scholarly journals Current Status of Energy Production from Solid Biomass in Southern Italy

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2576
Author(s):  
Cristina Moliner ◽  
Elisabetta Arato ◽  
Filippo Marchelli
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Economic Indicators ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Solid Biomass

This work analyses and discusses data on thermochemical plants in Southern Italy that are fed with solid biomass. The analysis takes into account the biomass availability and potential together with the cost-benefit analysis using technology development and economic indicators (LCOE). A total of 63,762 units have been categorised according to the employed technology and produced energy: power plants for electricity production or cogeneration plants for combined heat and electricity production (53 plants) and thermal units for heat production (63,709 units). The eight regions of the area have noteworthy differences. In terms of electricity generated from solid biomass Calabria is by far the largest producer, followed by Apulia. Sicily, Sardinia and Molise provide lower amounts while Abruzzo, Basilicata and Campania generate almost negligible amounts. Regarding thermal production, Campania and Calabria are the largest producers, but Basilicata, Molise and Abruzzo generate the highest amount per capita. The area is far from fully exploiting its biomass potential, and there are also no district heating grids. Bioenergy can be remarkably competitive, provided that capital costs are relatively low and low-cost biomass is available, as it is the case of Italy. New applications and markets for sub-products (i.e., char, ash) would help in lowering the still not competitive economic indicators (LCOE).

scholarly journals Current Status of Energy Production from Solid Biomass in North-West Italy

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 4390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Moliner ◽  
Filippo Marchelli ◽  
Elisabetta Arato
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Local Heating ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Thermo Electric ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Solid Biomass

Data on the thermochemical plants fed by solid biomass in the north-west area of Italy (Liguria, Lombardy, Piedmont and Aosta Valley) have been organised, analysed and discussed. Moreover, the biomass availability and potential has been evaluated. A total of 28,167 plants have been categorised according to their typology and output: thermo-electric power plants for electricity production, thermal plants for heat production, cogeneration plants for combined heat and electricity production and district heating installations for local heating purposes. In general, separate observations for the different provinces may be drawn. Liguria stands out as the most evident case of under-exploited biomass potential, followed by Aosta Valley, which, however, is rich in hydroelectricity. Lombardy and Piedmont are more virtuous and have several plants in their territory. The construction of new plants and the upgrade of existing ones may bring noteworthy benefits, as well as the use of added value sub-products to foster circular economy approaches.

Optimization of a Sawmill-Based Polygeneration Plant

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne Salomón ◽  
María F. Gómez ◽  
James Spelling ◽  
Andrew Martin
Keyword(s):  
Electricity Market ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Operational Parameters ◽  
Electricity Cost ◽  
The Government ◽  
Pelletization Plant ◽  
Annual Capacity

Biomass-based fuels have attracted worldwide interest due to their plentiful supply and their environmentally friendly characteristics. In many cases they are still considered waste but for most industries in Sweden, biomass has changed from being simply a disposal problem to become an important part of the energy supply, thanks to the long-term efforts made by the government, researchers and industry, where energy policies have played an important role. However, the amount of power that could be generated from biomass resources is much greater than that which is currently used. To effectively capture this resource requires a new generation of biomass power plants and their effective integration into already existing industrial processes. The implementation of an integrated polygeneration scheme requires the simultaneous consideration of technical, economic and environmental factors to find optimum solutions. With this in mind, a unified modeling approach that takes into account thermodynamic as well as economic and environmental aspects was used. The analysis was done using ASPEN Utilities and the MATLAB optimization toolbox. A specific case of a sawmill in Sweden, with an annual capacity of 130’000 m3 of sawn wood, has been analyzed and different options for generating electricity and process heat (for the sawmill and for a district heating network) as well as densified biofuels was analyzed. Optimization was then applied for different configurations and operational parameters. The results show that the sawmill has the capability to not only supply its own energy needs, but also to export from 0.4 to 1MW of electricity to the grid, contribute 5 to 6 MWth of district heating and 20 000 ton/y of biomass pellets. The production of pellets helps to maintain the electricity production throughout the year when the district heating demand is lower. However, the levelized electricity cost is higher than the usual electricity price in the Nordic electricity market and may have difficulty to competing with low-cost electricity sources, such as nuclear energy and hydropower. In spite of this, polygeneration remains attractive for covering the energy demands of the sawmill and pelletization plant.

scholarly journals Selection of sustainable technologies for combustion of Bosnian coals

2010 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 715-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anes Kazagic ◽  
Izet Smajevic ◽  
Neven Duic
Keyword(s):  
Coal Combustion ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
Economic Indicators ◽  
Fluidized Bed Combustion ◽  
Boiler Furnace ◽  
Strong Argument

This paper deals with optimization of coal combustion conditions to support selection a sustainable combustion technology and an optimal furnace and boiler design. A methodology for optimization of coal combustion conditions is proposed and demonstrated on the example of Bosnian coals. The properties of Bosnian coals vary widely from one coal basin to the next, even between coal mines within the same basin. Very high percentage of ash (particularly in Bosnian brown coal) makes clear certain differences between Bosnian coal types and other world coal types, providing a strong argument for investigating specific problems related to the combustion of Bosnian coals, as well as ways to improve their combustion behavior. In this work, options of the referent energy system (boiler) with different process temperatures, corresponding to the different combustion technologies; pulverised fuel combustion (slag tap or dry bottom furnace) and fluidized bed combustion, are under consideration for the coals tested. Sustainability assessment, based on calculation economic and environment indicators, in combination with common low cost planning method, is used for the optimization. The total costs in the lifetime are presented by General index of total costs, calculated on the base of agglomeration of basic economic indicators and the economic indicators derived from environmental indicators. So, proposed methodology is based on identification of those combustion technologies and combustion conditions for coals tested for which the total costs in lifetime of the system under consideration are lowest, provided that all environmental issues of the energy system is fulfilled during the lifetime. Inputs for calculation of the sustainability indicators are provided by the measurements on an experimental furnace with possibility of infinite variation of process temperature, supported by good praxis from the power plants which use the fuels tested and by thermal calculations of the different options (different temperature in the boiler furnace) of the referent energy system.

Potential Study of Electricity Generation 1000 MW with Biogas in Thailand

2012 ◽  
Vol 622-623 ◽  
pp. 1209-1212
Author(s):  
Supawat Vivanpatarakij ◽  
Weerin Wangjiraniran ◽  
Raksanai Nidhiritdhikrai ◽  
Dawan Wiwattanadat
Keyword(s):  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
High Growth ◽  
High Growth Rate ◽  
Napier Grass ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Additional Energy ◽  
Production Form ◽  
High Production

Thailand, electricity production form biogas has been interested for replacement nuclear and fossil power plants. Current status of electricity production from biogas is 155 MWe, and more potential of current capacity is 380 MWe. Additional, energy crops have a potential for another source of biogas. For this study, electricity production to 1000 MW was determined. Napier grass was considered, high growth rate and high production yield. Napier grass 190,000 acre can produce 1000 MW electricity. And economic analysis of electricity production 1 MW was studied, these results show that biogas for electricity 1MW power plant project is not economic under current condition in Thailand.

Development of a Technology Roadmap for the Energy and Water Nexus

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clifford K. Ho ◽  
M. Michael Hightower ◽  
Ronald C. Pate ◽  
Wayne Einfeld ◽  
Christopher P. Cameron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Fuel Production ◽  
Technology Roadmap ◽  
Thermoelectric Power Plants ◽  
Water And Wastewater ◽  
Critical Resources

Energy and water are critical resources that are inextricably and reciprocally linked. The production of energy requires large volumes of water, and the treatment and distribution of water depends upon readily available, low-cost energy. For example, electricity production from thermoelectric power plants can use ∼140,000 million gallons of water per day for cooling—accounting for 39% of all freshwater withdrawals in the nation, second only to agriculture in the United States (Figure 1). Significant amounts of water are also needed for hydropower, extraction/refining of minerals for energy, and bio-fuel production. Electrical energy, on the other hand, is needed for water treatment (e.g., desalination, wastewater), pumping, and distribution. The amount of electricity used in water and wastewater industries is equivalent to the amount used in chemical, petroleum refining, and paper industries. These interdependencies, coupled with increasing demands for energy and diminishing availability of freshwater supplies, pose significant challenges to ensure the sustainability of these two critical resources. Examples of the interrelationships between energy and water use are shown in Figure 2.

Optimal Operation in CHP Systems: Using Mathematical Programming and Heuristic Rules

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Krogh Iversen ◽  
Anders Busk Nielsen ◽  
Mads Pagh Nielsen ◽  
Jens Andersen ◽  
Jeppe Grue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Complex Problem ◽  
Optimal Operation ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Design Stage ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
Heuristic Rules ◽  
Heat Accumulator

Abstract The power generation system in Denmark is extensively based on small combined heat and power plants (CHP plants), which produce both electricity and district heating. This work deals with smaller plants spread throughout the country. Often a heat accumulator is used to enable electricity production, even when the heat demand is low. This system forms a very complex problem, both for dimensioning, designing and operation of CHP plants. The objective of the work is the development of a tool for the optimization of the operation of CHP plants. The optimization problem is a MINLP-problem of a very large scale. Therefore, a set of heuristic rules is formulated in order to reduce the size of the problem. Different cases are being tested, involving CHP producing units to cover the demand. The results show that it is of major importance to consider the operation of the plant in detail already in the design phase. It is of major importance to consider the optimization of the operation of a plant, even at the design stage, as it may cause the contribution margin to rise significantly, if the plant is designed on the basis of a detailed knowledge of the expected operation.

System effects of lowered district heating supply temperatures

2020 ◽  
pp. 14-24
Author(s):  
Tina Lidberg ◽  
Thomas Olofsson ◽  
Louise Ödlund
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Cost Optimization ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Combined Heat And Power ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Fuel Use ◽  
Significant Difference

Lowering temperature levels of a district heating (DH) system may offer several advantages such as reduced distribution losses, increased efficiency of flue gas condensation equipment and increased electricity generation in combined heat and power plants. In a broader perspective this can result in more efficient use of natural resources as well as reduced climate-impacting emissions. This study examines how decreased DH supply temperatures influence the power-to-heat ratio and thereby electricity production and fuel use in a combined heat and power plant. Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eqv.) emissions and primary energy use were calculated with three different marginal electricity perspectives. A regional DH system situated in mid-Sweden was used as a case study and the energy system cost optimization modelling tool MODEST (Model for Optimization of Dynamic Energy Systems with Time-Dependent Components and Boundary Conditions) was used. The results show that decreasing the DH supply temperature results in increased electricity production as well as increased fuel use within the system. Further, there is a significant difference in CO2-eqv. emissions and primary energy use for the studied marginal electricity perspectives.

scholarly journals Environmental and Economic Assessment of Portable Systems: Production of Wood-Briquettes and Torrefied-Briquettes to Generate Heat and Electricity

Fuels ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-366
Author(s):  
Kamalakanta Sahoo ◽  
Sevda Alanya-Rosenbaum ◽  
Richard Bergman ◽  
Dalia Abbas ◽  
E. M. (Ted) Bilek
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
The United States ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Forest Residues ◽  
Total Cost ◽  
Capital Costs

This study assessed the environmental impacts and economic feasibility of generating heat using wood-briquettes (WBs), and heat and electricity using torrefied-wood-briquettes (TWBs). WBs and TWBs were manufactured from forest residues using portable systems and delivered to either residential consumers or power plants in the United States. An integrated cradle-to-grave life-cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) approach was used to quantify environmental impacts and minimum-selling prices (MSPs) of heat and electricity, respectively. Results illustrated that 82% and 59% of the cradle-to-grave global warming (GW) impact of producing heat resulted from the feedstock preparation in WBs and torrefaction in TWBs, respectively. About 46–54% of total cost in the production of heat were from labor and capital costs only. The GW impact of electricity production with TWBs was dominated by the torrefaction process (48% contribution). Capital cost (50%) was a major contributor to the total cost of electricity production using TWBs. The GW impacts of producing heat were 7–37 gCO₂eq/MJ for WBs, and 14–51 gCO₂eq/MJ for TWBs, whereas producing electricity using TWBs was 146–443 gCO₂eq/kWhe. MSPs of generating heat from WBs and TWBs were €1.09–€1.73 and €1.60–€2.26/MJ, respectively, whereas the MSP of electricity from TWBs was €20–€25/kWhe. Considering carbon and pile-burn credits, MSPs of heat and electricity were reduced by 60–90% compared to the base-case.

Prediction of Coal and Biomass Co-Firing in Large Utility Boilers

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Bar-Ziv ◽  
Z. Steg ◽  
B. Chudnovsky ◽  
A. Talanker ◽  
A. Kunin
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Bituminous Coal ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Power Stations ◽  
Operation And Maintenance ◽  
Utility Boilers ◽  
Torrefied Biomass ◽  
Cost Effective Alternative

Co-firing biomass with coal seems a relatively low cost solution to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) and is also an effective way of taking advantage of the high thermal efficiency of large coal fired boilers. Existing coal-fired power stations can quickly be modified for biomass co-firing achieving considerable levels of renewable generation at low capital costs and low commercial risk. However, certain biomass properties may require the retrofitting of the power plants that were originally designed to operate on a particular bituminous coal. These modifications may decrease the boiler reliability and as result reduce availability and increase operation and maintenance costs. To understand these undesirable effects and determine the optimum way to co-fire biomass in IEC’s 5000 MW coal-fired boilers we studied the effect of biomass co-firing on the capacity, heat transfer surfaces, firing systems, pulverizers, fans and airheaters. We evaluated two biomass alternatives — pelletized biomass and torrefied-biomass (bio-coal) — co-fired with bituminous coals in 575 MW tangentially-fired and 550 MW opposite wall burner boilers. Boiler performance, emission and pulverizer self consumption were discussed. Considering all above aspects, we concluded that the most cost effective alternative is co-firing bio-coal with coal.

CONCEPTUAL POSITIONS OF MODERNIZATION OF EXISTING INEFFICIENT DISTRICT HEATING SYSTEMS

2017 ◽  
pp. 11-21
Author(s):  
Ye.Ye. Nikitin
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Mutual Influence ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Cognitive Approach ◽  
Heating Systems ◽  
Energy Management Systems ◽  
Current State ◽  
Self Sufficiency ◽  
District Heating Systems

The current situation in the sphere of district heating is analysed on the basis of use of the cognitive approach. The presence of closed chains of cause-effect relationships of negative factors and conflicts of target settings of the subjects in the field of district heating is shown. The conceptual model of energy efficient modernization of district heating systems is proposed. This model includes indicators of the current status of heat sources, networks and heat consumers, energetic and economic models, restrictions, procedure of forming and analysis of the mutual influence of the recommended projects. The quantitative data on indicators of the current state of district heating systems of the cities of Ukraine are presented. The interrelation between indicators of the current state and projects of energy efficient modernization of district heating systems is shown. Assessment of energy self-sufficiency of municipal district heating systems on condition of thermal modernization of buildings is carried out. The creation of energy management systems at the district heating enterprises is proposed. Bib. 6, Fig. 7, Tab. 5.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document