Potential biomass resources of Sicily for electric-power generation

Abstract

Based on an analogous biomass energy evaluation of the Hawaiian islands, a methodology for assessing the biomass resource potential of Sicily is described. The methodology features land availability and land suitability criteria for evaluating biomass productivity potential, biomass energy plantation species and site selection, and plantation management strategy. An exploratory survey of Sicily's candidate biomass feedstocks which identifies yields and costs of both agricultural residues and dedicated biomass energy crops is featured. A technical and economic comparison of two biomass-conversion technologies for generating electric power, non-catalytic biomass gasification coupled with a combined-cycle gas turbine and catalytic biomass gasification coupled with a molten-carbonate fuel cell, is presented. Recommendations for developing an economically-viable biomass industry in Sicily are also included. Analytical results indicate that of Sicily's 236 x 106 GJ total annual energy requirement, approximately 50% or 120 x 106 GJ could be supplied with biomass resources, including all of the 13 300 x 106 kWh of electricity through an installed capacity of 2000 MW of electricity. By switching to indigenous, renewable biomass energy resources to enhance energy security, the [`]greening' of Sicily's electrical-power production system can be implemented at a cost of approximately 3400 million ECU in capital costs and 990 million ECU in total annual expenses.