Techno-economic Analysis of Small Scale Electricity Generation from the Lignocellulosic Biomass

Abstract

In this study, the techno-economic analysis of lignocellulosic biomass conversion to electricity in a small scale power plant was conducted. The proposed process is based on the thermal pathway of electricity production from a carbon content feed. Woods, forest and agricultural residues were considered as the biomass feed, which are available extensively in Iran. Besides, the process benefits not only from the maturity of the method and non-selectivity toward feed but also carbon neutrality and CO₂ emission credit income. In order to estimate the minimum selling price (MSP) of the product by this process, the bare module cost model was used. Various equipment sizes were determined by mass and energy balances, whereas the studied power plant capacities were considered 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 MW. The model estimated that the product MSP were 5.83, 4.16, 1.99 and 1.58 ¢/kWh for 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 MW capacities, respectively. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate the relative significance of economic parameters on the MSP. The feed, transport, purchased equipment costs and CO₂ emission credit income were considered as the sensitivity analysis parameters. Results have proved that the MSP was mainly impacted by the CO₂ emission credit income.