Biomass Energy

Biomass is material that grows and stores energy, which can then be released and converted into electricity. Biomass, whether derived from agricultural crops or from wood, has the highest potential for providing renewable electricity generation in the Southeast. Biomass is considered "carbon neutral" — meaning that carbon dioxide emissions from burning biomass are offset by the CO₂ that was absorbed by the biomass as it grew.

Switchgrass
Switchgrass is a hardy, highly-productive native American prairie grass that has potential as a renewable energy fuel. Southern Company has conducted co-firing tests of switchgrass with coal since 2001. In these co-firing tests, the grass is shredded to smaller than 1-inch pieces and conveyed pneumatically into the furnace through dedicated burners.

Ongoing tests are looking at the handling, operating, combustion and emissions characteristics of the co-firing process. With switchgrass replacing 5 percent of the coal, boiler efficiency has been found to be somewhat less than for coal-alone operation. Emissions of sulfur and mercury have been reduced with co-firing, and nitrogen oxides are essentially unchanged.

A small amount of electricity produced during the switchgrass co-firing tests has been made available for sale to customers through a renewable pricing program at Alabama Power.

Switchgrass Photos:

Woody Biomass
Southern Company and Alabama Power are participating with the federal government in a project to explore the feasibility of using "woody biomass," primarily small diameter wood available from forest thinning activities, as an energy source by blending it with coal.

The wood is being harvested from the Talladega National Forest, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service. Initial wood chip production tests have been encouraging, and co-firing tests are planned.

In addition to gauging the environmental benefits of the process, including the potential to reduce power plant emissions, and providing renewable fuel, this program also will benefit the National Forest System by thinning select trees, thus improving habitat for bird species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker and wild turkey.