A
BSTRACT
In this study, a methodology is presented for the large
scale assessment of biomass available over a territory to
determine the technical power potential of this biomass
for the commercial cogeneration of heat and power in
industrial-sized combined heat and power (CHP) plants.
An application of the methodology, in regards to forest
biomass, is made to the province of New Brunswick,
Canada. Results show that the total annual potential
harvest of forest biomass in the study area is
approximately 15.5 Mt green weight at harvest. In terms
of electric and thermal power potential, the findings
indicate that if all the forest biomass harvested annually
in the study area was to be used as fuel input in dedicated
CHP plants, a total of 1.2 GW
e
of electricity and 3.0
GW
th
of thermal heat could be produced. Finally, the
study also presents case studies of potential commercial
and industrial applications of biomass for energy
generation (heat and/or power).
Keywords: Bioenergy, biomass, combined heat and power
(CHP), resource assessment, cogeneration.
I
NTRODUCTION
The objective of this study is to present a methodology
for the large scale assessment of the biomass available
over a territory and to determine the technical power
potential of the biomass for the commercial cogeneration
of heat and power (CHP) in industrial-sized plants. An
application of the methodology is made for the province
of New Brunswick, Canada for the evaluation of its forest
biomass. Finally, the study also presents case studies of
potential commercial and industrial applications of
biomass for energy generation (heat and/or power).
R
ENEWABLE
E
NERGY
R
ESOURCE
M
APPING
Renewable energy resource maps, or atlas, are tools
developed to determine a given renewable resource over
a given area. By helping to identify sites with a good
renewable energy potential, they are an enabler for the
development of renewable energy in jurisdictions.
For example, in Canada, the Canadian Wind Energy
Atlas was developed in 2004 by Environment Canada [1].
This atlas covers the entire country at 5 km resolution
with the exception of the uttermost northern regions.
Corresponding Author:
Since the development of the Canadian Wind Energy
Atlas, higher resolution wind resource maps for specific
regions have been produced and disseminated in the
public domain in order to provide a more precise tool to
facilitate the initial site survey for wind energy
development [2-5].
In similar fashion, high resolution small hydro and
solar resource maps for specific regions in Canada have
been developed. Results from the development of these
maps have allowed researchers and policymakers to
quantify undeveloped renewable energy potentials in
their areas of study [6-9].
While the main objective of renewable energy
resource maps is to document their corresponding
resource over a specific territory, they have also
influenced the development of public policies in regards
to renewable energy development [10-11].
For its part, the development of biomass energy
projects relies heavily upon the sustainable availability of
the feedstock, along with the inherent purchase and
transportation costs. In such, quantifying the biomass
resource over a specific territory through biomass
resource maps can not only enable project developers to
identify sites having a good biomass resource, they can
also serve to identify sites where this resource is matched
with a potential heat load demand. Finally, through the
use of biomass resource maps, project development and
operation costs along with energy generation costs can be
estimated. This information is also key for policymakers
as jurisdictions make the transition from fossil fuel-based
energy systems to domestic, secure and renewable
energy-based energy systems.
M
ETHODOLOGY
Several steps are needed in order to evaluate the large
scale assessment of biomass and to determine the
technical power potential of the biomass for the
commercial cogeneration of CHP over a study area.
First, the potential CHP plant locations and
corresponding procurement areas are determined. This is
followed by the estimation of the sustainable availability
of the biomass within each procurement area. Finally, the
amount of heat and power that could be generated from
the biomass available annually in each procurement area
is estimated.
Biomass large scale assessment
and energy applications
M. Landry, S. Bouchard, and Y. Gagnon
K.C. Irving Chair in Sustainable Development, Université de Moncton, Moncton (NB) E1A 3E9, (
Canada
)
2013 International Conference on Alternative Energy in Developing Countries and Emerging Economies
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