Early last year, the circulating fluidized-bed boilers of two main generating units of the Alpiq Generation (CZ) power plant started to co-burn biomass in the form of wood chips in combination with brown coal. Biomass has thus replaced a portion of primary energy gained so far only from fossil fuel, i.e. brown coal.

Due to the fact that during the year, the combustion process became greater routine and the relations with suppliers stabilized, the burned biomass quantity gradually increased. This trend also continues in 2009.

By 31 July 2009, the boilers burned a total of 51,073 tons of wood chips in combination with brown coal and approximately 46.9 GWh of "green" electricity were produced. This quantity represents an average annual consumption of some 16 thousand common households. The used wood chips thus replaced approximately 28,500 tons of brown coal, which represents some 29 heavy coal trains, each consisting of 20 wagons.

An important fact is also the saved consumption of sorbent (limestone) used for desulphurization and ash quantity to be removed for treatment and dumping, (the saving amounts to approximately 4,500 tons). Since both the units also worked in the partial cogeneration mode, approximately 20,000 GJ of heat were also produced from biomass for heating purposes. However, the main benefit was the saving of fossil carbon dioxide, which was not emitted into the air due to the replacement of coal by biomass – this saving amounted to approximately 29,000 tons for the mentioned period.

The company purchases wood chips primarily from two main suppliers, who ensure that biomass is collected and pre-treated (crushed) to the required size. Biomass is conveyed to the coal handling system (deep bunker) by mobile machinery (loader). In connection with the offers for supplies of another biomass type (waste from agricultural and foodstuff production, purposefully grown plants, etc.), possibilities to build a separate conveyance system for such fuels are being examined.

Alpiq Generation (CZ)  is a company responsible towards its neighbourhood and makes efforts to actively reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. The biomass burning in combination with brown coal in the existing energy facilities is one of the way how to reduce such emissions at economically bearable costs. The tests and consequent operation in the Kladno Power Plant have proven that (i) the circulating fluidized-bed boilers are an appropriate technology, and (ii) under certain conditions to be complied with in the co-burning process, it is not necessary to make any fundamental interventions in the existing facilities. Of course, a certain benefit for the neighbouring region is also an indirect support for the employment of workers engaged in the biomass collection, treatment and transport to the power plant site.