Central Biomass Steam Plant Archives

A new steam plant at Oak Ridge National Laboratory burns wood chips rather than fossil fuels, and officials say it will save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (Photo submitted by U.S. Department of Energy)

New energy conservation measures in place at Oak Ridge National Laboratory could save an estimated $200 million during a 25-year period, the U.S. Department of Energy announced this week.

The centerpiece of those measures is a biomass plant that burns wood chips and not fossil fuels to produce steam for heat and humidity control on the lab’s main campus, DOE said in a press release.

Officials had a dedication ceremony for the Central Biomass Steam Plant on Thursday.

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A steam plant that burns wood chips at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is expected to help save energy and reduce fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. At right is a blue wood chip hopper, at left in background is the exhaust stack, and at right in background is the steam plant.

A new steam plant that burns wood chips at Oak Ridge National Laboratory will save energy, reduce fossil fuel consumption, and cut greenhouse gas emissions, officials said Thursday.

The Central Biomass Steam Plant can produce 60,000 pounds of steam per hour. The steam is used to heat buildings during cold winter months and support research applications at ORNL.

The 21-megawatt plant is the flagship project in a $94 million, four-year-old Energy Savings Performance Contract with Johnson Controls Inc. of Milwaukee, Wis.

Officials had a dedication ceremony for the steam plant Thursday.

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New ORNL steam plant part of project that could save $200 million

ORNL steam plant burns wood chips, saves energy