Pine needle biomass gasification based electricity and cold storage systems for rural Himalayan region: optimal size and site

Abstract

Pine trees cover large portions of the Himalayan region. Every summer session dry pine needles fall from the trees and cover the forest floor, which is a serious cause of uncontrolled frequent forest fires here in this region. Due to the widespread availability of pine needles (forest biomass) in the Himalayan region, it can not only produce electricity (through gasification) for immediate local consumption and the national grid system but with the implementation of CHP and CHCP technology it can also contribute to local dairies, food processing industries and for cold storage. Using pine needles in electricity generation will not only save the environment, by preventing forest fires, but also contribute to the energy demands of the region and preserve the local vegetable, fruits and milk product without any additional cost. The objective of this study is to find out the optimal gasification system range to serve a particular locality with respect to local pine needle availability and produced refrigeration capacity.