Biomass co-firing involves the partial substitution of fossil fuels (typically coal) with biomass resources to generate electricity.
A number of coal electricity generating technologies can be adapted for co-firing including stoker fired, cyclone, pulverized coal, and fluid bed boilers. Selecting the technology to be used is a function of matching the biomass fuel qualities with the coal technology.
Co-firing allows utilities to take advantage of the high efficiencies obtained in large coal-fired power plants at a lower capital cost than dedicated biomass power facilities.
Co-firing is being evaluated at a number of coal-fired power plants in the U.S. using different biomass feedstocks. Most evaluations indicate a reduction in SO2, NOx, and CO2 emissions relative to dedicated coal-fired plants.