalSwitch™ and coal. The test results confirm that
CoalSwitch™ can be milled in an unmodified mill with only small
changes required to the mill settings. Further, there was also a
material reduction in mill power requirements when milling the
CoalSwitch™ fuel compared to the milling of pure coal or biomass
blended fuels.
CoalSwitch™ does not significantly decrease heating
value of coal when blended. The test data also provided
that with a mix of 75 percent coal and 25 percent CoalSwitch™, the
heating value was 11,807 BTU/lb, representing a 7 percent drop from
normal coal burning values.
The CoalSwitch™ fuel was produced from the waste wood residuals
at Active Energy Group’s facility in Ashland, Maine and was
delivered to Utah to undergo the first phase of the extensive
testing program in Q2 2021. CoalSwitch™ was produced using Active
Energy’s proprietary steam beneficiation process.
The primary focus of this phase of testing was to evaluate the
burning and material handling properties of CoalSwitch™. The fuel
was tested through a bowl mill, which operates at approximately 1
ton per hour, and subsequently tested in a pulverized coal research
furnace operating at 1.3 megawatt of thermal output. The coal
research furnace has a firing system and operational representation
of full-scale utility boilers. It was tested over a one-week period
both on its own, as well as blended with Utah bituminous coal at
various ratios. CoalSwitch™ and coal were milled, with the milled
fuel blends subsequently used for combustion testing.
The testing was conducted in Utah by Brigham Young University,
Rocky Mountain Power (a subsidiary of PacifiCorp), the University
of Utah, Chalmers University of Technology and Reaction Engineering
International. The program was funded independently through Rocky
Mountain Power’s Sustainable Transportation and Energy Plan (the
“STEP Plan”). The STEP Plan decided to test the fuel through the
coal-fired research furnace and the program was completed in Q4
2021. The concluding report was completed in January 2022.
About Active Energy Group:Active Energy Group
plc is a London listed (AIM: AEG) renewable energy company that has
developed a proprietary technology which transforms waste biomass
into renewable energy. Its patented product CoalSwitch™ is a
leading drop-in biomass feedstock that can co-fire with coal or
replace up to 100 percent of the coal in power stations without
requiring plant modification. The company is developing commercial
production facilities in Lumberton, North Carolina and Ashland,
Maine which will supply power and utility customers, including the
pilot program at PacifiCorp’s Hunter Power Plant in Utah. More
information is available at www.aegplc.com.
Media Relations Contact
John Williams, Scoville PR for AEG
206-660-5503, jwilliams@scovillepr.com
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