Biomass energy systems can be employed to meet the requirements of distributed energy systems in rural as well as urban contexts, whether this is an electrification or a microgeneration project. This work is focused on a mathematical programming approach applied to bio-based supply chains that use locally available biomass at or near the point of use in order to produce electricity or other bioproduct. The problem of designing and planning a regional biomass supply chain is formulated as a MO-MILP (multi-objective mixed integer linear program), which takes into account three main objectives: economic, environmental and social criteria. The model supports decision-making about location and capacity of technologies, connectivity between the supply entities, biomass storage periods, matter transportation and biomass utilisation. The advantages of this approach are highlighted by solving a case study of a specific district in Ghana. The aim is to determine the most suitable biomass and electricity network among the different communities. The technology considered to transform the biomass into electricity is gasification combined with a gas engine.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are emphatic on the role of energy for development. Targets include ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services to the about 1.3 billion people without electricity access, and to increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. For remote rural communities in developing countries where grid extension is often expensive, decentralised biomass mini-grids can be a reliable electricity supply source, as it provides 'base load' power and avoids the use of 'excessive' storage batteries. This paper presents a feasibility study for five rural communities in Ghana. Results show that the projected electricity demand of the communities compares favourably with the potential energy generation from available agricultural residues, and that there is a case for considering various levels of co-funding from private investors.
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