UW-EC begins testing wood as biomass for coal-burning plant

The Badger Herald
By Adelaide Blanchard
Thursday, February 11, 2010 1:59 a.m.

High-efficiency fuel source expected to make up 10 to 15 percent of power production

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire began the first of many trial runs Wednesday to test the efficiency of wood as a biomass in its coal-fired power plant.

The power plant, which provides energy to university buildings on campus, is exploring biomass options with high-efficiency wood pellets expected to replace 10 to 15 percent of coal usage at the power plant.

The wood pellets have been broken down to have all the moisture removed from them, which increases their energy efficiency as a fuel, said Jim Franklin, supervisor at the UW-Eau Claire power plant.

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