Assessment of biomass potential for power production: a GIS based method.

This paper presents a method which estimates the potential for power production from agriculture residues. This system, a decision support system (DSS), identifies the geographic distribution of economically accessible biomass potential. Using a four level analysis to determine theoretical, available, technological and economically exploitable biomass, DSS incorporates potential restrictions and potential power plant sites.

Biomass resources include wood residues, agricultural residues, agro-industries and animal farms, energy crops and municipal solid waste. These elements are identified using a procedure which locates bioenergy and estimates a minimum area necessary for biomass collection. Electricity production cost is used in the identification of these sites.

 Additionally the DSS system is applied towards the island of Crete as a case study. This analysis highlights the decision-making component of the GIS system. Furthermore, a significant biomass potential exists that could be economically and competitively harvested. The main factors which affect the economic feasibility of a potential site are plant capacity and spatial distribution of the available biomass.

This model has proven valuable towards directing active involvement of energy companies and increasing contribution of biomass to the energy system.

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Voivontas, D., Assimacopoulos, D., & Koukios, E. G. (2000). Assessment of biomass potential for power production: a gis based method. Biomass & Bioenergy, 20, 101-112. Retrieved from http://environ.chemeng.ntua.gr/en/Uploads/Doc/Papers/Renewable Energy/2001_Assessment of biomass potential for power productio.pdf