Modelling biomass gasifiers in hybrid renewable energy microgrids; a complete procedure for enabling gasifiers simulation in HOMER

Abstract

Off grid electrification is key to achieving universal electricity access. Despite the potential of biomass gasifiers as a clean technology to ensure reliable systems, they are not as well looked upon as their advantages suggest. In particular, the software HOMER, which researchers and technicians use the most to simulate and design Microgrids, does not include biomass gasification among its simulation technologies. Although some authors did simulate biomass gasifiers in HOMER, the necessary parameters and procedures to calculate and include them in the tool remain unclear, non-replicable, and leave open research questions as regards modelling. Using the inbuilt Biogas power plant modules in HOMER, this paper presents a set of steps to include the technical and economic parameters to simulate fuelling an electric generator through the syngas produced in a downdraft biomass gasification plant. Two case studies of isolated rural communities in Honduras and Zambia show the viability of the procedure. These case studies also confirm the technical and economic viability of islanded biomass-photovoltaic hybrid renewable energy microgrids. In both cases, the energy demand supplied and distributed by the microgrid had a Levelized Cost of Energy lower than the alternative of extending the electric grid to the communities.