|
Cost
of Electricity Generation by Biomass-based Power Stations
There
is a general perception that cost of electricity generated by renewable
energy technologies is always higher than electricity generated
by fossil fuel sources. This is no longer valid
for rural areas as well as for the
industries . In most
of the Indian villages and in industries diesel generators are often
the only source of power. For such applications, power from biomass gasifier based
plants are considerably cheaper where ever biomass is available.
Even for dual fuel operation where 20 % diesel is used, the
generation costs are lower, especially with high
running hours and
loads. The savings are dramatic when pure gas engines are used.
Even when grid power is available, the actual cost of power at the
point of consumption is very high largely due to line losses
in
transmission and distribution. High subsidies
keep the power price
low for agricultural pumps and the
consequent financial losses are passed on to industrial and
commercial consumers who pay a higher amount for the power consumed
by them. Hence the
biomass gasification based electricity can easily compete when
pure gas engines are used.
Cost of generation (Unit Rate - Rs./
kWh) – For typical 100 / 200kW Power plant
|
Plant
Description
|
Fuel
Cost
|
Specific
fuel consumption (SFC)
|
Sp.
fuel cost
Rs./kWh
|
Sp.
O&M cost
Rs./kWh
|
Total
Sp. Gen. cost
Rs./kWh
|
|
Diesel
Rs./Lt.
|
Biomass
Rs./kg
|
Diesel
Lt./kWh
|
Biomass
Kg/kWh
|
|
100
% Diesel mode
|
33.00
|
-
|
0.33
|
-
|
10.89
|
0.35
|
11.24
|
|
100%
Producer gas mode
|
-
|
1.20
- 1.50
|
-
|
1.25
+ 0.1
|
1.50
– 2.00
|
0.60
-0.80
|
2.10
– 2.80
|
|
Dual
Fuel Mode (70-80% Gas + 20-30% Diesel)
|
33.00
|
1.20
- 1.50
|
0.075
– 0.090
|
1.10
+ 0.1
|
3.70
- 4.80
|
0.60
– 0.80
|
4.30
– 5.60
|
|
Average
Grid power cost for industries / institutions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.50
*
|
*
Including demand charges. |
