Sustainability assessment of a hybrid CSP/biomass. Results of a prototype plant in Tunisia

Abstract

A renewable electricity system hybrid concentrated solar power/biomass power plantin Tunisia has been assessed. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the Input-Output Analysis (IOA) methodologies have been performed to assess the environmental and socio-economic impacts of this technology in the Tunisian context. Application of these methodologies allowed computing environmental footprint, and the total economic stimulation produced by the increase in the demand for goods and services needed to build and operate this kind of plant. Results show for system operates in closed digester conditions value of 18.5 gCO2eq per kWh. In an open digester system, levels of GHG emissions are similar to fossil electricity generation with 550 gCO2eq per Kwh. For socioeconomic impacts, the multiplier effect of the direct investment for production of goods and services amounts is 2.43. Domestic value added created was quantified in a 42% (0.15 €2015/kWh) and employment creation in 532.9 FTE (0.006 FTE/MWh). Finally, the calculated abatement costs are low, 86 US$/tCO2eq. From the obtained results, it can be concluded that investments in this technology are then a cost-effective way of mitigating global warming emissions while also producing additional benefits in terms of value-added creation in the country and domestic employment generation.