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The power cost and optimum plant size for power plants using three biomass fuels in western Canada were determined. The three fuels are biomass from agricultural residues (grain straw), whole boreal forest, and forest harvest residues from existing lumber and pulp operations (limbs and tops). Forest harvest residues have the smallest economic size, 137 MW, and the highest power cost, $63.00 MWh−1 (Year 2000 US$). The optimum size for agricultural residues is 450 MW (the largest single biomass unit judged feasible in this study), and the power cost is $50.30 MWh−1. If a larger biomass boiler could be built, the optimum project size for straw would be 628 MW. Whole forest harvesting has an optimum size of 900 MW (two maximum sized units), and a power cost of $47.16 MWh−1 without nutrient replacement. However, power cost versus size from whole forest is essentially flat from 450 MW ($47.76 MWh−1) to 3150 MW ($48.86 MWh−1), so the optimum size is better thought of as a wide range.None of these projects are economic today, but could become so with a greenhouse gas credit. All biomass cases show some flatness in the profile of power cost vs. plant capacity. This occurs because the reduction in capital cost per unit capacity with increasing capacity is offset by increasing biomass transportation cost as the area from which biomass is drawn increases. This in turn means that smaller than optimum plants can be built with only a minor cost penalty. Both the yield of biomass per unit area and the location of the biomass have an impact on power cost and optimum size. Agricultural and forest harvest residues are transported over existing road networks, whereas the whole forest harvest requires new roads and has a location remote from existing transmission lines. Nutrient replacement in the whole forest case would make power from the forest comparable in cost to power from straw. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract Although the transition towards replacing fossil fuels with renewable energies is increasing worldwide, using renewable resources and appropriate technologies are still challenging in developing countries. Biomass feedstock is receiving increased attention in Bolivia, a South American country, to increase access to renewable electricity and ensure a sustainable energy source. To develop biomass-based energy conversion facilities, it is critical to understand the biomass availability in Bolivia. This study quantified the sustainable agricultural residue biomass available throughout the country for energy generation purposes. The quantification process used statistical crop production information and correcting factors, including leftovers for soil conservation, animal feeding, etc. Following that, a geographic information system (GIS) was used to create maps showing the spatial distribution of residues in order to identify the municipalities that generate the largest volumes of agricultural residues. The results show that the major residues are from sugarcane, soybean, corn, rice, sorghum, and sunflower, which generate 3.8 M dry t/yr of biomass across the country. Most of the available biomass is generated in Santa Cruz, one of the country's nine departments, where biomass potential is estimated at 3.7 M dry t/yr. Ten neighboring municipalities in this department are identified as major residue producers with a biomass potential of 3.2 M dry t/yr, equivalent to an energy potential of 4.5 TWh and power generation of 722 MW, assuming 30% plant efficiency and 0.72 capacity factor. The biomass energy potential from these ten municipalities is equivalent to 50% of the annual electricity production. Moreover, it could supply energy to 58% of the population. These results demonstrate the vast potential in Bolivia to replace fossil fuels with residue biomass in producing energy. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • A sustainable biomass quantification is conducted in Bolivia. • Estimated annual agricultural residue potential in Bolivia is 3.8 M dry t. • The energy potential from agricultural residues in Bolivia is estimated at 5.3 TWh. • GIS was used to create spatial distribution maps of biomass across Bolivia. • Then municipalities in Santa Cruz generate 85% of total biomass availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]