An economic assessment of two circular economy scenarios of fluidized bed gasification-based systems for combined heat and power (CHP) generation, fueled with rice processing wastes, was conducted. In the first scenario, the gasification plant with a capacity of 42,700 t/y of rice husks provides a waste management solution for 5 small rice processing companies, located at the same are, while in the second scenario the gasification unit of 18,300 t/y capacity provides a waste management solution to only one rice processing plant, being a custom-made solution. The first scenario is the most economically viable, with an annual revenue of 168 €/(t*y), very good payout time (POT=1.05) and return in investment (ROI=0.72). The economic assessment was based on experiments performed at a laboratory-scale gasification rig, while the economic analysis was based on the SMARt-CHP technology, developed at Aristotle University, Greece. The experimental proof of concept of rice husks waste gasification was studied at a temperature range 700-900oC, under an under-stoichiometric ratio of O2/N¬¬2 (10/90 v/v), as gasification agent. Producer gas’s LHV maximized at 800oC (10.9 MJ/Nm3), while the char’s BET surface reached a max of 146 m2/g at 900oC. Recommendations were also provided for a potential pretreatment of rice husks in order to minimize de-fluidization problems of the gasification system
