A community-scale hybrid energy system integrating biomass for localised solid waste and renewable energy solution: Evaluations in UK and Bulgaria. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tiwary, Abhishek; Spasova, Stanislava; Williams, Ian D.
• Is Part Of: Renewable energy. Volume 139(2019)
• Page Start: 960
• Page End: 967
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: Bioenergy -- HOMER -- Hybrid system -- Renewable energy -- Waste to energy; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.02.129
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-1481

Abstract

Abstract: Growing pace of urban living is expected to simultaneously aggravate both the waste and the energy crises. This study presents feasibility assessment of a community scale hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) utilising biomass to serve the local energy needs while reducing the household solid waste volume. A modelling framework is presented and evaluated for a biomass HRES, comprising of a Wind turbine-PV Array-Biogas generator-Battery system, applied to two European cities - Gateshead (UK) and Sofia (Bulgaria) - accounting for their distinct domestic biowaste profiles, renewable resources and energy practices. Biogas generator is found to make the most substantial share of electricity generation (up to 60–65% of total), hence offering a stable community-scale basal electricity generation potential, alongside reduction in disposal costs of local solid waste. Net present cost for the biomass-integrated HRESs is found within 5% of each other, despite significant differences in the availability of solar and wind resources at the two sites. Based on a survey questionnaire targeting construction companies and energy solution developers, project costs and planning regulatory red tapes were identified as the two common implementation challenges in both the countries, with lack of awareness of HRES as a further limitation in Bulgaria, impeding wider uptake of this initiative. Graphical abstract: Image 10110 Highlights: Integrating biomass overcomes local municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal issue. Moderate community loads can be met economically using a biomass generator. One tonne MSW can potentially produce up to 1000 kWh of electricity. Project net present cost strongly depends on the size of the biomass generator. Project costs and legislative red tapes deter localised waste-to-energy initiatives.