Techno-economic analysis of a biomass gasification power plant dealing with forestry residues blends for electricity production in Portugal
TL;DR: In this article, a spreadsheet economic model combining net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) and payback period (PBP) is developed over the plant's lifetime period of 25 years.
About: This article is published in Journal of Cleaner Production.The article was published on 2019-03-01. It has received 89 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Internal rate of return & Payback period.
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TL;DR: In this article, the current status of utilization of municipal solid waste and biomass blends for energy and resources recovery together with identifying the opportunities for future development in technological equipment and physicochemical waste compositions involved in such complex processes.
Abstract: This paper critically reviews the current status of utilization of municipal solid waste and biomass blends for energy and resources recovery together with identifying the opportunities for future development in technological equipment and physicochemical waste compositions involved in such complex processes. Among numerous thermochemical conversion techniques, gasification of municipal solid waste with different biomass blends has unveiled as an auspicious technology to develop a sustainable waste management system that would substantially reduce pollution and maximize energy and materials recovery. Municipal solid wastes and biomass have different properties and elemental compositions and are abundantly available. These materials have the potential to produce various types of value-added products in terms of energy and chemicals through the gasification process. Recently, hybrid systems have been introduced with simple gasification technologies in terms of fuel oxidation system, plasma torch, or some biochemical conversion systems to enhance the process efficiency, energy, economics, quality, the yield of syngas, and to alter the composition of gaseous products. Consequently, gasification of biomass and waste would be the most suitable option to reduce toxic elements and harmful gases for the surroundings. For instant, ecological influence is not the real issue for limitation of biomass and waste gasification development, while a feasible economic return could appeal to investors and initiate its commercialization. Energy and resource recovery is assessed as an integrated approach to overcoming limitations. Also, techno-economic and environmental impact, life cycle assessment, and their implications are discussed in detail. Key bottlenecks that need urgent attention to facilitate global recognition of hybrid technology are highlighted.
106 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the authors reviewed the theory of biomass gasification by comparing and analyzing different gasification models-designs and configurations, also different operational conditions, aimed to bring a holistic approach for hydrogen rich syngas production based on the present technologies, techno-economic analysis, and industrial/commercialization pathways.
67 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the influence of the process operating parameters, namely average bed temperature between 785 and 829 °C, equivalence ratio between 0.21 and 0.36 and refused derived fuel weight percentage in the fuel mixture (0, 10, 20, 50 and 100 ǫ), was analyzed.
67 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an importancefulfilment matrix is developed to assess the socioeconomic aspects of plasma gasification promoting a more sustained waste management system, also taking advantage of the commodity assets granted by the technique.
51 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present the latest cutting-edge of different integrated refining strategies for the conversion of biomass to valuable liquid fuels (BTL) to reduce the dependency on conventional fuels.
Abstract: Directly, the utilization of petroleum-based fuels for energy supply in numerous applications has led to their depletion accompanied by an increase of global warming to the atmosphere. Hence, the paramount need for exploring new renewable energy sources has become in demand. Believing in the concepts of sustainable development to overcome these issues, the immense waste biomass has been recognized as a promising, clean and viable solution for future energy and fuels. In this regard, this review concisely presents the latest cutting-edge of different integrated refining strategies for the conversion of biomass to valuable liquid fuels (BTL) to reduce the dependency on conventional fuels. Economic insights for the production of biofuels have been distinctively assessed. From the economic point of view, thermochemical conversion methods of biomass to fuel are considered as promising integrated approaches because of their flexibility towards various types of biomasses and their efficiency to produce valuable products such as viable fuels, heat, and electricity. Bibliometric mapping has been thoroughly conducted to identify the latest literature studies within (bioenergy/biofuel) field. Dynamically, future efforts in the biomass management sector are also advised for producing green liquid fuels to meet the global energy demand through large commercial scales.
40 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated greenhouse heating by biogas, solar and ground energy in Elazig, Turkey climate conditions, and the greenhouse was constructed and the required heating load of greenhouse was determined.
728 citations
TL;DR: In this article, three types of forestry biomass were studied: Pinus pinaster (softwood), Eucalyptus globulus and holm-oak (hardwood), and the results obtained seemed to suggest that the operating conditions were optimised for a gasification temperature around 830°C and a steam/biomass ratio of 0.6-0.7
570 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the technical and economic performance of thermal processes to generate electricity from a wood chip feedstock by combustion, gasification and fast pyrolysis was evaluated, and the results indicated that the potential for a large-scale coal-to-diesel power generation system at a small scale can be achieved through the construction of early plants that could, in the short term, be more expensive than the combustion alternative.
Abstract: This paper presents an assessment of the technical and economic performance of thermal processes to generate electricity from a wood chip feedstock by combustion, gasification and fast pyrolysis. The scope of the work begins with the delivery of a wood chip feedstock at a conversion plant and ends with the supply of electricity to the grid, incorporating wood chip preparation, thermal conversion, and electricity generation in dual fuel diesel engines. Net generating capacities of 1–20 MWe are evaluated. The techno-economic assessment is achieved through the development of a suite of models that are combined to give cost and performance data for the integrated system. The models include feed pretreatment, combustion, atmospheric and pressure gasification, fast pyrolysis with pyrolysis liquid storage and transport (an optional step in de-coupled systems) and diesel engine or turbine power generation. The models calculate system efficiencies, capital costs and production costs. An identical methodology is applied in the development of all the models so that all of the results are directly comparable. The electricity production costs have been calculated for 10th plant systems, indicating the costs that are achievable in the medium term after the high initial costs associated with novel technologies have reduced. The costs converge at the larger scale with the mean electricity price paid in the EU by a large consumer, and there is therefore potential for fast pyrolysis and diesel engine systems to sell electricity directly to large consumers or for on-site generation. However, competition will be fierce at all capacities since electricity production costs vary only slightly between the four biomass to electricity systems that are evaluated. Systems de-coupling is one way that the fast pyrolysis and diesel engine system can distinguish itself from the other conversion technologies. Evaluations in this work show that situations requiring several remote generators are much better served by a large fast pyrolysis plant that supplies fuel to de-coupled diesel engines than by constructing an entire close-coupled system at each generating site. Another advantage of de-coupling is that the fast pyrolysis conversion step and the diesel engine generation step can operate independently, with intermediate storage of the fast pyrolysis liquid fuel, increasing overall reliability. Peak load or seasonal power requirements would also benefit from de-coupling since a small fast pyrolysis plant could operate continuously to produce fuel that is stored for use in the engine on demand. Current electricity production costs for a fast pyrolysis and diesel engine system are 0.091/kWh at 1 MWe when learning effects are included. These systems are handicapped by the typical characteristics of a novel technology: high capital cost, high labour, and low reliability. As such the more established combustion and steam cycle produces lower cost electricity under current conditions. The fast pyrolysis and diesel engine system is a low capital cost option but it also suffers from relatively low system efficiency particularly at high capacities. This low efficiency is the result of a low conversion efficiency of feed energy into the pyrolysis liquid, because of the energy in the char by-product. A sensitivity analysis has highlighted the high impact on electricity production costs of the fast pyrolysis liquids yield. The liquids yield should be set realistically during design, and it should be maintained in practice by careful attention to plant operation and feed quality. Another problem is the high power consumption during feedstock grinding. Efficiencies may be enhanced in ablative fast pyrolysis which can tolerate a chipped feedstock. This has yet to be demonstrated at commercial scale. In summary, the fast pyrolysis and diesel engine system has great potential to generate electricity at a profit in the long term, and at a lower cost than any other biomass to electricity system at small scale. This future viability can only be achieved through the construction of early plant that could, in the short term, be more expensive than the combustion alternative. Profitability in the short term can best be achieved by exploiting niches in the market place and specific features of fast pyrolysis. These include: •countries or regions with fiscal incentives for renewable energy such as premium electricity prices or capital grants; •locations with high electricity prices so that electricity can be sold direct to large consumers or generated on-site by companies who wish to reduce their consumption from the grid; •waste disposal opportunities where feedstocks can attract a gate fee rather than incur a cost; •the ability to store fast pyrolysis liquids as a buffer against shutdowns or as a fuel for peak-load generating plant; •de-coupling opportunities where a large, single pyrolysis plant supplies fuel to several small and remote generators; •small-scale combined heat and power opportunities; •sales of the excess char, although a market has yet to be established for this by-product; and •potential co-production of speciality chemicals and fuel for power generation in fast pyrolysis systems.
559 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a horizontal ground source heat pump (GSHP) system was designed and constructed for space heating in a test room, Elazig (38.41°N, 39.14°E), Turkey.
470 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a comparison between ground-coupled heat pump (GCHP) and ACHP systems was made for space cooling in a test room in Firat University, Elazig (38.41°N, 39.14°E), Turkey.
422 citations