Development of a fuel flexible and highly efficient ultra low emission residential-scale boiler with coupled heat recuperation based on flue gas condensation (FlexiFuel-CHX). Ref. 654446

FlexiFuel-CHX is funded by the EU’s H2020 programme.

The aim of the FlexiFuel-CHX project is to develop a fuel-flexible boiler that is able of burning wood chips, olive stones, nutshells and agricultural pellets. The boileroffers power ranging from 20 kW to 130 kW. It is highly energy efficient owing to the condensation of water from exhaust gases. Furthermore, the boiler emits very few particles (< 13 mg/MJ), has almost zero emissions for other environmentally toxic components such as CO and VOCs and offers a 50% reduction in nitrogen oxides.

Duration: 2016 - 2018

Project link:
http://www.flexifuelchx.eu 

Developing the sustainable market of residential Mediterranean solid biofuels (Biomasud Plus). 691763

Biomasud Plus is funded by the EU’s H2020 programme.

Its main aim is to develop integrated solutions for promoting a sustainable market for solid biofuels that are of Mediterranean origin and intended for use in residential heating systems. Specifically, this involves: developing and implementing a certification system for quality and sustainability; evaluating existing barriers and identifying solutions; and developing tools and databases with information on sustainable biomass resources in order to obtain an overview of the situation and identify the supply chains.

Duration: 2016 - 2018

Enlace a la página web del proyecto
http://biomasudplus.eu 

Sustainable management of shrubs formations for energy purposes (ENERBIOSCRUB). LIFE13 ENV/ES/000660

ENERBIOSCRUB is funded by the EU’s LIFE programme.

The main aim of this project is to help reduce greenhouse gases through the sustainable production of energy from forest mass that is both highly flammable and has little or no management, as is the case for many areas of scrubland. The project makes use of innovative methods of clearing and harvesting forest mass that are not currently used, as they are not sufficiently well-known and have not been proven for use in southern Europe. The project also involves the study of the full length of the value chain: from the crops in the field through to the end use of the resultant biofuels in heat and electricity production.

Duration: 2014 - 2018

Link to the project web portal:
http://enerbioscrub.ciemat.es

A comprehensive strategy for predicting, monitoring and ensuring the sustainability of the combustion of biomass from agricultural and forest waste (CLEANBIOM). CTM 2013-49121-C3

PThe project is funded by the State Programme for Research, Design and Innovation Oriented Towards Societal Challenges.
CLEANBIOM involves the development of a comprehensive strategy for predicting, monitoring and minimizing the pollutants generated during the combustion process for the agricultural and forest-waste biomass typically found in the Mediterranean basin, through the sustainable operation and management of medium-sized, decentralized units. Testing and experimentation takes place at CEDER-CIEMAT, where there is a plant comparable in scale to actual production facilities and where the biomass undergoes intensive characterization, with segregation based on size of primary and secondary atmospheric pollutants, ash and corrosion precursors.

Duration: 2014 - 2016

Link to the project: 
http://projects.ciemat.es/web/cleanbiom 

Cogeneration of electrical and thermal energy using a hybrid biomass and solar system for crop and livestock farms in Cuba. 2015/ACDE/001558

This project is funded by the Development Cooperation Actions initiative.

It aims to analyse and develop a suitable hybrid plant that can be powered by two sources of renewable energy (solid biomass and photovoltaic solar energy) and will enable the generation of electrical and thermal energy, with a view to providing a high-quality energy supply for isolated crop and livestock farms in the Cuban provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo.

The system comprises a biomass-gasification module, a gas-cleaning system and one or more motor-generators with total power of 30-35 kWe, plus an additional photovoltaic solar-capture system of 5-10 kWe, comprising a solar farm, storage system and regulation system.

Duration: 2015 - 2017

Sustainable production and industrial symbiosis in the Community of Madrid. Waste recovery through gasification. CM S2013/MAE-2907

This project is funded by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (Community of Madrid), through the region’s programme of R&D activities.

Its aim is to promote sustainable industrial development in the Community of Madrid and stimulate the generation of new business opportunities through the innovative utilization of waste flows, the development of emerging technologies, and optimal information management.

Carbon-rich waste flows will be used to obtain products that are of interest to pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetics companies in the Community of Madrid, while solid waste and effluent will be recovered for energy use (thereby obtaining syngas or biogas) and flow-integration potential will be studied.

CIEMAT is responsible for managing technological and scientific objective OCT-1: Energy Production from Lignocellulosic Waste, through the participation of three working units from its Energy Department (Biomass, Thermal Conversion Processes, and Energy Recovery from Fuel and Waste), with a focus on the following areas:

• Characterization of solid waste.
• Selection, modification and adaptation of testing facilities.
• Evaluation of industrial waste with potential synergies for integrated recovery.
• Thermo-chemical recovery of the waste that is generated.

Duration: 2014 - 2018.

New strategies for the integrated utilization of biomass plants for the sustainable production of hydrogen without emitting carbon dioxide (BioH2). IPT-2012-0365-120000

This project is funded by the Ministry for Economy and Competitiveness through the INNPACTO programme.

Its aim is to develop an innovative process for producing hydrogen from biomass and to evaluate its viability as an alternative technology for generating electricity.

CIEMAT is taking part in the development and evaluation of annual grass crops for the production of biomass on marginal land; biomass pelleting; the design, assembly and setting up of a laboratory gasification plant; and gasification tests to determine the optimum conditions for the process, part of which was carried out at CEDER-CIEMAT.

Duration: 2013 – 2015

Development of active, selective and stable catalysts for tar reforming, in order to recover and reuse flows from the gasification of biomass and waste. MINECO, ENE2012-36299

This project is funded by the Ministry for Economy and Competitiveness through the Non-Targeted Fundamental Research Projects sub-programme.

The aim of the project is the synthesis, characterization and testing (under reaction conditions) of new active, selective and stable catalysts for the reforming of tar from the gasification of biomass and waste.

The project is being implemented by the Energy Recovery from Fuel and Waste Unit and the Thermal Conversion Processes Unit, both of which form part of the Energy Department. Catalyst production and testing with synthetic and polluting gases (H2S) takes place at CIEMAT, while the actual gasification tests take place at the facilities of CEDER-CIEMAT.

Duration: 2012 - 2016.

Application of advanced technologies for the energy optimization and process optimization of the general treatment activities at a WWTP; gasification of WWTP sludge; and removal of tar through thermal and catalytic cracking. IPT-2011-1078-310000

This project is funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation through the INNPACTO programme.

The project's main aim is to optimize the general treatment activities at a WWTP by improving processes and minimizing energy consumption through the application of a variety of new technologies.

Through its Energy Recovery from Fuel and Waste Unit and Thermal Conversion Processes Unit, CIEMAT has taken part in efforts to optimize gasification as a technology that enables the comprehensive recovery of WWTP sludge. The goal of removing the tar formed during the gasification process of WWTP sludge was achieved by developing and optimizing tar-removal processes such as thermal and catalytic cracking (in the laboratory and at the pilot scale), and by studying the effect of gasification parameters on the tar removal process (this was carried out at CEDER-CIEMAT’s pilot facilities).

Duration: 2011 - 2015

Developing the commercial production of electricity in centralized plants using biomass from energy crops (DECOCEL). IPT-2011-1220-920000

This project is funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation through the INNPACTO programme.

The main aim of this project is to develop Spain’s capacity to generate electricity from biomass produced from energy crops, using centralized plants powered by multi-fuel biomass. This is achieved by generating knowledge and creating the tools needed to define sustainable projects at the local level in relation to this aim, along with the conditions for their implementation.

At CEDER-CIEMAT, combustion tests are carried out in the pilot plant and laboratory, so that the results can be subsequently applied in a biomass powered electricity-production plant.

Duration: 2011 - 2015

Cost efficient biomass boiler systems with maximum annual efficiency and lowest emissions (BIOMAXEFF). Ref. 268217

This project is funded by the EU’s 7th framework programme.

It aims to provide a demonstration of domestic boilers that offer reduced emissions and high levels of efficiency under real operating conditions. The technologies demonstrated comply with the requirements of three separate market segments: namely, boiler replacement, building renovation, and new construction.

During the laboratory-testing stage, the boilers are characterized in a number of European facilities - including the laboratory at CEDER-CIEMAT – under constant load conditions (nominal power and minimum power) and reproducing a varied load cycle. Additionally, the boilers are monitored in different facilities under conditions that replicate real demand, for a period of several months and over a number of years.

Duration: 2011 - 2014

Clean production of recycled paper: towards sustainability in paper production in the Community of Madrid. S-2009 / AMB-1489

This project is funded by the Ministry of Education (Community of Madrid).

Its aim is to develop an industrial process with reduced environmental impact, thereby creating research infrastructure in the Community of Madrid that serves as a benchmark in the field of sustainable paper recycling while incorporating groups from different disciplines. Other outcomes include increased recovery, optimization of the recycling process, energy recovery from non-reusable waste (including gasification), improvements to the quality of recycled products and strategic management for companies.

CIEMAT is responsible for managing technological and scientific objective OCT-7: Sustainable Waste Management, through the following three units: Biomass, Thermal Conversion Processes, and Energy Recovery from Fuel and Waste. The organization’s involvement consists of preparing material, demonstrating the viability of the gasification of by-products, optimizing the process and producing gas from gasification of sufficient quality to be used in an engine.

Duration: 2010 - 2014

Prototype for the generation of electrical and thermal energy through hybridization for isolated communities in Ibero-America. CYTED Programme

This project is funded by the Ibero-American Programme of Science and Technology for Development (CYTED).

It aims to design an integrated system for energy production, based on renewable energy sources, to supply electrical and/or thermal energy to isolated communities. The renewable sources proposed consist of combined biomass and solar energy.

Duration: 2010 - 2014

Using biomass from energy crops to generate thermal energy and employment in the domestic and tertiary sectors (On-3-Bioterm). IPT-12000-2012-009

This project is funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation through the INNPACTO programme.

The aim is to develop processes and equipment that will improve the technical and economic viability and the sustainability of biomass (especially biomass from energy crops adapted to suit Spain’s particular edaphological and climatic conditions) in the domestic and tertiary sectors.

Within the framework of this project, CEDER-CIEMAT is responsible for preparing all of the biomass used and conducting the corresponding combustion tests, using two commercial boilers that have been installed in the laboratory.

Duration: 2010 - 2013

Mechanisms for developing and valorizing a sustainable market for solid biomass in south-west Europe (BIOMASUD). SOE/P2/E414

This project is funded by the 4th EU Interreg SUDOE programme.

Its ultimate aim is to make a significant contribution to improving sustainability in order to help preserve and protect the natural environment of south-west Europe, through the implementation of certification and traceability systems throughout the entirety of the value chain for solid biofuels. This will make it possible to certify compliance with minimum sustainability requirements, which ensure more suitable practices in the biomass field.

Duration: 2010 - 2013

Researching and improving herbaceous energy crops for biomass production and transforming them into electrical energy

This project is funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation through the Plan E initiative.

It aims to determine the feasibility of using previously selected plant species from different parts of Spain as fuel in electricity production plants.

First, varieties of oat and triticale will be obtained in order to produce herbaceous lignocellulosic biomass for energy use.

Second, the technical feasibility of combusting the different types of biomass will be determined: this will involve evaluating energy performance and emissions, analysing sintering and corrosion, and – where applicable – proposing suitable measures to minimize these effects.

Finally, a software tool will be developed in order to calculate the energy balances and greenhouse-gas emissions for the process of generating electricity from oats and triticale.

Duration: 2010 - 2011

Energy production through gasification of rejected materials from urban waste treatment. CIT – 120000 – 2009 – 12

This project is funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation through the National R&D Plan.

It aims to develop proprietary technology for the gasification of waste-derived fuel (WDF) with the aim of generating electricity using gas-powered motors. As part of this project, gasification tests are conducted in a pilot plant at CEDER-CIEMAT..

In collaboration with the project’s partners in industry, whose aim is to valorize a waste product that is not currently used, the potential utility of the available waste was assessed and the resultant WDF evaluated and characterized. A study was also conducted on the gasification process for the fuel produced, in order to evaluate its viability from a technical and environmental perspective.

Duration: 2009 – 2011

Hybrid catalytic filter for monitoring gaseous emissions of toxic pollutants, POPs, PM10 and heavy metals: design, parametric study, actual-scale construction, setting-up, and validation (FHIBCAT). 220/PC-08/3-13.1 (stage 2)

This project is funded by the Ministry of Environment through the National R&D Plan.

The aim is building and preparing a pilot facility to demonstrate and evaluate techniques for monitoring trace toxic pollutants, based on the integration of current knowledge in the following areas:

• The generation, growth and ageing of high-temperature aerosols.
• The characterization of aerosols, particularly in fine and ultra-fine form.
• The design and construction of advanced filtration systems.

The project as a whole is led by CIEMAT’s Environment Department, while the experimental activities take place at a pilot combustion plant in CEDER-CIEMAT.

Duration: 2008 - 2011