COMPARATIVE COST ESTIMATION OF ENERGY USE OF WOOD WASTE AND TRADITIONAL FUELS FOR ELECTRICITY AND HEAT PRODUCTION

Abstract

Relevance. Wood biomass is an important source of renewable energy. When wood is recycled and used for energy, carbon, which is absorbed by trees from the atmosphere, is released. In this regard, carbon balance in the atmosphere remains approximately constant, which helps to prevent global unfavorable climate change. Utilization of wood waste and its energy use have positive impact on the environmental situation, as well as improve the reliability and efficiency of heat and electricity supply to consumers. The aim of the research is to assess the economic efficiency of wood-fired gas-based power plants in the Irkutsk region and compare them with other types of electric and thermal energy cogeneration systems. Methods. Analytical dependences were obtained for calculating the cost of electrical energy at a given cost of heat and vice versa, thermal energy at a given cost of electrical energy; the efficiency of different types of energy sources was assessed by the criterion of the cost of energy. The dependences obtained are used to assess the economic efficiency and compare power plants operating on different types of fuel: wood chips and fuel pellets (pellets), coal, natural gas and liquid (diesel) fuel. Results. It is shown that energy cost when using wood fuel is significantly less than its cost from a diesel power plant due to the use of cheaper fuel. Cogeneration systems based on gasification of woody biomass can also successfully compete with coal and gas power plants if cheap fuel chips are available at the location. With the introduction of a fee for carbon dioxide emissions, the use of not only wood chips, but also pellets becomes competitive compared to coal and gas.

Keywords

• wood waste
• energy use
• cogeneration
• wood-based mini-chp
• economic efficiency
• energy cost