Wood is a renewable domestic energy resource. When it is used for energy, only as much CO2 is produced as the plants have captured during their growth. We at RWE make use of these advantages. Our biomass power plants generate electricity from residual wood. Wood from a forest or old wood, such as old furniture, is suitable for this purpose. And this is how energy production works: The wood is placed in a kiln. The heat generated by burning the wood heats water. The resulting steam then drives a turbine to generate electricity. When the wood is burned, no more CO2 is produced than the plants absorbed during their growth.
More and more biomass is being used in our Dutch power plants - and the trend continues to rise. In the country's national energy agreement, corresponding agreements have already been made.
The Amer power plant in Geertruidenberg has already been converted into a biomass power plant. Over 50% of the hard coal is being replaced by biomass on a daily basis. By the end of 2020 this percentage will be increased to 80% or more.
One of two units of the hard coal-fired power plant in Eemshaven is also technically capable of using woody biomass. Up to 15% of its current electricity production is already sustainable by using biomass. With its efficiency level of 46 %, and modern cleaning techniques the power plant is one of the cleanest of its kind.