1. General context

1.1 Reducing CO2 emissions

Co-combustion of coal and biomass blends is an attractive alternative to the use of coal. This option, which is in the short term the most economical way of introducing biomass into today's energy mix, provides an opportunity to use a renewable fuel, considered to be neutral in terms of greenhouse gas production.

Furthermore, while the application of co-firing in existing coal-fired power plants results in a reduction in CO ₂ emissions, it also contributes to a reduction in sulfurous gaseous emissions (e.g. sulfur dioxide) due to the lower sulfur levels present in biomass.

What's more, many countries have introduced incentives to encourage its introduction, often...