ProAgria Virtuaalinen energiamatka Viroon ♦ Lihulan kattilahallin kehityshistoria

Ülo Kask Senior energy expert Regional Energy Agency February 26, 2021 Content • Lääneranna Parish, Town • Short history • Herbaceous biomass resources of former • What to do with the available herbaceous biomass? • Herbaceous biomass applications in energy • Using the local biomass in Lihula DH network • Reconstruction of Lihula boiler house • Lesson learned • About tests and some publications Lihula Parish on the Estonian map

Previous Lihula Parish is Lääne- ranna Parish today (from 2018). Lääneranna Parish (Estonian: Lääneranna vald) is a rural municipality in Pärnu County. It includes the town of Lihula. Lihula Town

Photo: Kristjan Pikner Lihula boiler house, which is the only one in that heats the town with grass (meadow hay) Short History • The oldest evidence of human activity in Lääne County, a dark gray flint from 6000–7000 years ago, originates from the Lihula fortress hill. • The castle of Lihula (German: Leal) was first mentioned in 1211, but it appears the site was used as a fortress since the Iron Age. • In 1238, the bishop of Saare-Lääne (German: Ösel-Wiek) constructed a crusader fortress at the site, in cooperation with the . This attempt was successful and the castle became one of the residences of the bishopess since the Iron Age. • In 1560, the estate was reportedly granted to alderman Gerdt Bellingshausen by Duke Magnus of Holstein. • In the course of the , the castle was destroyed.

Photo: Olev Mihkelmaa Late history

• During the period of the Estonian SSR, the Lihula district was formed in 1950, which was liquidated in 1961. • The municipal status of Lihula small town was confirmed in 1991. • In 1993, Lihula became a town. • In 1999, the town and rural municipality of Lihula merged into Lihula rural municipality. • On October 24, 2017, the merger of , , Lihula and rural municipalities came into force, and the newly formed local government unit was renamed Lääneranna Parish, which belongs to Pärnu County. • In Lihula town approximately 1200 inhabitants.

Photo: Jörg Rittmeister Classification of solid biofuels (biomass fuels) The bales of unused meadow hay Classification by origin: • Woody biomass; • Herbaceous biomass; • Fruit biomass; • Mixtures and blends

Blend of wood chips and common reed on the fuel conveyer

Photos: Ülo Kask Herbaceous biomass sources

1. Natural and semi-natural grasslands (coastal meadows, wooded meadows, floodplains); 2. Wetlands (including reed-beds); 3. Cultivated land (agricultural, hay and pasture); 4. Parks, gardens and roadsides.

• The first two are fertilized by nature. • The third fourth must be fertilized and cultivated (except for the roadside no need to fertilize) Herbaceous biomass in the former Lihula municipality Wetlands and grasslands in Lihula municipality: – Reed-beds - 3000 ha – Flooded meadows - 4000 ha – Coastal meadows - 2300 ha – Wooded meadows

In 1976, became the first wetland of international importance in Estonia. The national park, with an area of 48,610 ha, also includes the lower reaches of the Kasari River and the mouth of Matsalu Bay. Matsalu wetland. Photo: Tiit Kaljuste

Matsalu National Park is situated in the western part of Estonia. Reserve was founded in 1957 mainly to protect nesting, moulting and migratory birds. In 1976 Matsalu was included to the list of wetlands of international importance under Ramsar convention. There are 282 species of birds, 49 species of fish and 47 species of mammals registered in the area of nature reserve, also 772 species of vascular plants. Also the landscapes are unique and deserve to be protected - floodplains, reed bed, coastal meadows, wooded meadows and islets. Biomass theoretical resources of Matsalu National Park Sources: Tõnu Lausmaa, Energiakeskus "Taasen", 1999.a and „Feasibility study on proper technology of CHP running on reed fuel and preparing of tendering documents for technology supplier“, TUT DTE, 2006.

Heating Boiler Type of Mass, dry Energy Area, ha equivalent, capacity, biomass tons/a value, GWh GWh MW

Common reed 2500-3000 8870 41.7 33 6.3

Meadow hay1 1000 (3000) 2000 9 7.2 1.4

Wood 400 2000 9.6 8.2 1.5 Total 12870 60.3 48,4 Remarks: 1 – 1000 hectare is recommended mowing area for energy purposes. Today only meadow hay is in use for heat production – mowing and baling is supported ~120 €/ha. Reed cutting is not supported activity. Location of reed beds in Matsalu NP

Photo: Tiit Kaljuste

Sedge reed bed - 490 ha, brown; shore reed bed 600 ha, yellow; maritime reed bed 1 410 ha, blue Herbaceous biomass resources in Lihula municipality. Common Reed (Järvi ruoko) • In winters with good ice, it would also be possible to store reeds from shore and sea reeds in the Matsalu wetland. • From them, a maximum (1,900 ha) of 9,500 tons or 36.1 GWh of heating reed could be collected at a yield of 5 t/ha (here the reed grows more densely and is higher). • The yield of reed collected for energy purposes was estimated at 1,500 tons per year in supply reeds (500 ha, average 3 t/ha), with a primary energy content of 5.7 GWh. • In fact, it is unrealistic to cut the entire growing mass from all reed-bed areas, because the weather conditions and the short cutting period suitable for collecting heating reeds do not allow it, at least with the technology available in Estonia. • Some reeds are also used for construction. * The energy content is given at the average winter harvest humidity W = 16-18%. Herbaceous biomass resources in Lihula municipality. Grasses • The total area of flooded meadows and coastal meadows is 6,300 ha. • The dry matter yield of hay in these lands is between 5-6 t/ha. • The energy yield of air-dried hay would be in the range of 20-24 MWh/ha and the energy content of the total yield at lower yields would be 126 GWh per year. • A great resource is available. • The share actually collected would be at least 50-60% (i.e realistic energy amount is 65GWh/a. • Today, AS Lihula Soojus uses about 1000 tons of hay per year with an energy content of 3.8-4.0 GWh/a. • Before the combustion in Lihula boiler house the meadow hay was unused. • Meadow grass can be mowed from 15 July and is no longer suitable (not very valuable) for animal feed. How to use natural grasslands and reed-beds?

• Do not interfere (disturb) with natural processes; • Preserve them as heritage landscapes (compulsory mowing, partial grazing); • Agricultural production (animal husbandry - grazing beef cattle, sheep, goats); • Preservation of heritage landscapes, organic animal husbandry and the use of surpluses and waste in energy management (solid fuel, biogas) and construction. • In Lihula, it was decided to start using herbaceous biomass in the boiler house instead of oil shale oil. What to do with the available herbaceous biomass? Summer green reed and grass

Photos: Ülo Kask What to do with the available herbaceous biomass? Winter dry reed and hay

Photos: Ülo Kask Herbaceous biomass (reed) applications in construction

Photos: Ülo Kask Herbaceous biomass (reed) applications in energy Photos: Ülo Kask

Herbaceous biomass (reed, hay) applications in energy

Photos: Ülo Kask Herbaceous biomass (reed) applications in handicraft

Photos: Ülo Kask Why use the local biomass in Lihula DH network? • A large, diverse and unused biomass resources in area. • The need to maintain Matsalu National Park reed beds, meadows of the River Kasari and costal pastures – it is mean the semi-natural grasslands in region. • Lihula urban district heating system based on expensive and polluting oil shale oil. • The need to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. • The problem to solve - where to put the meadow hay after mowing and baling and remains of thatching reed!? • To reduce heat price and township fiscal costs in Lihula Parish. Location of resources around the Lihula town (boiler house)

Lihula Town and DH network

Average distance of hay mowing area from boiler house is 10-15 km Unused biomass – potential energy resource

The round bales of meadow hay in near the village, autumn 2007. Next photos: Margus Källe and Ülo Kask. Biomass for energy

Partially flooded meadows – the storing risk of fuel.

• Square hay bales in the meadow of Kasari River, 2009. • New biomass fuel for Lihula boiler house. Reed harvested in Matsalu NP and products made from reed

Reed processing residues are suitable as bio fuel directly or for converting liquid and gaseous bio fuels or pressing to pellets and briquettes. From idea to practice • The idea of ​​using biomass resources of Matsalu National Park in Lihula boiler house arose in the 1990s (Alex Lotman). • Matsalu landscapes began to change rapidly birdlife unfavourably, overgrown with reed and bushes. • Between 2001 and 2006 have made three thorough studies of the biomass resource mobilization and economic feasibility determination. Last one made in Department of Thermal Engineering of TUT (project leader Ülo Kask). • It was found that to take into use the local biomass resources as fuel for Lihula boiler house would be favourable and useful, heat price will drop down. Financing of the activities • All activities from 2001-2009 – consulting, planning, designing and constructing - were partially financed with several projects, bank loans and own funds. – Phare PPF II – 24 000 €. – European Regional Development Fund – 32 000 €. – EEA Grants (Island, Lichtenstein and Norway) – 0,38 M€. – Loans and own funds – 0,38 M€.

Heating company in Parish: OÜ LIHULA SOOJUS

Owned 100% by Parish District heating network in Lihula town Fuels: previous – oil shale oil From 2009/2010 biomass (oil is back-up fuel). Heat production: average 3800 MWh/y. Heat consumption: average 3300 MWh/y Heat load: average 0.4-0.9 MW, Maximum 1.8 MW Boilers: Base-load : Danstoker – 1,8 MW (2009) Back-up: Danstoker Multimaiser - 1,23 MW (1995) District heating network - 2347 m pipelines (2009). Today - 3034 m, 75% preinsulated pipes

Boiler house before reconstruction, summer 2008 Maa-amet @ Eesti Põhikaart Reconstruction of Lihula boiler house • Summer-autumn 2008 public procurement • Building contract between OÜ Lihula Soojus and AS Tamult 19.12.2008. • The deadline for completion of reconstructing work - 31.08.2009. • Constructing works started in 4th of May 2008. • The contract volume was 11.5 million Estonian crones or 0.735 M€ (excluding VAT). Reconstruction stages

Fuel storage Reconstruction stages II

• Bale conveyer; square and round bales and wood chips (alternative fuel) in the storage Reconstruction stages III

Left – new boiler Right – old back-up boiler Outside view of the reconstructed boiler house Lihula DH network

Vihreä linja - maanpäälliset putkistot vaihdetaan Sininen linja - esieristetyt putkistot asennetaan vuosina 2016-2018 Punainen linja - esieristetyt putket, jotka on asennettu ennen vuotta 2016 Violetti linja - maanalaisen kanavan putkisto Lesson learned • Approximately one third of Matsalu meadow hay a year using in Lihula boiler house. • If there are difficulties to harvest hay on meadows (flooding) then could be used alternative fuels as wood chips, straw and field grass (hay). • Hay and wood chips can’t be used simultaneously (one day hay, next day chips – different feeding equipment and burning regimes needed). • Maximum heating capacity with hay fuel is 1,5-1,6 MW, coefficient of efficiency max 85%. • Pre-cutting (length of stem pieces is 10-15 cm) and baled (square and round bales) hay (straw, reed) can be used in boiler house.

Lesson learned II • The boiler has the moving grate and need to burn dry fuel. • The moisture content of herbaceous biomass have to be less than 18% (in order to prevent the mould) and moisture content of wood chips less than 35%. • 1350-1400 tons of meadow hay is used in heating season (approx. 3000 square bales). • The price of meadow hay is 43-45 €/t (11-12€/MWh, this price today is higher). Heat price for consumers 57,71 €/MWh (from 2008 up today). In DH networks using shale oil the consumers price on average 70-80 €/MWh (without VAT). • The grate needed to be replace in summer 2015. • Fuel feeding system has been repaired a few times. • The ash screw conveyer has repaired, erosion signs (ash is silica rich) • The boiler is working well, is not noticeable corrosion. • If the load of boiler is high, over 1,4 MW, noticed signs of melting of ash and slag formation. Chopped reeds are suitable to mix wood chips or forest fuel

Reed is chopped and added to grain residues

Photos: Ülo Kask

Co-combustion tests of wood chips and meadow hay in Aardla boiler house, Tartu. 8 MW boiler + pre-furnace

Photos: Ülo Kask

Boiler house, shredding of hay, layer of hay on the wood chips in storage, the mixture of fuels (max 15% of hay by mass) moving to conveyer belt, pre- furnace (Swedish)+ boiler DKVR-10-13 (SSSR). Lessons of co-combustion tests in Tartu • The combustion tests were done in early spring 2009 in Aardla boiler house, Tartu (TTU, Ülo Kask). • Experiments lasted for two days. • The hay were harvested and baled (2008) on the meadows of river Emajõgi, approx. 25 km from boiler house • The bales were shredded by special machine in the storage and the hay were blown on the piles of wood chips • The boiler was running on capacity of 8 MW and after adding ~15% of hay by mass the capacity drop down to 7 MW. • Reason: Conveyors are unable to provide a fluffy grass as much as the wood chips. Reed pelletizing tests in VTT, Finland, 2012

Photos: Ülo Kask Cooperation of University of Applied Sciences of Burgenland, Austria Combustion tests of reed and wood pellets in small scale Herz boiler, 80 kW. 04. 2014.

Photos: Ülo Kask

Examples of publications

Examples of publications

Examples of publications Examples of publications, 2013 Kiitos kuuntelusta ja katsomisesta!

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