[Gasification] Cost and Performance of Small Scale Gasifiers

[Tom Miles]

Harrie,

 

Many people could use small scale gasifiers if we can find something
affordable and reliable. It is always difficult to evaluate the suitability
of equipment without some reference to specific operating systems and the
circumstances (fuel, finances, infrastructure) that they are used in. While
databases or interactive case studies are useful to have they don’t always
tell you what you need. There were some very good technical and economic
profiles that were prepared for various gasifiers in the 1980s. I think that
something like a good questionnaire along with contact and follow up
information could be useful. Each IEA Task 33 country could prepare
something or circulate a questionnaire for commercial gasifiers in their
countries. Preparation of the questionnaire or database information should
be done carefully. I don’t know who would be interested in funding such an
effort but it would be useful to have. 

 

Tom   

 

From: Gasification [mailto:gasification-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] On
Behalf Of Harrie Knoef
Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2014 1:09 PM
To: 'Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification'
Subject: Re: [Gasification] Cost and Performance of Small Scale Gasifiers

 

Dear Tom, do you have a special  reason to start this discussion? It would
be very good and nice to get all this information, but how to collect all. I
would like forward how we could organize a project to organize or realize a
database of working installations, besides gasifier suppliers.

 

 

From: Gasification [mailto:gasification-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] On
Behalf Of Harrie Knoef
Sent: donderdag 18 september 2014 10:55
To: 'Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification'
Subject: Re: [Gasification] Cost and Performance of Small Scale Gasifiers

 

Dear Tom, this is an interesting question and difficult to answer. 

 

Ankur is most likely the most successful supplier, they also penetrate on
the EU market. They designed new technology for meeting the EU environmental
legislation. 

 

In the EU,  Spanner and Burkhardt are probably the most successful
suppliers, both having installed over 100 units in the last couple of years.
Although the information you are looking for is not available, one can
conclude from these successes that they are competitive in the market and
can be considered fully commercial, also providing guarantees. This success
is partly due to the attractive feed-in tariffs. These tariffs will become
less in the future, which might have a negative impact on the gasification
market. 

 

It would be interesting to visit the plant owners to get a better insight in
the performance of the installations but this takes a lot of time. 

 

Some of them are not active anymore, like Martezo and Pyroforce. 

It s well known that the Harboore installation was very expensive and
heavily supported by the Danish government. But why not when you develop a
new technology?

 

Best regards,

Harrie Knoef

 

From: Gasification [mailto:gasification-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] On
Behalf Of Thomas Koch
Sent: woensdag 17 september 2014 23:16
To: Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification
Subject: Re: [Gasification] Cost and Performance of Small Scale Gasifiers

 

Dear Tom 

 

TK energi delivered a 50 KW biomass gasifier to a holiday hotel. It operated
approx. 14000 hours in 5 years. The total cost of the electricity produced
was in the order of 1,2-1,5 dollars pr. KWh which was approx. 20-30 times
higher than the market price.

 

20 years ago a Martezo gasifier was inatalled in western Denmark. The real
figures are not all that easy to get but the rumors told that the electrity
price was in the order of 10 dollars pr. KWh. One of the reasons for the
very high is that the gasifier only operated for less than 1000 hours before
it was scrapped.

 

At conference concerning small scale biomass gasification a young economist
presented a study about how much investment support was needed for the
Vølund 2 MWel updraft gasifier (that as far as I am aware is the best
working small scale gasifier in the world!) . The study concluded that the
gasifier needed 146 % of CAPEX in investment support??  Yes the project had
to start with money in the bank to cover the losses. 

 

Best regards

 

Thomas Koch 

tk at tke.dk

phone + 45 22611047 

 

 

 

Fra: Gasification [mailto:gasification-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] På
vegne af Tom Miles
Sendt: 17. september 2014 22:58
Til: 'Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification'
Emne: [Gasification] Cost and Performance of Small Scale Gasifiers

 

Has anyone done a recent analysis of the cost and performance of small scale
(<100 kWe, <200 kWe) gasifiers? We have seen several gasifiers on the market
in the last several years but it is not clear how long they actually operate
during the year (hours/year), how much heat or power (kWh/yr) they produce,
what their average load factor is (40% of nameplate?), or what it actually
costs or own and operate them. 

 

Do we have any data for Borealis/Spanner Re2, Superior Gasification, All
Power Labs, Ankur Scientific, Victory Gasworks, CarboConsult, Biosynergi,
Community Power Corporation, Thompson Spaven, Planet Green, BETEL (India),
3i Energy Systems, Husk Power, Arbor Electrogen, Volter?

 

What about the next scale of  >200kWe<2000kWe? Cogebio, Xylowatt, Biogen,
Advanced Gasification Technologies,  Evergreen Energy, Guascor, Milena,
Proton Power, PRMEnergy, Primenergy, Zeropoint Cleantech. Mothermik, Dall
Energy, Babcock Volund, Biomass Engineering, BETEL (India), Diversified
Renewable Technology, Synkraft,Xylogas, CleanSTGas, Gussing Renewable
Energy,Weiss, Agnion, MEVA, Xylopower, Pyrofoce

 

How many of these systems can document 2,000, 4,000, or 8,000 hours total or
per year? What is a typical capacity factor for these systems. Are any of
them run in commercial conditions?

 

Thanks

 

Tom

 

 

T R Miles Technical Consultants Inc.

tmiles at trmiles.com

www.trmiles.com

www.gasifiers.bioenergylists.org

 

 

 

 

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