In an effort to align Poland with Europe’s 20 percent by 2020 initiative, Metso Corp., a global supplier of sustainable technology and services, will convert an existing coal-fired boiler in Bialystok, Poland, to utilize biomass as a feedstock.

The project will cost approximately $28 million, and the plant is expected to be in operation by December 2012.

Metso will convert the existing combined-heat-and-power (CHP) coal boiler, operated by Elektrocieplownia Bialystok S.A., with a bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) boiler that will use forest and agricultural residues as fuel, significantly reducing the plant’s carbon dioxide emissions.
The BFB technology provides fuel flexibility and enables the combustion of biomass with high moisture content (30 to 60 %). Once the conversion is completed, the CHP plant will be capable of producing 166 megawatts of electricity and 460 megawatts of thermal energy.