KEMA verifies successful test burn of renewable fuel to replace coal

KEMA senior principal consultant attests to potential benefits of using torrefied biomass to generate electricity

On Thursday, February 3, 2011, KEMA joined the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and GWF Power Systems, L.P. (GWF) to witness the successful test burn of BioCoal, a carbon-neutral, high-energy biomass fuel from Renewable Fuel Technologies (RFT).

KEMA was on-site at GWF’s Pittsburg petcoke power plant to witness the two-hour co-firing of BioCoal, the first of its kind in the western United States. KEMA verified that the power plant stayed within its normal operating range during the test; hence, it did not require any modifications.

KEMA Senior Principal Consultant Dick Bratcher said RFT’s process “has the potential to create a cost-effective supply of renewable biomass that also provides other environmental benefits.” KEMA has participated in torrefied biomass studies in North America and Europe.

Read the BioCoal test press release.