Combined bioheat and biopower: A technology review and an assessment for Turkey

Combined bioheat and biopower (CBHBP) is named to emphasize that a biomass source is used as the feedstock for the production of combined heat and power (CHP). Turkey is a country with rich biomass potential; however, traditional utilization is predominant. The purpose of this paper is to describe the entire value chain of biomass-to-biopower by focusing on the current commercial technologies in the world and to provide an alternative solution for modern utilization of solid biomass sources in Turkey, while being a reference for other countries interested in biopower. The first aim is to explore the major conversion technologies for CBHBP production considering the entire value chain of biomass-to-biopower, with a focus on the most established path applied to solid biomass sources worldwide. The next aim is to examine the status of biomass energy in Turkey, concentrating on current biopower applications. This review shows that combustion coupled with steam turbine technology is the primary approach to produce biopower and/or bioheat from solid biomass sources worldwide. In different countries, CBHBP production through distributed generation (DG) is seen as a viable way of taking advantage of local biomass sources. In Turkey, biopower production through thermochemical conversion technologies that require solid biomass sources is still at an early stage. A challenging increase in biopower development is needed. In conclusion, modern utilization of solid biomass sources through distributed CBHBP production based on combustion and steam turbine technology, in line with worldwide biopower developments, is a solution to utilize the existing potential efficiently that can be implemented in the short term. Distributed CBHBP should be implemented as soon as possible and become widespread in the country, especially in rural areas near forest villages and in agricultural regions where solid biomass sources are locally available and where there is a constant heat/cold and power demand.