Purpose of the Guidebook. The objectives of the DEBCO project have been achieved through a comprehensive program of research activities, large-scale demonstrations and long-term monitoring of the key co- firing options. This research and testing has provided key insights into the following areas: - The reliability and sustainability of biomass supply chain and quality of biomass; - The retrofit and optimisation of biomass co-firing technologies to existing pulverised coal-fired boilers; - The measurement of the key boiler performance parameters of power boilers when co-firing biomass; - The measurement of co-firing biomass; the performance of the air pollution control devices when - The characteristic and utilisation/disposal of the ash discards from coal boiler co-firing biomass. In this Guidebook, the key results and experiences of the DEBCO project are described in order to provide relevant information to project developers, combustion and boiler engineers and plant operators interested in co-firing technologies. Particular focus is placed on: - The economical aspects, including the political and regulatory framework, the market structure, the local and international fuel supply chains and the main economic factors which may affect co-firing projects; - The technical aspects, including the fuel characteristics and storage/handling requirements, the plant modifications required for co-firing, the boiler and air pollution control device performance, the utilisation/disposal of the ash and other discards from the power plants. The principal outcomes and findings of the DEBCO project were obtained through the successful completion of the four main project activities: - The detailed assessment of three large-scale co-firing demonstration activities, which were selected to represent different technical and socio-economic circumstances in a European context, i.e. at Fusina PP (Italy), at Kardia PP (Greece) and at Rodenhuize PP (Belgium); - R&D activities concerned with the details of the co-firing impacts on the performance and integrity of six power plants; - The performance of a number of feasibility studies of the technical and economic aspects of both new and ongoing co-firing activities in Poland and Hungary, with a view to increasing the co-firing ratio; - The development of the technical know-how and experience of the project Partners, including power utilities, equipment suppliers, SMEs, research centres and universities, in a subject area of increasing importance worldwide. Th...
