Biomass

Akuo Energy is involved in all stages of the life cycle of power plants: studies, design, financing, construction and operation.

Biomass represents 2.5% of Akuo Energy’s activity, with pilot projects in France, Poland, and Uruguay. This is an essential part of our strategic development in 2011, with an initial target fixed at a capacity of 50 MW. It consists of two technologies:

• combustion, where biomass is burned in order to heat water and produce steam, which creates electricity in a turbine in 10 MW to 15 MW installations;

• methane extraction, where bacteria extract methane from organic waste which is then burned in a gas engine to produce electricity in 100 kW to 2 MW installations.

In both cases, energy production is continuous and also includes heat production. While this electricity costs more than conventional energy, its competitiveness is closely linked to the cost of biomass and waste supplies. 

The avoided costs of waste reprocessing and the possibility to sell heat should also be put into perspective. Further, it also offers industries the chance to secure long term jobs in biomass management and collection.