Quantitative image analysis to identify the feasible areas of rice straw biomass VSPP power plant at provincial level, Thailand

Abstract

The studying the feasible potential areas for rice straw power plants with a capacity of less than 10 MWe of a provincial level propose in this work. The potential area for producing electric energy was analyzed using the Image technique. An imaging technique assess based on the technical and economic feasibility of potential areas, i.e., transportation, water supply and the 22 kV grid connection system of Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA). The results showed the geographic distribution of the potential location of rice straw biomass at the feasible areas in the case of Nakhon Sawan province. It also found that Nakhon Sawan province has very high potential of rice straw biomass for power plant total capacity of 41.1 MWe, especially, the areas within the collection rice straw radius of 25 km, i.e., Banphot Phisai district and Tha Tako district in Nakhon Sawan province have the available surplus rice straw residues for power generation with capacity of 8.3 MWe and 5.4 MWe, respectively. Moreover, two districts are thus proposed to the suitable locations for rice straw power plant construction. The suitable areas of Banphot Phisai district and Tha Tako district were around 362.47 km2 and 206.71 km2, respectively.