Technical and economic evaluation of small-scale biomass gasification facilities in Mississippi

Studies on downdraft fixed-bed gasification technology demonstrated it to be advantageous in producing syngas from biomass because of the higher quality syngas produced and its flexibility in handling multiple types of feedstock. Evaluation of the technical and economic feasibility of small-scale electricity generation facilities fueling with syngas produced from biomass gasification with downdraft gasifiiers through modeling was conducted with Mississippi as the case study. The modeling effort showed that downdraft fixed-bed gasification technology was feasible. More specifically, the results of the economic analysis showed that small-scale power facilities in Mississippi driven by biomass gasifiers could be profitable if the facilities had a gasification capacity at or greater than 500 kWe. The total annual production costs of electric power generation were higher than the revenues that the facilities could make figured at fourth quarter 2008 Mississippi market prices if the gasification unit had a capacity less than 500 kWe because of the high costs in labor, equipment, and/or feedstock supply.;The modeling also showed that economic feasibility of a power facility was significantly affected by its production capacity and operating mode (one shift, two shifts, or three shifts mode). Economic feasibility could be improved by increasing production capacity or by changing operating mode to two or three shifts from one shift. It was observed that the compensation obtained from utilizing or selling the byproduct heat produced during gasification process significantly reduces the electricity production cost and improves the economic feasibility of the power facility.;Key words: biomass, gasification, syngas, electric power, electricity, economics, feasibility, cost, modeling, small-scale...