Sample Calculation: biomass heating plants in connection with
ECo-Plus* climate protection program
Sample data:
- Container plant fired with wood chips
- Container plant’s output: 2.25 MW / 3 t/h
- Annual steam demand: 7,500 MWh
- Existing plant: oil-burning steam boiler (commissioning before 1978; i.e. more than 30 years old)
- Previously used fuel: fuel oil EL
- The 7,500 MWh will completely be replaced by biomass
- Assumed allowance price: 10 €/t CO2
Calculation:
| Useful heat of the old plant = useful heat biomass plant | MWh/a | 7,500 | (1.) |
| Energy input of the existing plant | MWh/a | 9,317 | (2.) |
| Corresponds to approximately liters oil | l | 913,000 | |
| Biomass share in the generation of useful heat | % | 100 | |
| Energy equivalent saved with fossil fuel | MWh/a | 9,317 | |
| Energy equivalent saved with fossil fuel | GJ/a | 33,540 | |
| CO2 amount [t] saved (fossil output) | t CO2/a | 2,482 | (3.) |
| predicted ERU price | € /t CO2 | 10.00 | (4.) |
| JI bonus [ECo-Plus program] | €/a | 24,820 | |
| JI bonus per MWh useful heat | €/MWh | 3.31 |
(1.) = useful heat to be generated via existing plant
(2.) Existing plant: oil-burning steam boiler (commissioning before 1978)
(3.) Fuel used in the existing plant: fuel oil EL
(4.) Assumption
Explanation:
How much oil would have had to be used in the existing plant in order to generate the heat amount which is now generated by the biomass plant. This calculation allows for an exact determination of the amount of carbon dioxide saved.
Conclusion:
Assuming that one ton of CO2 costs 10 €, a JI bonus of 24,820 € per year can be generated, less a transaction cost fee to be determined. Referring to the useful heat, that means a heat price reduction of 3.31 € per MWh. The bonus can securely be called upon by 2012, i.e. if the new biomass container plant is commissioned by June 2010, a total of 2.5 times 24,820 € = 62,050 € can be generated (assuming that the price for a ton of CO2 remains the same). Furthermore, there are tendencies to keep JI programs like these going until after 2012.
*ECo-Plus is a registered trademark of AGO AG Energie + Anlagen
