OPG seeks expressions of interest to supply biomass to coal plants

Will the mountains of coal at Nanticoke Generating Station one day be replaced by mountains of switchgrass pellets? Ontario Power Generation is taking further steps to answer that question. OPG had already run some pilot projects in which it co-fired biomass with coal in several of its generating stations. It now wants to assess the commercial feasibility of a large scale switch to biomass.

To that end, OPG has issued a request for expressions of interest (RFEI) for the supply of biomass to Ontario's coal-fired generating facilities. OPG is seeking pricing information regarding the entire solid biomass fuel supply chain, including fuel production, loading/storage, quality control, road/rail/ship transportation, rail equipment, and lakeport terminal services. Interested parties must confirm their participation by February 3, 2009. Responses are due at 3:00 pm on February 26, 2009.

For more background on the announcement, see Tyler Hamilton's article in the Toronto Star.