scholarly journals Techno-Economic Analysis of Biomass Energy Utilization through Gasification Technology for Sustainable Energy Production and Economic Development in Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gbeminiyi M. Sobamowo ◽  
Sunday J. Ojolo

Nigeria has not been able to provide enough electric power to her about 200 million people. The last effort by the federal government to generate 6000 MW power by the end of 2009 failed. Even with the available less than 6000 MW of electricity generated in the country, only about 40% of the population have access to the electricity from the National Grid, out of which, urban centers have more than 80% accessibility while rural areas, which constitute about 70% of the total population, have less than 20% of accessibility to electricity. This paper addresses the possibility of meeting the energy demand in Nigeria through biomass gasification technology. The techno-economic analysis of biomass energy is demonstrated and the advantages of the biomass gasification technology are presented. Following the technical analysis, Nigeria is projected to have total potential of biomass of about 5.5 EJ in 2020 which has been forecast to increase to about 29.8 EJ by 2050. Based on a planned selling price of $0.727/kWh, the net present value of the project was found to be positive, the cost benefit ratio is greater than 1, and the payback period of the project is 10.14 years. These economic indicators established the economic viability of the project at the given cost. However, economic analysis shows a selling price of $0.727/kWh. Therefore, the capital investment cost, operation and maintenance cost, and fuel cost can be reduced through the development of the gasification system using local materials, purposeful and efficient plantation of biomass for the energy generation, giving out of financial incentives by the government to the investors, and locating the power plant very close to the source of feedstock generation.

Author(s):  
K.A Babatunde ◽  
O.O Agbede ◽  
I.I Olateju ◽  
S.D Bamidele ◽  
O.M Osuolale ◽  
...  

Nigeria is blessed with abundant biomass throughout her six geo-political zones. However, biomass energy is largely used in the rural areas mainly for off grid purposes. The method of such biomass conversion is based on traditional combustion process which is grossly inefficient with attendance environmental implications. This paper addresses the use of gasification technology for the conversion of biomass to high value fuel. It presents biomass gasification as a solution to the menace of inadequate power generation, dependence on fossil fuel, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and inappropriate disposal of wastes. The paper also highlights the need for focus to be shifted to other means of renewable energy in the country rather than hydropower and bioethanol on which the energy policy in the country is concentrated on.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 269-274
Author(s):  
Minghao Liu ◽  
Zhaoyong Sun ◽  
Qian Li ◽  
Zheng Wei ◽  
Baorui Liang

Biomass energy is one of the most important renewable energy sources. Full utilization of this energy helps to optimize agricultural development, improve our living environment, and replace some non-renewable energy sources, thereby promoting the eco-environment across the country. However, biomass energy has not been extensively utilized in rural areas of China. Many farmers are not very enthusiastic about the use of biomass energy. Many scholars have tried to boost the willingness of farmers to utilize biomass energy. Therefore, this paper collects the relevant data from six aspects, namely, environmental factor, cost factor, income factor, behavior factor, policy factor, and personal factor, and constructs a binary logistic regression model. On this basis, the driving and influencing factors of biomass energy utilization were empirically analyzed from the perspective of farmers. The results show that the development of biomass energy is mainly affected by the farmers’ awareness of national energy strategy, the relevant costs of biomass utilization, and the attitude of family members and village committee. The research provides an important reference for further promotion of biomass energy, elevation of its utilization efficiency, and optimization of energy structure in rural China.


Author(s):  
V. Gulbis

During the last few years combined production of electricity and heat based on biomass gasification technology and on gas utilization in gas-fired engines has been widely reconsidered. This method is more sustainable and environmentally friendly provision of energy in the future. Latvia is rich in forests and the wood processing industry is developing very fast, giving about 4.5 mill. m3 of woods residue per year. The use of wood residue does not follow the increase of wood production. In Latvia we have abundant biomass resources such as wood harvesting and wood processing residues, waste wood and sawdust. As a first attempt to introduce biomass gasification technology in Latvia some researchers at the faculty of engineering of LUA are developing an integral small scale combined heat and power (CHP) system based on a used Russian-made diesel-alternator set with electrical output 100 kWe. The diesel is converted to dual fuel gas engine, using producer gas as the main fuel and gas oil as pilot fuel. To get sufficiently clean (tar content ? 250 mg/m3) woodgas for using in IC engine a downdraft type of gasifier was chosen designed and constructed on the “IMBERT” gasifier principles. The test runs of the first experimental model showed that the engine does not develop expected power because of high resistance of gasifier and gas cleaning system does not work sufficiently enough. There was rather high level of tar content in woodgas because the temperature in the reduction zone was to low. Calculations were carried out and a new technological scheme of gasification system was worked out, introducing innovative ideas aimed on improving the working parameters. The experiments and calculations showed that such a type of CHP plant could be a technologically and economically interesting option for small sawmills and farms in rural areas.


2020 ◽  
pp. 9-14
Author(s):  
ABDELELAH MOHAMED ELHASSAN ABDELSLAM ◽  
MANAR FAWZI BANI MFARREJ

As many of the developing countries in the world, Sudan depends heavily on the biomass energy sources as a major source of energy for household and traditional industries sectors. Recently, the biomass energy accounts for more than (61%) of the total energy consumption in the national energy balance. The dependence on the biomass energy sources creates serious environmental problems including desertification and climatic changes in many of the rural areas. Sudan is rich in agricultural residues in both irrigated and rain fed agricultural sectors. The country launched a new energy and environmentally sound policy to encourage the transfer of advanced sustainable biomass energy technologies. The policy is based on the optimal and efficient utilization of the available agricultural residues by the implementation of biomass renewable energy technologies. The main objectives of this paper are to highlight the filed experience on using biomass gasifier-based project for decentralized power supply for remote location in Gezira State, Sudan, and to present the challenges facing the large scale applications of the technology in the country. Three types of biomass were used: Raw Cotton Stalks, Cotton Stalks Briquettes, and Groundnut Shells Briquettes. The efficiency and the technical performance of the gasifier has been evaluated. The research concluded that gasifier could be one of the best technical option to convert agricultural biomass products into sustainable energy in rural areas. Biomass gasification proved that it is a promising technology for dementalization power generation in rural areas (Off-Grid), both because of difficulties in providing good quality grid power, and due to the wide availability of biomass even in remote villages in the country. The cotton stalks briquettes were found to be the best biomass sources for the gasification process. The obtained results give a very encouraging picture to make villages self-sufficient in their primary energy needs. It is therefore, highly recommended that, an accurate estimation of the potential biomass resources (agricultural. residues) base in Sudan, should be undertaken for implementation of a decentralized biomass gasification power plants in rural areas.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 2176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Coppola ◽  
Fabrizio Scala

The increase of capital investments and operation and maintenance (O&M) costs represents a current limitation to the diffusion of carbon capture systems for the clean combustion of fossil fuels. However, post-combustion systems, such as calcium looping (CaL), for CO2 capture from flue gas are the most attractive carbon capture systems since they can be installed at new plants and retrofitted into existing power plants. This work investigates the pros and cons of employing a calcium looping system for CO2 capture and also as a desulphurization unit. A preliminary techno-economic analysis was carried out comparing a base case consisting of a coal-based power plant of about 550MWe with a desulphurization unit (Case 1), the same plant but with a CaL system added for CO2 capture (Case 2), or the same plant but with a CaL system for simultaneous capture of CO2 and SO2 and the removal of the desulphurization unit (Case 3). Case 2 resulted in a 67% increase of capital investment with respect to the benchmark case, while the increase was lower (48%) in Case 3. In terms of O&M costs, the most important item was represented by the yearly maintenance cost of the desulphurization unit. In fact, in Case 3, a reduction of O&M costs of about 8% was observed with respect to Case 2.


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