Grid-connected Electricity Generation Potential from Energy Crops: A Case Study of Marginal Land in Thailand

Thanarat Pratumwan,Somchart Soponronnarit,Adisak Nathakaranakule,Warunee Tia

doi:10.32479/ijeep.11903

Abstract

This paper provides an assessment of the geographical potential of grid-connected electricity generation from the planting of energy crops using GIS while also estimating the levelized costs of electricity (LCOE) under three biomass-prices scenarios. To avoid competition for land use between food and energy crops, marginal land or unsuitable areas (low soil fertility) were used as case study sites for planting energy crops (Napier grass). The total estimated potential based on the location of energy crops and electrical substations was 11,224 MW or 66,367 GWh/y, equivalent to approximately 26.5% of Thailand's total electricity demand in 2037. The LCOEs under the three scenarios ranged from 0.103 to 0.120 USD/kWh for a 9MW capacity power plant, which were lower than the feed-in tariff rate. The results of economic assessment under three scenarios showed positive NPV values but relatively long discounted payback periods. The project and equity IRR ranged from 11.94 to 14.04% and 24.40 to 30.89%, respectively. These findings can be used for land-use planning and energy crop promotion to increase the share of grid-power generation from biomass.

Highlights

Many countries still use fossil fuel as the main source of electricity generation, especially non-OECD members (IEA, 2019) such as Thailand, where 76% of the electricity generated in 2019 was from fossil fuels (DEDE, 2019)
Based on the methodology presented in the previous sections, the identification of available Unsuitable areas for six economic crops (USEC) areas in Thailand for planting Napier grass, the geospatial potential of Napier grass production and grid-connected power generation, as well as the corresponding levelized costs of electricity (LCOE) generation and economic feasibility are presented and discussed
To avoid competition over land use between food and energy crops, areas unsuitable for planting the six economic crops (USEC areas) in Thailand were used as the case study for planting Napier grass

Summary

Introduction

Many countries still use fossil fuel as the main source of electricity generation, especially non-OECD members (IEA, 2019) such as Thailand, where 76% of the electricity generated in 2019 was from fossil fuels (natural gas 59.5%, coal 16.5%, oil 0.1%) (DEDE, 2019). Thailand is a net importer of fossil fuels Both energy security and greenhouse gas emissions are significant issues for the country. To reduce GHG emissions and dependency on imported fossil fuels by the power sector, the government has developed the Alternative Energy Development Plan for Thailand 2018–2037 (AEDP 2018) to promote local renewable alternative energy. The contract capacity consists of hydro (29%), solar (27%), biomass (21%), wind (14%), municipal and industrial waste (5%), and biogas (4%). The remaining target of 18,696 MW, potentially achievable from solar (12,015 MW), biomass (3,500 MW), wind (1,485 MW), biogas (1,183 MW), waste (444 MW), and hydro (69 MW), is expected to be reached during the period from 2018 to 2037 (DEDE, 2020)

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Results

Conclusion