Biomass Co-firing in Coal Power Plants: Analyzing Combustion Characteristics and Emission Reductions

Co-firing biomass in coal-fired power plants presents a viable method to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and promote the use of thermal renewable energy sources, aligning with carbon neutrality and net-zero emission goals. This study conducts a comprehensive combustion analysis of various biomass-coal mixtures to evaluate their effectiveness. Mixtures containing 1%, 3%, and 5% biomass from rice husks, ironwood sawdust, and teak sawdust were analyzed. The results indicate that incorporating biomass with coal decreases the theoretical air requirements for combustion, thereby enhancing combustion efficiency and reducing emissions. Specifically, each 1% increase in biomass content results in a reduction in theoretical air requirements by 2.4% for rice husks, 0.3% for ironwood sawdust, and 0.9% for teak sawdust. Moreover, biomass addition lowers the fuel's calorific value and ignition point, leading to faster ignition and more efficient burning in the combustion chamber. These findings underscore the need for further research to optimize biomass-coal co-firing, including long-term operational studies at power stations and life cycle impact assessments to understand the full environmental, social, and economic implications. The insights from this study are instrumental in developing more efficient combustion systems and optimizing biomass-coal mixtures for better performance. This research provides valuable references for advancing biomass co-firing in coal-fired power plants, particularly in Indonesia, contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly power generation strategy.