Optimization of the operation of wood boilers

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Heat generated through woodfuel installations has doubled over the past 6 years and currently represents 4,400 collective plants in the FCE area. However the sector needs to double by 2030 in order to meet the European Union’s renewable energy generation targets. Previous research has shown that improved management of woodfuel boilers would improve the energy production of the plants by 10% and reduce associated CO2 emissions. This improvement in management of installations can only be realised through improved training provision for operators. The objective of the OPTIWOOD project is to reduce CO2 emissions by 10% for the collective wood boilers i. e. 6400 tons of CO2 per year and, in the long term, by 68,400 tons of CO2 per year. This will also improve the profitability of the installations by saving EUR 1.9 million per year at project level and EUR 19.6 million per year in the long term. AILE, SEWF, the Pays de Fougères and Department 35 will : -  Design a training programme for wood boiler optimization (WP1) including an innovative toolkit adapted to the needs of operators and systems; along with an essential technical guide for the knowledge transfer phase of the project. -    Test this scheme at 12 pilot sites to show how to improve energy efficiency by 10%, and then deploy the training to 144 other operators (WP2) - Transfer the concept to industry stakeholders, operators and specifiers to reach 10% of the collective woodfuel boiler installations during the project and ensure its sustainability beyond the project (WP3). AILE will bring its experience in training operators and the regulation and monitoring of wood fuel quality. SEWFwill bring its expertise in woodfuel technologies and combustion; along with its experience in the organization of training courses for biomass system installation professionals. The Pays de Fougères will contribute with its expertise in energy management. Department 35 will provide expertise on the management of European projects and the transfer of results. The implementation of a common approach is justified because there are many synergies in regards to our respective geographical areas and the woodfuel sector; woodfuel boilers have developed strongly in recent years, collective heating systems are often operated by municipal/site staff and the level of performance can be improved upon. Also in both regions there is a lack of training for boiler operators. This project is unique in many ways: -The project will measure the economic and environmental benefits of training woodfuel boiler operators and site staff, this will increase the interest of other stakeholders during the transfer phase due to its replicability. -The training will be based on the use of an interactive tool (CRER application) adapted to the needs of the operators and allowing them to be guided in improving the management and monitoring of their installation.

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