Abstract
Techno-economic assessments of systems which integrate biomass gasification with fuel cell modules (molten carbonate or phosphoric acid) for electricity generation are presented. The wood-fired Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell was found to be suitable where high heat/electricity values were required, but had low electrical efficiency. Electrical efficiencies of 13–17% are typical for these systems, as are Break-even Electricity Selling Prices (BESPs) of 10–20 p/kWh and specific investments of around £3000–£7500/kWe. This technology is unlikely to be considered for further development as an electricity generation system.The wood-fired Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell was found to be quite efficient and suitable for small-scale electricity generation purposes. Electrical efficiencies of 25–28% are typical for these systems, as are Break-even Electricity Selling Prices of 6–12 p/kWh and specific investments of around £2000–£5000/kWe. This technology could be considered for further development in the future, if the lifetime and capital costs of molten carbonate fuel cells can be improved. The problems in assessing future capital costs makes the economic viability of such systems difficult to determine.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 223-228 |
| Journal | Renewable Energy |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - 2 Jan 2000 |
Bibliographical note
Reference text: 1. A.J. Appelby, Fuel cells and hydrogen fuel. Int J Hydrogen Energy 19 2 (1994), pp. 175–180.2. Chem Systems. Assessment of cost of production of methanol from biomass. Report DOE/PE-0097P, Chem Systems, Tarrytown, New York, 1990.
3. McIlveen-Wright DR. Wood-Fired Fuel Cells. MSc Thesis, University of Ulster, Coleraine, 1996.
4. D.R. McIlveen-Wright, B.C. Williams and J.T. McMullan, Electricity generation from wood-fired power plants: the principal technologies reviewed. In: A.V. Bridgwater and D.G.B. Boocock Editors, Developments in Thermochemical Biomass Conversion vol. 2 Blackie Academic and Professional, London (1997), pp. 1525–1538.
5. D. McIlveen-Wright, B.C. Williams and J.T. McMullan, Options for small and medium scale power generation from biomass. Developments in Chemical Engineering and Mineral Processing 2 (1999), pp. 85–114. View Record in Scopus | Cited By in Scopus (5)
6. McMullan JT, Williams BC, Campbell P, McIlveen-Wright D, Bemtgen JM. Techno-economic assessment studies of fossil fuel and fuel wood power generation technologies. CEC Report on ‘R&D in Clean Coal Technology’ for the JOULE II Programme, contract no. JOUF-0017, 1995.
7. M.N. Mugerwa and L.J. Blomen, System design and optimisation. In: L.J. Blomen and M.N. Mugerwa Editors, Fuel Cell Systems Plenum Press, New York (1993), p. 211.
8. Ogden and Nitsch, Solar hydrogen. In: Renewable Energy, Sources for Fuels and Electricity Island Press, Washington DC (1993) Chapter 22.
9. S. Srinivasan, B.B. Davé, K.A. Murugesamoorthi, A. Parathasarathy and A.J. Appelby, Overview of fuel cell technology. In: L.J. Blomen and M.N. Mugerwa Editors, Fuel Cell Systems Plenum Press, New York (1993), pp. 37–72.
10. B.C. Williams and J.T. McMullan, Techno-economic analysis of fuel conversion and power generation systems—the development of a portable chemical process simulator with capital cost and economic performance analysis capabilities. Int J Energy Research 20 (1996), pp. 125–142. Full Text via CrossRef | View Record in Scopus | Cited By in Scopus (25)
11. C.E. Wyman, R.L. Bain, N.D. Hinman and D.J. Stevens, Ethanol and methanol from cellulosic biomass. In: Renewable Energy, Sources for Fuel and Electricity Island Press, Washington DC (1993), pp. 865–923 Chapter 21.