Search

• Renewable natural gas (RNG) production through biomass gasification was assessed. • Six feedstocks (corn stover (CS), wheat straw, whole forest, forest residues, cow manure, and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) were studied. • Data-intensive process models were developed to understand the mass and energy balances of the conversion process. • RNG production costs are lowest for the OFMSW and CS. • The lowest cost of RNG production, $6.28/GJ, is higher than natural gas price in North America. Renewable natural gas (RNG) from biomass can be used as an alternative to natural gas. However, there is limited understanding of the economic viability of RNG production from a wide range of feedstocks. In this study, a comprehensive comparative techno-economic assessment of RNG production via gasification from six biomass feedstocks with a wide range of moisture contents and characteristics was conducted. The feedstocks studied are corn stover (CS), wheat straw (WS), whole forest (WF), forest residues (FR), cow manure (CM), and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). The RNG production plants were simulated and the simulation results were used to develop techno-economic models for each feedstock to estimate the production cost of RNG. The pathways were compared in terms of RNG yield, RNG production quantity, electricity generation, as well as RNG production costs and cost components. Sensitivity analyses were conducted on a wide range of factors and effect of including cardon credit on the production cost were studied. RNG production costs from the gasification of the OFMSW and CS were lower than those of other feedstocks at 6.28 $/GJ and 6.32 $/GJ, respectively. If the avoided cost (as a source of revenue) of landfilling of the OFMSW or carbon credit (minimum 90 $/t CO 2) is considered, the RNG production cost can be competitive with natural gas price (1.4 $/GJ). The information developed in study is critical for decision makers in policy formulation and investment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]