Biomass for Boilers Installed in Large Scale Industries in Sri Lanka

Biomass plays a dominant role in primary energy supply in Sri Lanka. Huge amount of energy usage of the rural population is fulfilled by forest firewood, to increase the usage of biomass for energy in Sri Lanka, mainly in the industrial sector. This study was conducted with the objectives of reviewing the status of bioenergy usage in Sri Lanka and evaluating the status of medium to large scale industries’ biomass usage in biomass boilers in Sri Lanka illustrating some appropriate cases. In Sri Lanka’s energy mix, electricity power supplied through the Electricity board main grid or by diesel generator systems and thermal energy is supplied through kerosene, LPG, biomass, furnace oil, etc. Major source of biomass is fuel wood; mainly Hevea brasilensis, Eucalyptus grandis, Clusia rosea, Gliricidia sepium, and Acacia auriculiformis. There are around 36 MW boilers are in operational capacity; 20 MW from dendro, 12 MW from agriculture waste and the balance is from other biomasses. Biomass boilers operations consume 288,000 MT to produce the daily steam demand and majority from Hevea brasilensis (rubber wood). Hundred industries with biomass boilers were surveyed; Rubber, Tea, Edible oil, Beverages, Food, Packaging, Dairy, Furniture, Rice, Coconut, Construction, Others (bakery, tile factory, brick factory, briquettes manufacturing center, hospital),. Survey respondents use fuel wood, saw dust, coconut shells, paddy husk, and  own waste, in 70,000 kcal/ hr hot water generator boilers, 1500 kg/hr wood fired steam boilers, and 6000 kg/hr - 2000 kg/hr water-wall boilers.