Browsing by Subject "Biomass energy"
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Item Open Access A Biomass Fuel Assessment for Duke University’s Chilled Water Plant #2(2010-04-30T15:51:51Z) Crowley, RichardThis Masters Project identifies the University’s biomass fuelshed and locates potential supply sources and probable fuel quantities. An Excel workbook couples user-defined transportation, processing, collection and handling, and purchase premium expenses within fuel classes to establish probable purchase costs for each supply source. Results are optimized for a lowest cost fuel mix to meet modeled plant demand based on user defined plant parameters. Finally, total biomass fuel costs are compared to fossil options to determine if biomass is a financially justifiable fuel for Duke to pursue. The results of this study indicate that the university fuelshed likely contains supply for more than 4 times the steam plants fuel requirements. The cost per million British thermal units combusted within the fuelshed is highly variable, ranging from approximately $1.01 for construction / demolition material to over $29 for forest thinnings. Several fuel classes are more economic than current prices for natural gas, ranging from less than a quarter to three quarters of the price of natural gas. The preliminary assessments of purchasing biomass fuel for use in the plant resulted in costs significantly lower than natural gas, and even potentially lower than coal. It is anticipated that the annual fuel costs for a biomass plant could be met for around $2.25 million based on plant parameters modeled and the estimated biomass characteristics (collection, base cost, etc.). Fuel costs are demonstrated to be highly sensitive to changes in fuel properties (mainly distance and moisture content) and plant operating parameters. A large portion of the biomass estimates are derived using employee based proxy equations, and the author was unable to confirm the accuracy of these supply estimates. Finally, the cost modeled is for fuel supply only. This paper does not take into consideration storage, operating / maintenance, or capital outlay, all of which are traditionally higher for biomass than fossil fuels. Despite these uncertainties there is a clearly demonstrated opportunity to fuel the plant with biomass at a cost less than natural gas. Additionally, the large and diverse biomass supply will lend resiliency to market fluctuations.Item Open Access Assessing Extent to Which US Southeastern Woody Biomass Supply Can Meet Renewable Electricity Demand in Present and Future Scenarios(2010-12-10) Cadigan, ChristineWoody biomass has rapidly come to the forefront of renewable energy discussions as a potentially reliable and affordable energy solution. The reason for such is rooted in international and domestic policy evolution. The increasing reliance on alternative energy options is a direct response to the desire for national energy security as well as a commitment to mitigate climate change. This project attempts to quantify the contribution of Southeastern forest resources to a proposed federal 15% Renewable Electricity Standard demand. Results indicate residual biomass supply can only provide 19% of a 15% RES demand under current population pressures and climate change conditions. More expansive biomass definitions increase the total biomass contribution, yet some of this supply requires unrealistic market expectations. Utilizing the more reasonable expansive supply, unused pulpwood capacity (peak production minus current production) provides, on average, an additional 8% to a 15% demand. Following initial calculations, biomass supply and electric demand were projected and estimated under future climate change scenarios for the state of North Carolina. Results of future projections suggest biomass can meet anywhere from 8- 17% of a 15% RPS demand. However, these are likely best-case scenarios, as climate change, demand for other products, and social acceptability for forest management all create uncertainties that will likely increase in the future. It is clear that biomass can only be a part of a renewable energy solution, at least in terms of offsetting traditional electric energy demand. Although biomass has the potential to be a significant contributor, policy makers must incorporate a flexible and diversified energy portfolio to establish complete RES compliance or recognize the increased efficiency of biomass in alternative energy applications.