from Pete in Baldwin WI:
#592
Does anyone make producer gas from wood and use it to produce electricity with a net metering contract?
At present, we’re not aware of anyone who is using wood gasification in this way.
Good question! At present, we’re not aware of anyone who is using wood gasification in this way.
For those who don’t know, gasification is a process that converts carbon-based materials, including organic material such as wood and biomass, into carbon monoxide and hydrogen by reacting the raw material at high temperatures with a controlled amount of oxygen and/or steam. Gasification of fossil fuels is currently widely used in industry to generate electricity.
Several attempts have been made around the country to demonstrate and use wood gasifiers for electricity production. One of the more successful projects is right here in Wisconsin at the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison. The lab currently operates a small 5-kilowatt unit made by Community Power Corporation, but it’s not connected to the grid.
Most units today are used to reduce on-site electrical use rather than tie into the grid. Biomass gasifiers tend to be very expensive and complex systems that require significant maintenance and tinkering.
You can visit the Community Power Web site to learn more.
Published Friday, November 06, 2009