Investigation of the potentials of southwest Nigerian Napier Grass as an energy source to replace fossils used in firing thermal power plants for air emissions control

• Published in: Results in engineering 2021-09, Vol.11, p.100259, Article 100259
• Main Authors: Elehinafe, Francis B., Odunlami, Olayemi A., Mamudu, Angela O., Akinsanya, Oluwaseun O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical properties; Energy content; Energy mix; Napier grass; Proximate analysis; Southwestern Nigeria; Ultimate analysis
• ISSN: 2590-1230; 2590-1230
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.2021.100259

The whole world is worried about the environmental problems caused by coal-based power plants but utilizing Napier Grass otherwise known as Elephant Grass, of comparable heating values with coal species, has minimal or no environmental concerns. This study assessed the comparative suitability of southwest Nigerian Napier Grass for utilization as energy resource by determining its yield per hectare of land, heating value and its properties by proximate and ultimate analyses. The results showed that the amount of Napier Grass that could be produced per hectare of land is 21103.2 kg/year, its heating value was 18.31 MJ/kg. The proximate analysis of Napier Grass showed that the moisture contents (%MC) was 12 %, the ash content (%Ash) was 4.3 %, the volatile matter content (%VM) was 74 %, while the fixed carbon content (%FC) was 9.87 %. Its ultimate analysis showed that Napier Grass has a carbon content of 42.77 %, a hydrogen content of 6.74 %, a sulphur content of 0.09 %, a nitrogen content of 1.71 % and an oxygen content of 48.63 %. The study showed that it would be suitable to be included in Nigerian renewable energy sources. •There is an unstable power supply due poor and expensive gas supply to the power plants in Nigeria.•Napier gas is in abundance in southwest Nigeria whose supply can be available all the year round.•Burning of Napier has minimal impacts on the boilers of power plants unlike coal species.•It has negligible or no negative impacts on the environment.•it can foster employment opportunities to the grass roots in the local communities where it is propagation.