Abstract
The focus of this study is to provide a comparative techno-economic analysis concerning the deployment of small-scale gasification systems in dealing with various fuels from two countries, Portugal and Brazil, for electricity generation in a 15 kWe downdraft gasifier. To quantify this, a mathematical model was implemented and validated against experimental runs gathered from the downdraft reactor. Further, a spreadsheet economic model was developed combining the net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) and the payback period (PBP) over the project’s lifetime set to 25 years. Cost factors included expenses related to electricity generation, initial investment, operation and maintenance and fuel costs. Revenues were estimated from the electricity sales to the grid. A Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis was used to measure the performance of the economic model and determine the investment risk. The analysis showed an electricity production between 11.6 to 15 kW, with a general system efficiency of approximately 13.5%. The viability of the projects was predicted for an NPV set between 18.99 to 31.65 k€, an IRR between 16.88 to 20.09% and a PBP between 8.67 to 12.61 years. The risk assessment yielded favorable investment projections with greater risk of investment loss in the NPV and the lowest for IRR. Despite the feasibility of the project, the economic performance proved to be highly reliant on the electricity sales prices subdue of energy market uncertainties. Also, regardless of the broad benefits delivered by these systems, their viability is still strikingly influenced by governmental decisions, subsidiary support and favorable electricity sales prices. Overall, this study highlights the empowering effect of small-scale gasification systems settled in decentralized communities for electric power generation.
Highlights
The shortage and unpredictability of conventional energy sources affected by depletion and global geopolitical issues are causing an energy crisis that is accelerating the renewable energy use [1,2].Energies 2020, 13, 3097; doi:10.3390/en13123097 www.mdpi.com/journal/energiesIn Portugal, 28.6% of the consumed energy derives from renewable energy sources (RES), with wind accounting for 7.2%, hydroelectric 7.4%, solar 1.0%, geothermal 0.1%, and, the most preeminent, bioenergy, representing 12.9% of the total [3]
As the research group already validated the here employed model in dealing with eucalyptus and municipal solid waste (MSW) gasification in previously published works [8,45], and given the chemical similarity between Eucalyptus and MSW from both countries (Portugal and Brazil), it is feasible to consider that the model proved to be sufficiently robust in dealing with these feedstocks
In this work, only experimental gasification runs were performed acacia residues to validate the performance model performance dealing with this specific performed for for acacia residues to validate the model in dealinginwith this specific feedstock
Summary
In Portugal, 28.6% of the consumed energy derives from renewable energy sources (RES), with wind accounting for 7.2%, hydroelectric 7.4%, solar 1.0%, geothermal 0.1%, and, the most preeminent, bioenergy, representing 12.9% of the total [3]. 43.2%, out of which hydroelectric represents 11.9%, bioenergy 25.4% and other renewables combined (solar, wind and geothermal) 5.9% [4]. In both countries, the power generation from RES is above the world average, which is approximately 13.5% [5]. The power generation from RES is above the world average, which is approximately 13.5% [5] These RES may not always be available when required. The exploration for energy purposes of different biomass or their mixtures could increase the generation of energy and contribute to reducing fossil fuels consumption [6]
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