Economic and life cycle assessment of an integrated biomass gasification combined cycle system

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:435619

Mann, M K; Spath, P L; Craig, K R ^[1]

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1. National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)

When life cycle assessment is performed in conjunction with a technoeconomic feasibility study, the total economic and environmental benefits and drawbacks of a process can be quantified. A biomass gasification combined-cycle power plant consisting of a low pressure indirectly-heated gasifier integrated with an industrial gas turbine was simulated using ASPEN Plus{reg_sign} and economic analyses were performed to determine the levelized cost of electricity. To complement this study, a life cycle assessment is being performed. The processes considered in the overall analysis consist of the production of biomass as a dedicated feedstock crop, its transportation to the power plant, electricity generation, and all processes associated with intermediate feedstocks. The primary goal of this life cycle assessment is to reduce the environmental impact of the system through design improvements. For the purpose of this study, life cycle assessment is defined as a systematic method for identifying, evaluating, and minimizing the environmental impacts of emissions and resource depletion associated with this specific process. A discussion of the economics, efficiency, and methodology for assessing environmental benefits of power production from this biomass-based technology, are presented.

• OSTI ID: 435619
• Report Number(s): CONF-960805--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
BIOMASS CONVERSION PLANTS
COMBINED-CYCLE POWER PLANTS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
ENERGY ANALYSIS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FLOWSHEETS
FUEL GAS
GASIFICATION
LIFE-CYCLE COST
WOOD