Topell Energy and RWE Innogy are building the first commercial-scale plant for the production of biocoal pellets in Duiven (The Netherlands).
The plant with a production capacity of 60,000 tons per year will be realised by Topell Nederland, a joint venture of RWE Innogy (49.9 %) and Topell Energy (50.1 %). It is due to be commissioned early in 2011. The investment in the plant will total some € 15 million. RWE Innogy had already taken a share in the young, Dutch technology company Topell Energy two years ago as part of its venture capital activities.
Dr. Leonhard Birnbaum, member of the Executive Board of RWE AG: “Our intention was to commercialise a new process for the production of efficient biocoal, which significantly improves and extends the potential applications of biomass. As a leading operator of coal-fired power plants, we consider it to be our responsibility to reduce the CO2 emissions of electricity generation as much as possible. The plant whose foundation stone we are laying today is another major step in this direction.”
The process developed by Topell enables the continuous production of biocoal pellets on an industrial scale. The manufacturing process is highly flexible in terms of raw material input. Biocoal is easily transported. When co-fired with conventional coal, no additional infrastructural measures are required, such as separate storage and pulverisation.
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