Techno-Economic Potential of a Polygeneration System Integrated with Conventional or Hybrid Solar Dual Fluidized Bed Gasification Technology in an Australian Sugar Mill

Abstract

A techno-economic assessment of a biorefinery plant has been conducted, considering the colocation of solar and biogenic resources. The investigation explored the opportunities for integrating a 50 MW th hybrid concentrated solar thermal dual fluidized bed (SDFB) gasifier into a sugar mill located in Harwood, Australia. Various end-product routes were considered, including utility generation with the additional synthesis of liquid fuels or power. Impacts of process configurations, concentrated solar thermal (CST) plant designs, and direct normal irradiance on energy efficiency, solar share, and economic feasibility were studied. Technical assessments indicate that integrating the SDFB gasifier into the mill enhances overall energetic efficiency (60−73%) and reduces net CO 2 emissions, surpassing the cogeneration benchmark. Economic assessments reveal the necessity for further cost optimization for competitive positioning in the current market, as breakeven analyses indicate that economic viability in suitable mill locations necessitates a liquid fuel price range of 2.3−5.