Valorization of Waste Agricultural Biomass as a Fuel for Sustainable Power Production by Co-Firing

Abstract

Waste agricultural biomass, like the crop residue, is an abundant indigenous renewable energy source in Serbia. As such, the agricultural residue might be utilized for sustainable power production. Direct co-combustion of biomass with coal/lignite offers a viable option to remove this kind of waste and, in the same time, to use its energy potential, mitigate harmful emissions and retrofit existing coal-fired power plants cost-effectively. However, there are serious issues regarding the waste management and the co-firing process itself, yet to be solved. The main aim of this paper is to present benefits and challenges of co-firing the waste agricultural biomass, as a promising technology for biomass valorization and decarbonization in energy, focusing the agricultural residues energy potential, as well as characteristics, preparation and efficient utilization of the biomass as an alternative fuel in
power sector.