An assessment of Hawaii's biomass enrgy options: Economics and policy

Conference · Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1980 · Alternative Energy Sources; (United States)

OSTI ID:5038669

Kasturi, P

The technology for converting agricultural biomass to generate electrical power by the direct combustion method has long been established on sugarcane plantations in the state of Hawaii. Increasing uncertainty over energy supplies and pyramidal escalation of energy prices in recent years have served to refocus both state and national attention on the operational feasibility and economic viability of alternate Biomass Energy Systems. This study scrutinizes the key parameters affecting the overall productivity and the cost of electricity from such systems. The conditions for obtaining net energy productivity and associated costs are examined for electrical power generation from wood yields of the giant koa haole (Leucaena leucocephala) as a reference point. Current technology involving direct combustion of biomass generates substantial net electrical energy though from a cost perspective it would appear that conditions for biomass production and harvest as a replacement for diesel fuel in utilities having conventional generator units are only now being met. Some potentials and constraints for three other candidate plant species using similar conversion system are also explored.

• Research Organization: Environment and Policy Institute, East-West Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii
• OSTI ID: 5038669
• Report Number(s): CONF-801210-
• Journal Information: Alternative Energy Sources; (United States), Vol. 8; Conference: 3. Miami international conference on alternative energy sources, Miami Beach, FL, USA, 15 Dec 1980
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
ELECTRIC POWER
POWER GENERATION
HAWAII
BIOMASS
WOOD
ENERGY CONVERSION
COMBUSTION
ENERGY ACCOUNTING
EVALUATION
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
ACCOUNTING
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONVERSION
ENERGY ANALYSIS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION IX
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDATION
POWER
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
USA
299003* - Energy Planning & Policy- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation- Other- (-1989)