Feasibility study of power generation from agricultural residue in comparison with soil incorporation of residue

• Published in: Renewable energy 2019-04, Vol.134, p.416-425
• Main Authors: Gojiya, Anil, Deb, Dipankar, Iyer, Kannan K.R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural residue; Biomass energy; NPK; Soil incorporation
• ISSN: 0960-1481; 1879-0682
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.11.003

This paper presents economic viability study of decentralized biomass power plant using agricultural residue by computing the cost associated with capital investment for biomass power plant, operating and maintenance cost of plant, processing cost of residue used as fuel, equivalent economic value of embodied nutrients (NPK) lost from the residue and comparing these costs with the income generated from the power generation. The objective is to determine cost effectiveness of adding chemical fertilizers for soil nutrient replenishment and utilizing agricultural residue for biomass energy (instead of soil incorporation). The discounted rate method is used to study the economic viability. Results show that cotton stalk and groundnut shell residue (with higher nitrogen content) are not cost effective for electricity production. Further, rice and wheat residue are observed to be cost effective for biomass power plant. [Display omitted] •Economic viability assessment of biomass power plant vis-a-vis soil incorporation.•Discounted rate method used for studying economic viability.•Cotton and groundnut residue are not cost effective for power production.•Rice, wheat and maize (marginally) residue are cost effective for power production.•Return of investment for gasification plant using rice straw residue is 7 years.