IEA Bioenergy Task 32: Biomass Combustion and Co-firing (Working Period 2019 - 2021)

Thermal biomass utilization in combustion processes is one of the most important technologies for the provision of renewable energy. Given that nearly half of the final energy consumed in the EU is heat, biomass combustion for the provision of heat and hot water is a key technology for achieving the energy and climate policy objectives at national, European and world level.

The IEA Bioenergy Task 32 brings together a group of experts who are committed to contributing to the wider use of biomass combustion for the provision of heat and power through their work. In the short term, the activities of Task 32 aim to facilitate market access for biomass combustion technologies and thus extend their use. In the medium to long term, however, the activities of the Task also aim to ensure the competitiveness of biomass combustion by optimizing available technologies. In light of the emerging electrification of energy systems in industrialized countries, Task 32 also focuses on small and medium-sized cogeneration and biomass co-firing in traditional coal-fired boilers. One specific focus is on the future role of bioenergy as balancing energy for electricity grids with a high proportion of renewable energy.

The work program for the triennium 2019-2021 covered the following topics:

1. improvement of small-scale combustion,
2. integration of biomass cogeneration into the energy system,
3. high temperature heat for industrial processes and
4. intertask projects on market entry, systems integration and sector coupling and carbon capture.

The national work in the task included coordinating the preparation of studies and reports as well as organising national and international events and other information exchange measures. These activities should contribute in particular to

• remove market barriers by creating a common regulatory environment and standards for the introduction of modern technologies for the provision of heat and electricity.
• obtain and analyse reliable information on worldwide technological and political developments and to inform relevant stakeholders.
• influence developments nationally and internationally by involving the scientific, industrial and political stakeholders in a timely manner.
• make the information obtained accessible to a broad group of relevant industries, so that product and technology developments can be adapted to changing conditions or opportunities at an early stage.

Publications are available on the website of IEA Bioenergy Task 32.

Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Canada, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland

Dr. Christoph Schmidl
BEST Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies
Gewerbepark Haag 3
3250 Wieselburg-Land
E-Mail: christoph.schmidl@best-research.eu
Web: best-research.eu