Co-firing in Coal Power Plants and its Impact on Biomass Feedstock Availability

Jerome Dumortier ()

No 198706, IU SPEA AgEcon Papers from Indiana University, IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs

Abstract: Several states have a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) and allow for biomass co-firing to meet the RPS requirements. In addition, a federal renewable fuel standard (RFS) mandates an increase in cellulosic ethanol production over the next decade. This paper quantifies the effects on local biomass supply and demand of different co-firing policies imposed on 398 existing coal-fired power plants. Our model indicates which counties are most likely to be able to sustain cellulosic ethanol plants in addition to co-firing electric utilities. The simulation incorporates the county-level biomass market of corn stover, wheat straw, switchgrass, and forest residues as well as endogenous crop prices. Our scenarios indicate that there is sufficient feedstock availability in Southern Minnesota, Iowa, and Central Illinois. Significant supply shortages are observed in Eastern Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, and the tri-state area of Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky which are characterized by a high density of coal-fired power plants with high energy output.

Keywords: Environmental Economics and Policy; Land Economics/Use; Resource/Energy Economics and Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 15
Date: 2015
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cmp, nep-ene and nep-env
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Co-firing in coal power plants and its impact on biomass feedstock availability (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:iuspea:198706

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.198706

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