Performance and cost analysis of future, commercially mature gasification‐based electric power generation from switchgrass

Abstract

Detailed process designs and mass/energy balances are developed using a consistent modeling framework and input parameter assumptions for biomass-based power generation at large scale (4536 dry metric tonnes per day switchgrass input), assuming future commercially mature component equipment performance levels. The simulated systems include two gasifi cation-based gas turbine combined cycles (B-IGCC) designed around different gasifi er technologies, one gasifi cation-based solid oxide fuel cell cycle (B-IGSOFC), and a steam-Rankine cycle. The simulated design-point effi ciency of the B-IGSOFC is the highest among all systems (51.8%, LHV basis), with modestly lower effi ciencies for the B-IGCC design using a pressurized, oxygen-blown gasifi er (49.5% LHV) and for the B-IGCC design using a low-pressure indirectly heated gasifi er (48.6%, LHV). The steam-Rankine system has a simulated effi ciency of 33.0% (LHV). Detailed capital costs are estimated assuming commercially mature ('N th plant') technologies for the two B-IGCC and the steam-Rankine systems. B-IGCC systems are more capital-intensive than the steam-Rankine system, but discounted cash fl ow rate of return calculations highlight the total cost advantage of the B-IGCC systems when biomass prices are higher. Uncertainties regarding prospective mature-technology costs for solid oxide fuel cells and hot gas sulfur clean-up technologies assumed for the B-IGSOFC performance analysis make it diffi cult to evaluate the prospective electricity generating costs for B-IG-SOFC relative to B-IGCC. The rough analysis here suggests that B-IGSOFC will not show improved economics relative to B-IGCC at the large scale considered here.Lower heating value (MJ/kg) 17.0Higher heating value (MJ/kg) 18.7

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