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Research Papers: Energy From Biomass

# Leveling Intermittent Renewable Energy Production Through Biomass Gasification-Based Hybrid Systems

[+] Author and Article Information
Jered Dean, Robert Braun, David Muñoz

Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401

Michael Penev, Christopher Kinchin

National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401

Wind resources have a special resolution of 1=4° longitude by 1=3° latitude whereas biomass resource data was available at the county level.

Maps created with the help of Donna Heimiller of the NREL GIS group.

The term “rubber” turbine refers to the fact that the turbine size was set to exactly match fuel stream mass and energy flow as opposed to using an existing, stock frame size.

J. Energy Resour. Technol 133(3), 031801 (Oct 03, 2011) (11 pages) doi:10.1115/1.4004788 History: Received May 27, 2010; Revised July 18, 2011; Published October 03, 2011

## Abstract

The increased use of intermittent renewable power in the United States is forcing utilities to manage increasingly complex supply and demand interactions. This paper evaluates biomass pathways for hydrogen production and how they can be integrated with renewable resources to improve the efficiency, reliability, dispatchability, and cost of other renewable technologies. Two hybrid concepts were analyzed that involve coproduction of gaseous hydrogen and electric power from thermochemical biorefineries. Both of the concepts analyzed share the basic idea of combining intermittent wind-generated electricity with a biomass gasification plant. The systems were studied in detail for process feasibility and economic performance. The best performing system was estimated to produce hydrogen at a cost of $1.67/kg. The proposed hybrid systems seek to either fill energy shortfalls by supplying hydrogen to a peaking natural gas turbine or to absorb excess renewable power during low-demand hours. Direct leveling of intermittent renewable electricity production was proposed utilizing either an indirectly heated biomass gasifier or a directly heated biomass gasifier. The indirect gasification concepts studied were found to be cost competitive in cases where value is placed on controlling carbon emissions. A carbon tax in the range of$26–40 per metric ton of CO2 equivalent (CO2 e) emission makes the systems studied cost competitive with steam methane reforming (SMR) to produce hydrogen. The direct gasification concept studied replaces the air separation unit (ASU) with an electrolyzer bank and is unlikely to be cost competitive due to high capital costs. Based on a direct replacement of the ASU with electrolyzers, hydrogen can be produced for \$0.27 premium per kilogram. Additionally, if a nonrenewable, grid-mix electricity is used, the hybrid system is found to be a net CO2 e emitter.

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## Figures

Figure 1

Wind and woody biomass resources

Figure 2

Wind and agricultural biomass resources

Figure 3

Indirect gasifier baseline system

Figure 4

Direct gasifier baseline system

Figure 5

Peaking system sensitivity (NE ISO)

Figure 6

Sinking system sensitivity (NW Int.)

Figure 7

Electrolyzer duty versus cost

Figure 8

Direct system sensitivity

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