Environmental certification procedure for imported biomass
Presented by Laborelec
CONTEXT
Belgium's objective is to ensure that by 2010 at least 6% of electricity is generated using green energy sources, notably biomass. Energy balance will be taken into account by deducting the energy used throughout the preparation and transportation of the biomass. In 2005, Electrabel converted four coal-fired power stations in Belgium to biomass.
This has resulted in the purchase of more than 1 million tonnes of biomass a year, the majority of which is imported from the world over by land and by sea in the form of granules or powder.
INNOVATION
Laborelec has devised a certification procedure for its many suppliers to ensure not only that technical and environmental specifications are met, but above all that biomass is produced in a sustainable manner. Producers must sign a declaration regarding the origin and preparation of the biomass and its transportation to the Electrabel plant. An independent monitoring company checks the declaration, inspects the producers' sites and compiles a report on energy consumption at all stages in the chain. Laborelec validates all documents for Electrabel, which forwards them to the relevant authorities.
RESULTS
Introduced in early 2006, this process has considerably shortened the time taken for new suppliers to secure approval from the regional authorities in Belgium for the awarding of green certificates. Other benefits include the fact that Electrabel is guaranteed that the biomass used is produced in a sustainable manner while the cost of the process is limited to less than 0.1% of its purchase price. Based on the unique experience of Laborelec with electric plants, the Netherlands are currentlylooking into developing a similar system for biofuels and bioproducts.
