Web exclusive posted Nov. 21, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. CST

Vancouver, British Columbia-based Nexterra Energy announced Nov. 19 that the company has been selected by Kruger Products Ltd., a Canadian tissue manufacturer, to supply a biomass gasification system to its tissue mill in New Westminster, British Columbia. The system will utilize local wood waste and displace the use of approximately 445,000 gigajoules (124,000 megawatt-hours) of natural gas annually, which is equivalent to the amount of natural gas needed to heat 3,500 Canadian homes per year.

Nexterra's turnkey gasification system converts biomass into a clean burning syngas that can be fired directly into a boiler in place of natural gas. The system features a fixed-bed updraft gasifier. Fuel is bottom-fed into the gasifier. According to Nexterra's Web site, combustion air, steam and/or oxygen are introduced into the base of the fuel pile. Partial oxidation, pyrolysis and gasification occur at temperatures from 1,500 to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. The biomass is converted into syngas and non-combustible ash.

The gasification system installed at the Kruger mill will produce 40,000 pounds per hour of process steam. By offsetting the use of natural gas, the system is expected to lower the mill's energy costs by millions of dollars each year. In addition, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by more than 22,000 metric tons (24,000 tons) each year.

According to Raymond McAllister, Nexterra's director of communications, the project has been underway for a few months, and is well into the engineering phases. Construction is expected to begin in early 2009 and is scheduled to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2009.