| Motivated
by the catastrophic forest fires that have plagued
the western United States with increasing frequency
and severity over the past decade, this new study
supports America's Healthy Forest initiative.
The
United States Department of Agriculture’s
(USDA) Rural Utility Service (RUS) has proposed
supporting investments to convert forest thinnings
to electric power at rural electric facilities.
The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office
of the Biomass Program, in the Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, agreed to support
this approach by providing the technical and financial
feasibility analysis.
Download the report:
This study is a guide to biomass power technology,
biomass supply and financial issues. Serves as
a “pre-feasibility study” for a rural
utility wishing to prepare an application to the
RUS. It can also serve as primer for those interested
in the current state of commercial biomass power.
There
is interest worldwide in using biomass as part
of a sustainable, clean solution to our energy
needs. Many entrepreneurs and governments are
participating in research and development of high-efficiency,
advanced concepts, such as gasification for use
in fuel cells. However, this study was constrained
to technologies that currently have a successful,
demonstrated commercial record.
The
technologies examined were solid-fuel cofiring
in coal boilers, gasification for cofiring, combined
heat and power (using back-pressure steam turbines),
steam turbine (Rankine cycle), gasification combined
cycle, simple gas turbine, reciprocating engines,
and feedwater repowering.
The study originated with the premise that 100
tons per day (tpd) of thinnings would be made
available from forests on Forest Service and Bureau
of Land Management (BLM) property at $10/ton.
To provide a more comprehensive view of biopower
potential, the scope was expanded to consider
the use of additional woody residues and include
several power plant technologies that could potentially
generate biopower. Other forms of biomass could
also be used such as agricultural residues, energy
crops, or clean, segregated MSW.
The
analysis used a range of biomass delivered prices,
from $0 per ton (representing an opportunity fuel)
to $30 per ton, on a dry basis. Biomass moisture
content can vary widely and thus impact its value
as a feedstock. A range of capital costs was also
used to illustrate the trends and impacts of various
cost scenarios.
Results
Briefly, the study shows that an economic
plant would need to process more than 100 tons
per day. Depending on the biomass delivered price,
solid fuel cofiring at an existing coal plant
and a CHP system with a steam customer and a back-pressure
steam turbine can show a positive NPV. The report
also illustrates the level of financial support
for each scenario which would be necessary for
an financially viable plant.
The
current costs and operational issues with gasification
for cofiring or engine use show these to be less
desirable options. Finally, feedwater preheating
might be an option as part of a repowering project
at a large facility.
For further information please contact:
Christian Demeter, Principal cdemeter@antares.org
Download
Entire
Report (4.8 MB)
Table
of Contents and Executive Summary (314 KB)
A.
Detailed Technical Conclusions (73 KB)
B.
Wildland Fire Management, the U.S. Biomass Resource,
and Potential Biopower at Rural Utilities (1.4
MB)
C.
Technology Description Chapters (1.4 MB)
Biomass preparation yard
Solid fuel biomass cofiring
Biomass gasification cofiring
Steam turbine dg technology
Combined heat and power (CHP) technology
Biomass gasification combined cycle technology
Gas turbine simple cycle technology
Reciprocating internal combustion engine technology
Feedwater heater repowering (FWHR)
D.
Financial Analysis (of all systems - 146 KB)
E.
Benefits/Challenges Of Using Biomass As A Fuel
Source
Environmental Benefits
Economic Benefits
Challenges facing Biomass Power
Renewable Portfolio Standards and System Benefit
Charges
Support via Fuel Incentives in Congressional Legislation
Appendix
– Supporting Calculations and References
(1.6 MB) |
