Technical and economic analysis of different cogeneration systems for energy production from biomass

Giancarlo Giacchetta, Mariella Leporini and Barbara Marchetti

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2014, vol. 13, issue 3, 289-309

Abstract: This paper compares the results of a techno-economic performance analysis of seven plants for energy production from biomass with the aim of identifying the most effective solution. Small (≤250 KW_e) and micro (≤100 KW_e) size plants were investigated: 50 kW_e diesel internal combustion engine coupled with a gasifier and 35 kW_e Stirling engine coupled with a gasifier with an overall efficiency of 41.1% and 87.5% respectively, two biomass cogenerators, one of 25 kW_e and the other of 100 kW_e, 250 kW_e Otto internal combustion engine coupled with a gasifier and 250 kW_e diesel internal combustion engine coupled with a gasifier and 238 kW_e biomass ORC plant. The technical analysis provided calculations for specific biomass consumption, electricity generation, heat produced and overall system efficiency. The economic evaluation was carried on through a discounted cash flow analysis. Data were provided by literature, analysis of case study at Italian and European level, and directly by the manufacturers of cogeneration systems. The results showed that a combined heat and power (CHP) generator is the best solution because it is economically viable with a high NPV and a PBP of five years and also technically performing with a global efficiency of 78.2% and a low biomass consumption.

Keywords: gasification; biomass; energy cogeneration; green energy; CHP generators; combined heat and power; techno-economic performance evaluation; electricity production; discounted cash flow; DCF analysis. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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