The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

Biomass energy technologies convert renewable biomass fuels to heat or electricity. Biomass cofiring is attracting interest because it is an economical near-term option for introducing new biomass resources into today’s energy mix. Cofiring is the simultaneous combustion of different fuels in the same boiler. Cofiring inexpensive biomass with fossil fuels in existing boilers provides an opportunity for energy managers to use a greenhouse gas-neutral renewable fuel while reducing energy and waste disposal costs and enhancing national energy security.

To help the nation use more domestic fuels and renewable energy technologies and increase our energy security, the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) in the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, assists government agencies in developing biomass energy projects. As part of that assistance, FEMP has prepared this Federal Technology Alert on biomass cofiring technologies. This publication was prepared to help federal energy and facility managers make informed decisions about using biomass cofiring in existing coal-fired boilers at their facilities. It is also helpful to other facilities that operate municipal and industrial boilers.

This course is intended for engineers, state and federal regulators, and energy professionals. It provides information on types of biomass available and criteria used to co-fire in coal fired boilers. Along with energy impacts, other implementation factors are presented using facility studies and case examples. Costs and worksheets are given to provide energy and economic analysis decisions.

The student is expected to read and review the material contained in the US Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Federal Technology Alert, DOE/EE-0288, May 2004.

The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of twenty (20) questions at the end of this course to obtain 4 PDH credits.

State Board Acceptance

This course can be used by professional engineers to fulfill PDH requirements mandated by state and provincial licensing boards. Decatur Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing education in all states that pre-approve course providers. In all other states that mandate continuing education for engineers, it is the individual engineer's responsibility to determine the suitability of activities for PDH credit. The state boards typically accept online* courses that cover technical, managerial** or ethical content and which are relevant to the practice of engineering. The course must have a clear purpose or objective with a content that will maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice. For questions about your mandatory PDH requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board.

*Online courses are accepted by all state licensing boards that mandate continuing education. Other than New York (which limits online courses to 18 PDH) and Iowa (which limits online courses to 6 PDH), there are no limits placed by other states on the number of hours that can be earned through online continuing education. Consult with your state licensing board if you have any questions about the acceptability of online courses.

**The New York State Board of Engineers does not accept general office management courses, but will accept project management courses that are offered by an approved provider and that are technical in nature and contribute to the engineer's professional practice.

Please Note: Continuing Education credits for this course are awarded as PDH (Professional Development Hour Credits).