DEBS · Project

Biomass Furnace That Cuts Emissions 90% and Fuel Costs 40%

energyMarket-readyTRL 8

Burning wood and organic waste for energy sounds green, but older furnaces spew out nasty dust and particles that kill hundreds of thousands of people in Europe each year. A Danish company built a completely redesigned furnace that burns biomass so cleanly it cuts those harmful emissions by over 90% — without bolting on expensive filters. Think of it like replacing a smoky old wood stove with a modern clean-burning one, except at industrial scale. On top of that, it runs on cheap fuels like wet wood and organic waste that other furnaces can't handle, slashing fuel bills dramatically.

By the numbers

90%

Reduction in dust and particle emissions

30%

Lower investment cost vs conventional systems

50%

Lower maintenance costs

40%

Potential fuel cost reduction using low-value fuels

420,000

Lives lost annually to air pollution in EU

150-250

New biomass plants needed annually in EU-28

130-170

Replacement plants needed annually in EU-28

€140m

Projected turnover by 2023

375

Direct jobs expected

1,038

Supplier jobs expected across EU

The business problem

What needed solving

Biomass energy plants across Europe face a costly squeeze: new EU air quality directives demand far stricter emission limits, but the only way current technology can comply is by adding expensive filtration systems. This drives up capital and operating costs, making renewable biomass energy less competitive and threatening EU renewable energy targets. Operators need a fundamentally cleaner combustion approach — not just another bolt-on filter.

The solution

What was built

Dall Energy built and delivered a full-scale demonstration biomass furnace (19.9 MW) at Dalkia's site in Rouen, France. The two project deliverables confirm the plant was assembled and handed over to the host for commercial operation.

Audience

Who needs this

District heating companies replacing aging biomass boilersWaste-to-energy plant operators looking to use cheaper, low-grade fuelsIndustrial manufacturers switching from fossil fuels to biomass for process heatMunicipal utilities needing to meet new EU air quality directivesBiomass fuel suppliers seeking to expand the market for wet and low-value biomass

Business applications

Who can put this to work

District heating

enterprise

Target: District heating operators running aging biomass plants

If you are a district heating operator struggling with tightening EU air quality regulations — this project built a biomass furnace that reduces dust and particle emissions by more than 90%, meeting new directive requirements without expensive bolt-on filtration systems. The technology also cuts investment costs by 30% and maintenance costs by 50% compared to conventional systems. It can modulate between 10 and 100% load, giving you flexible output for seasonal demand swings.

Waste-to-energy

mid-size

Target: Organic waste processors and waste-to-energy plant operators

If you are a waste-to-energy operator paying premium prices for pre-processed fuel — this furnace handles wet biomass, organic waste streams, and low-value fuels like willow in a single unit, enabling up to 40% reduction in fuel costs. The demonstration plant was assembled and handed over to Dalkia in Rouen, France, proving it works at commercial scale. With 150-250 new plants needed annually in the EU alone, this addresses a massive replacement cycle.

Industrial process heat

mid-size

Target: Manufacturers needing process heat from renewable sources

If you are a manufacturer looking to switch from fossil fuels to biomass for process heat but worried about complexity and cost — this technology offers 30% lower investment and 50% lower maintenance costs thanks to a much simpler design. The wide 10-100% load window means you can match heat output to your production schedule without shutdowns or efficiency losses. The system has been demonstrated at a 19.9 MW scale with an international customer.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

How much cheaper is this compared to conventional biomass systems?

According to the project data, the furnace offers 30% lower investment cost due to a much simpler design, 50% lower maintenance costs from fewer technical difficulties and lower power consumption, and up to 40% reduction in fuel costs by enabling use of low-value fuels like wet biomass and organic waste.

Has this been tested at industrial scale?

Yes. The project delivered an assembled demonstration plant that was handed over to the host site — Dalkia in Rouen, France. The website references a 19.9 MW furnace at that location, confirming industrial-scale validation with a major energy company as the first international customer.

What is the IP and licensing situation?

Dall Energy APS is a Danish SME that developed the technology in-house. As the sole consortium partner, they hold full IP rights. Based on available project data, the company aims to sell complete biomass systems on fully commercial terms across Europe, suggesting direct sales rather than licensing.

Does this meet the new EU air quality regulations?

The furnace was specifically designed to meet the demands of the new EU directive on air pollution. It reduces dust and particle emissions by more than 90%, achieving compliance without requiring expensive add-on emission reduction systems that competing technologies need.

What fuels can the system handle?

The furnace converts a wide range of low-value fuels including wet biomass, organic waste streams, and willow — all in the same unit. This fuel flexibility is what enables the up to 40% fuel cost reduction compared to systems that require higher-quality, pre-processed biomass.

How big is the market for this?

The project data estimates 150-250 new plants and 130-170 replacement plants annually in the EU-28 alone. Dall Energy projected a turnover of €140m by 2023, with 375 direct jobs and 1,038 additional jobs at EU-based suppliers.

How quickly can the system adjust output?

The furnace offers a very wide load window with fast and easy modulation between 10 and 100% load without problems. This is a significant operational advantage for district heating and industrial applications where demand fluctuates throughout the day and across seasons.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project by Dall Energy APS, a Danish SME — typical of the SME Instrument Phase 2 funding scheme, which targets high-potential companies ready to scale commercially. The 100% industry ratio and absence of universities or research institutes signals that the core R&D is already done: this project was about engineering a market-ready product and validating it with a real customer (Dalkia). The fact that Dalkia, a subsidiary of the major French energy group EDF, served as the host for the demonstration plant adds significant commercial credibility.

DALL ENERGY APSCoordinator · DK

How to reach the team

Dall Energy APS is a Danish company — their team can be reached through dallenergy.com. SciTransfer can facilitate a direct introduction.

Order a report on this consortium See DALL ENERGY APS profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore whether this cleaner, cheaper biomass furnace technology fits your energy infrastructure? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the Dall Energy team and provide a tailored briefing for your specific use case.

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