Study on the relationship between service scale and investment cost of energy service stations

Abstract

Energy upgrading in rural areas is crucial to alleviating global climate change. The distributed utilization of biomass energy based on straw briquette fuel is highly feasible in rural areas, and the service scale of energy service stations for straw briquetting is a key factor affecting the investment cost of distributed planning scheme. Existing studies, however, have mostly focused on the “one plant for one village” mode that lacks clear data support. Using GIS (Global Information System), this paper has planned out an optimal layout mode of energy service stations under different service radii. Additionally, the investment costs (including equipment cost, plant cost, and transportation cost) of each layout mode have also been evaluated. Results show that larger service radius means lower initial investment cost and higher transportation cost. Based on the total investment cost calculated throughout the entire project lifecycle, a service radius of energy service stations of 1 km is recommended. Although the initial investment of a 1 km service radius is high, its operating cost is actually relatively low. Furthermore, from the fifth year on, the total investment of the planning scheme with a service radius of 1 km will fall below all other schemes, indicating the greatest economic and environmental benefits in the long term.