Biomass direct-fired power generation system in China: An integrated energy, GHG emissions, and economic evaluation for Salix

• Published in: Energy policy Vol. 84; pp. 155 - 165
• Main Authors: Wang, Changbo, Zhang, Lixiao, Chang, Yuan, Pang, Mingyue
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2015; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Air pollution; Biomass; Biomass energy; Biomass energy production; Biomass power; China; China (People's Republic); Cost; Economic analysis; Economics; Electric power generation; Electricity generation; Emissions control; Energy consumption; Energy economics; Energy policy; Feedstock; GHG mitigation; Government subsidies; Greenhouse effect; Greenhouse gases; Hybrid LCA; Industrial plant emissions; Non-renewable energy consumption; Planning; Power generation; Power plants; Prices; Profits; Raw materials; Salix; Saving; Studies; Subsidies; China; Inner Mongolia China; China, People's Rep., Inner Mongolia; China, People's Rep; Economic analysis; Hybrid LCA; GHG mitigation; Non-renewable energy consumption; Biomass power
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2015.04.025

To gain a better understanding of the options of biomass power generation in China, this study presented an integrated energy, environmental, and economic evaluation for Salix in China, and a typical Salix direct-fired power generation system (SDPGS) in Inner Mongolia was selected for case study. A tiered hybrid life cycle assessment (LCA) model was developed to calculate the “planting-to-wire” (PTW) energy consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and economic cost and profit of the SDPGS, including feedstock cultivation, power plant construction and operation, and on-grid price with/without government subsidies. The results show that the PTW energy consumption and GHG emissions of Salix are 0.8MJ/kWh and 114g CO2-eq/kWh, respectively, indicating an energy payback time (EPBT) of 3.2 years. The SDPGS is not economically feasible without government subsidies. The PTW costs are dominated by feedstock cultivation. The energy saving and GHG mitigation benefits are still robust, even when the power plant runs at only 60% design capacity. For future development of biomass power in China, scientific planning is necessary to guarantee a sufficient feedstock supply. In addition, technology progress, mature industrial chains, and reasonable price setting policy are required to enable potential energy and environmental advantages of biomass power moving forward. •A hybrid LCA model was used to evaluate overall performance of the SDPGS.•On-site processes dominate the “planting-to-wire” footprints.•The energy saving and GHG mitigation benefits of the SDPGS are robust.•The economic profit of the SDPGS is feeble without government subsidies.•Generating efficiency promotion has a comprehensive positive effect on the system.