Strategic analysis of biomass and waste fuels for electric power generation. Final report

Technical Report · Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:10116742

Wiltsee, Jr, G A ^[1]; Easterly, J ^[2]; Vence, T ^[3]

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1. Appel Consultants, Inc., Stevenson Ranch, CA (United States)
2. Meridian Corp., Alexandria, VA (United States)
3. Brown, Vence and Associates, San Francisco, CA (United States); and others

In this report, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) intends to help utility companies evaluate biomass and wastes for power generation. These fuels may be alternatives or supplements to fossil fuels in three applications: (1) utility boiler coining; (2) dedicated combustion/energy recovery plants; and 3) dedicated gasification/combined cycle plants. The report summarizes data on biomass and waste properties, and evaluates the cost and performance of fuel preparation and power generation technologies. The primary biomass and waste resources evaluated are: (1) wood wastes (from forests, mills, construction/demolition, and orchards) and short rotation woody crops; (2) agricultural wastes (from fields, animals, and processing) and herbaceous energy crops; and (3) consumer or industrial wastes (e.g., municipal solid waste, scrap tires, sewage sludge, auto shredder waste). The major fuel types studied in detail are wood, municipal solid waste, and scrap tires. The key products of the project include the BIOPOWER model of biomass/waste-fired power plant performance and cost. Key conclusions of the evaluation are: (1) significant biomass and waste fuel resources are available; (2) biomass power technology cannot currently compete with natural gas-fired combined cycle technology; (3) coining biomass and waste fuels with coal in utility and industrial boilers is the most efficient, lowest cost, and lowest risk method of energy recovery from residual materials; (4) better biomass and waste fuel production and conversion technology must be developed, with the help of coordinated government energy and environmental policies and incentives; and (5) community partnerships can enhance the chances for success of a project.

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Appel Consultants, Inc., Stevenson Ranch, CA (United States); Meridian Corp., Alexandria, VA (United States); Brown, Vence and Associates, San Francisco, CA (United States); Miles (Thomas R.), Portland, OR (United States); SFA Pacific, Inc., Mountain View, CA (United States); Applied Decision Analysis, Inc., Menlo Park, CA (United States); Green Mountain Power Corp., Burlington, VT (United States); Wisconsin Power and Light Co., Madison, WI (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 10116742
• Report Number(s): EPRI-TR-102773; ON: UN94005610
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: Dec 1993
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
09 BIOMASS FUELS
BIOMASS
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
REFUSE DERIVED FUELS
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
EVALUATION
GASIFICATION
WOOD
TIRES
COMBUSTION
ECONOMICS
PLANNING
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
299000
320604
093000
UNCONVENTIONAL SOURCES AND POWER GENERATION
MUNICIPAL WASTE MANAGEMENT
ECONOMIC, INDUSTRIAL, AND BUSINESS ASPECTS