Cost Risk Tolerance Area of Material Supply in Biomass Power Generation
This research aims to shed light on the interaction mechanism of cost risks for biomass material supply in power generation. Firstly, game model is established to analyze interactions among factors including unit procurement cost, unit transportation cost, basic price and coal price for cop residue collection. Secondly, Monte Carlo simulation is implemented based on two profit ratio to compare the profit increase under material competition with that under price alliance. Thirdly, risk tolerance area approach is applied in mapping of cost risk. Shi Liquan Biomass Power Plant in Shandong Province of China is analyzed as a case to show that price alliance will benefit both the allied enterprises and the local collection area by the proposed methodology.
Study on the distribution and quantity of biomass residues resource in China
The distribution and quantity of biomass residues resource in China have been evaluated. Agricultural and forest residue as two main categories of biomass residues resource have been investigated. The study shows that the unused agricultural and forest residues account for 51.9% and 45.8% of the total residues available as an energy resource in China.
A study on the production of agricultural residues in Italy.
The Italian production of agricultural residues has been evaluated with a view to energy recovery through gasification. Two main categories of residues have been identified: the first, (A) is associated with the growing and collection of products with a nutritional value, whereas the second (B) includes the residues associated with the subsequent processing in order to obtain final products for commercialization. Category A, which comprises three further sub-categories: straw (A1); woody residues (A2); and stems and leaves (residues from vegetables, tobacco, sugar beet, (A3)), results in about 16.5 mt/yr. The average amount of straw (A1) is 11 mt/yr, of which about 60% is waste to be eliminated. Woody residues (A2) (mainly pruning off-cuts from vineyards and olive groves) are about 3.5 mt/yr (85% unused). Category A3 amounts to about 2 mt/yr (90% unused). Straw is available mainly in the northern part of the country, whereas the other two sub-categories are widely distributed in central and southern regions. The yields of category B are estimated at 4 mt/yr, of which more than 3 mt/yr are waste products from grape and olive processing. Other residues, such as rice, sunflower and soya-bean husks (about 0.65 mt/yr), almond and nut shells and fruit stones (about 0.2 mt/yr), although not widely available on a national scale, can be significant on a local basis. The total amount of unused agricultural residues is about 14.5 mt/yr, which, if completly exploited through gasification, can contribute as much as 7–10% to the current national electricity needs. The regions of Veneto, Puglia, Friuli, Lombardia and Emilia Romagna appear to be good candidates for electricity production, given the significant surface concentration of unused residues (105-55 t/km2).