Regional optimization of new straw power plants with greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals: A comparison of different logistics modes

Abstract

Appropriate planning according to regional conditions is crucial to achieve sustainable bioenergy management. Literatures have highlighted the importance of optimization targets, restrictions and logistics design on the performance of bioenergy systems and regional bioenergy planning. This paper optimizes straw power plant layouts (both in terms of location and scale) in Jiangsu Province to minimize the logistics costs while meeting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals. Results show that the logistics mode has important effects on the optimal scale and logistics costs but a minimal influence on the site selection, based on the comparison of two typical logistics modes in the study area, namely, the RPM and the SCM. In the RPM, the optimal logistics cost is 14.38 USD/Mg, which is 49.6% greater than that in the SCM. Moreover, the optimal location and production scale at each site are very sensitive to changes in GHG emissions reduction goals. Changes in GHG emissions reduction goals can significantly affect the logistics costs and straw supply, which may increase the operation risk of straw power generation plants. We suggest that the logistics mode and the GHG emissions reduction goals should be carefully designed when constructing new bioenergy plants, and technological innovation with respect to harvest and compression machinery before transportation should be promoted to improve economic performance and reduce GHG emissions throughout the entire system without changing the locations of existing plants.