Solvay launches mass production of coal substitute-torrefied biomass at Mississippi

13-Mar-14

Belgian chemicals group Solvay has launched its first mass production of torrefied biomass, a substitute for coal, at a new facility in Mississippi, the US, as per Platts. Solvay and US partner New Biomass Energy have created a joint-venture, Solvay Biomass Energy, which will develop NBE's torrefied biomass production facility at Quitman, Mississippi. "Solvay will provide its industrial expertise to more than triple annual production capacity to 250,000 mt by the end of 2014 from 80,000 mt currently. Solvay Biomass Energy will use by-products, such as sawmill residues, from the highly developed timber industry in the area's managed forests," Solvay said. European regulations on emissions have driven up the cost of coal-fired production and some power plants now use wood pellets to replace coal feedstocks. Torrefaction modifies the chemical properties of waste wood and biomass. The resulting product can immediately substitute for coal and contains 35% more energy by weight than wood. Solvay is improving the water repellent properties of torrefied biomass to enhance its storage and handling properties, it said. "This new business has a two-fold objective: On the one hand, to offer innovative and competitive solutions to utilities and energy companies, allowing them to lower the cost of using biomass in their plants, and in parallel to expand our access to biomass and to create new biosourced applications," said Philippe Rosier, President of Solvay's Energy Services division.