Renewable Energy Technologies: wind, mini-hydro,

thermal, photovoltaic biomass and waste.

Survey of Appropriate Technologies and Perspectives for

Latin America and the Caribbean

INTERNATIONAL CENTRE
FOR SCIENCE AND HIGH TECHNOLOGY
The opinions in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) or the International Centre for Science
and High Technology (ICS). Mention of the names of firms or commercial products
does not imply endorsement by UNIDO or ICS.

No use of this publication may be made for resale or for any other commercial purpose
whatsoever without prior permission in writing from ICS.

Cover page insets include pictures of:

Photo 1: Photo-voltaic
Photo 2: Wind Energy Turbine
Photo 3: Transmission Towers

ICS-UNIDO is supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

© 2008 United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the International

Centre for Science and High Technology,

High Technology and New Materials

International Centre for Science and High Technology
ICS-UNIDO, AREA Science Park
Padriciano 99, 34012 Trieste, Italy
Tel.: +39-040-9228126 Fax: +39-040-9228122
E-mail: [email protected]

ii
 Renewable Energy Technologies: wind, mini-hydro,
thermal, photovoltaic biomass and waste.

Survey of Appropriate Technologies and Perspectives

for Latin America and the Caribbean

Prepared by:
Graziano Bertogli
Alfonso Avila-Merino
Enrico Bocci
Vincenzo Naso
Rossella Rotella

INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR SCIENCE AND HIGH TECHNOLOGY

Trieste, 2008

iii
 Table of Contents
LIST OF FIGURES VII
LIST OF TABLES VIX
ACRONYMS X

1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 ICS-UNIDO PROGRAMME AND ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF RENEWABLE ENERGY 3
1.2 THE AREA OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY AND NEW MATERIALS 3
1.3 THE REASONS WHY LATIN AMERICA HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS TARGET 5

2 RENEWABLE ENERGY CURRENT OUTLOOK 7

2.1 THE ENERGY QUESTION 8
2.2 THE DIVERSIFICATION OF ENERGY SOURCES AND VECTORS 7
2.3 INCREASE OF ENERGY DEMAND 8
2.4 SECURITY OF ENERGY SUPPLY 9
2.5 RENEWABLE ENERGY: OPPORTUNITIES AND BARRIERS 10
2.6 ENERGY PRICES 11
2.7 ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS 13
2.8 CURRENT RENEWABLE ENERGY SHARE 13
2.9 RENEWABLE ENERGY POTENTIAL 18
2.10 CURRENT AND POTENTIAL RENEWABLES USE 19
2.11 REFERENCES 21

3 STATUS OF ART OF RENEWABLES IN LATIN AMERICA 22

3.1 RENEWABLES AND THE POWER SECTOR 22
3.2 ENERGY RESOURCES IN LATIN AMERICA 22
3.3 HYDRO 25
3.3.1 Argentina 25
3.3.2 Bolivia 26
3.3.3 Brazil 26
3.3.4 Chile 26
3.3.5 Colombia 26
3.3.6 Costa Rica 27
3.3.7 Cuba 27
3.3.8 Ecuador 27
3.3.9 Mexico 27
3.3.10 Paraguay 27
3.3.11 Peru 28
3.3.12 Uruguay 28
3.3.13 Venezuela 28
3.3.14 Republica Dominicana 28
3.4 WIND 29
3.4.1 Argentina 29
3.4.2 Brazil 29
3.4.3 Chile 30
3.4.4 Costa Rica 30
3.4.5 Cuba 30
3.4.6 Ecuador 30
3.4.7 Mexico 30
3.4.8 Peru 31
3.4.9 Republica Dominicana 31
3.4.10 Uruguay 31
3.5 SOLAR ENERGY 31
3.5.1 Argentina 31
3.5.2 Bolivia 31
3.5.3 Brazil 31
3.5.4 Cuba 31
3.5.5 Peru 32

iv
 3.5.6 Dominican Republic 32
3.6 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY 33
3.7 REFERENCES 33

4 WIND ENERGY 34
4.1 WIND RESOURCES 34
4.2 THE WIND TECHNOLOGIES 35
4.3 MATURITY 38
4.4 RELIABILITY AND COST 42

5 MINI-HYDRO TECHNOLOGIES 44
5.1 THE HYDRO RESOURCE 44
5.2 THE HYDRO TECHNOLOGIES 44
5.3 MATURITY 48
5.4 RELIABILITY AND COST 49

6 SOLAR ENERGY 51
6.1 SOLAR RESOURCE 51
6.2 SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES 52
6.2.1 PV Systems 52
6.2.2 Solar Thermal Heat 56
6.2.3 Solar Thermal: Low Temperature Systems 56
6.2.4 Solar Thermal: High Temperature Systems 56
6.2.5 Passive Solar Heating And Daylighting 67
6.2.6 Solar Process Space Heating And Cooling 58
6.2.7 Artificial Photosynthesis 58
6.3 MATURITY 58
6.3.1 The Potential And Market Developments for PV Solar Energy 59
6.3.2 Low-Temperature Solar Energy Potential And Market Developments 62
6.3.3 High-Temperature Solar Energy Potential And Market Developments 62
6.4 RELIABILITY AND COST 64
6.4.1 Implementation Issues Of PV Systems 64
6.4.2 Implementation Issues Of Low Temperature Solar Systems 66
6.4.3 Implementation Issues Of Low Temperature Solar Systems 66
6.4.4 PV Systems Costs 66
6.4.5 Low Temperature Solar Thermal Costs 67
6.4.6 High Temperature Solar Thermal Costs 68

7 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY 69
7.1 GEOTHERMAL RESOURCE 69
7.2 GEOTHERMAL TECHNOLOGIES 70
7.3 MATURITY 72
7.4 RELIABILITY AND COSTS 72

8 BIOMASS AND WASTE 75

8.1 OVERVIEW 75
8.2 RENEWABLE FUELS 75
8.3 CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES 76
8.4 THERMO-CHEMICAL PROCESSES: GENERALITIES 77
8.5 MICROBIAL PROCESSES: GENERALITIES 78
8.6 COMBUSTION TECHNOLOGY 78
8.6.1 Combustion Process 78
8.6.2 The Combustion Reactors 79
8.6.2.1 The Pile Burning Furnace 79
8.6.2.2 The Stoker Fired Furnace 79
8.6.2.3 The Fluidized Bed Furnace 81
8.7 ELECTRICITY AND HEAT GENERATION 83

9 INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES 87
9.1 THE PYROLYSIS TECHNOLOGY 87
9.1.1 The Pyrolysis Process 87

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 9.1.1.1 The Slow Pyrolysis 87
9.1.1.2 The Fast Pyrolysis 88
9.2 THE PYROLYSIS REACTOR 88
9.3 ELECTRICITY AND HEAT GENERATION 88
9.4 GASIFICATION TECHNOLOGY 90
9.4.1 The Gasification Process 90
9.4.2 The Gasification Reactors 92
9.4.2.1 Fixed Bed Gasifiers 92
9.4.2.2 The Updraft Gasifier 92
9.4.2.3 The Downdraft Gasifier 93
9.4.2.4 Fluidized Bed Gasifiers 94
9.4.2.5 BFB Gasifier 95
9.4.2.6 CFB Gasifier 96
9.5 ELECTRICITY AND HEAT GENERATION 97

10 THE ANAEROBIC DIGESTION 101

APPENDIX 1 103
APPENDIX 2 104
APPENDIX 3 105
REFERENCES 106

vi
List of Figures

Figure 2-1 World energy consumption per sources (1860-2060)

Figure 2-2 Global energy systems transition, 1850–2150
Figure 2-3 Per capita energy consumption, 10.000 BC – 1990 AC
Figure 2-4 Energy consumption per capita and total
Figure 2-5. Energy Price in $ of 2005 per MBTU 1970-2030
Figure 2-6. Electricity Costs versus technology and fuel type November of 2006
Figure 2-7. Average heating, transport and electricity costs (€/MWh)
Figure 2-8 Fuels share of world primary energy supply
Figure 2-9 Annual Growth of Renewables Supply from 1971 to 2003
Figure 2-10 Renewables data 2004-2005
Figure 2-11 Regional Shares of Renewables Supply
Figura 2-12 Top five countries in 2005
Figure 2-13 Renewables electricity capacity
Figure 2-14 Global Sectorial Consumption of Renewables (IEA, 2006)
Figure 2-15. Forms of potential for renewables and fossil resources
Figure 3-1 Wind potential for Latin America
Figure 3-2 Global radiation in Latin America
Figure 3-3 Fuelwood production in Latin America
Figure 3-4 Productive forest area in relation to the total area of the country
Figure 3-5 Theoretical hydraulic potential
Figure 3-6 Volcanoes in Latin America
Figure 4-1. Anemometers
Figure 4-2 Analysis of wind flow
Figure 4-3 U.S. Annual wind power resource and wind power classes
Figure 4-4. Power and moment versus λ in different turbines
Figure 4-5 Stall and Pitch control
Figure 4-6 Total installed wind capacity (1997-2010)
Figure 4-7 Manufacturer world market shares 2005 and 2006
Figure 5-1 The water (hydrologic) cycle
Figure 5-2 World hydrological cycle observing system
Figure 5-3 Impoundment facilities
Figure 5-4 Run-of-river facilities
Figure 5-5 Impulse turbines
Figure 5-6 Reaction turbines
Figure 5-7 Water turbine chart (Net Head versus flow)
Figure 6-1 Solar – Earth balance
Figure 6-2 Solar Geographical Information System
Figure 6-3 Grid connected (left) and stand alone (right) PV plant
Figure 6-4 Variation of the PV cell Characteristic with the intensity of solar radiation
Figure 6-5 Variation of the PV cell Characteristic with the temperature
Figure 6-6 Parabolic trough solar system
Figure 6-7 Power tower solar system
Figure 6-8 Installed PV power in the IEA reference States, 2005
Figure 6.9 2006 PV installations by market
Figure 6 10 World map of potential sites for concentrating solar power
Figure 6 11 Energy payback for rooftop PV systems
Figure 6 12 Overall clean energy payoff
Figure 7-1 Earth layers and relative temperatures
Figure 7-2 Plate boundaries and geothermal power plants
Figura 7-3 Geothermal phenomenon
Figure 7-4 Geothermal power plants
Figure 8-1 Schematic presentation of thermo-chemical processes
Figure 8-2 Scheme of a stoker fired furnace with travelling grate (1)
Figure 8-3 Scheme of a stoker fired furnace with travelling grate (2)

vii
Figure 8-4 Scheme of a stoker fired furnace with vibrating grate
Figure 8-5 Scheme of CHP plant based on biomass combustion
Figure 8-6 Scheme of CHP plant based on waste combustion
Figure 9-1 Scheme of a rotary kiln for pyrolysis process
Figure 9-2 Scheme of an IPCC plant
Figure 9-3 Scheme of an updraft gasifier
Figure 9-4 Scheme of a downdraft gasifier
Figure 9-5 Scheme of a BFB gasifier
Figure 9-6 Scheme of a CFB gasifier
Figure 9-7 Scheme of a IGCC power plant
Figure 9-8 Scheme of a IGGE power plant
Figure 10-1 Schematic presentation of the anaerobic digestion process
Figure 10-2 Scheme of a power plant based on anaerobic digestion and a gas engine

viii
 List of Tables

Table 2 1 Synthesis of World Energy Assessment data 2001

Table 2 2 The contribution of renewables in global primary energy supply in 2004
Table 2 3 Renewables installed capacity 2004-2005
Table 2 4 Summary of the RES potential in EJ/y
Table 2 5 2001 World RES capacity and energy produced and mean data
Table 3 1 Installed capacity for Wind energy in Brazil
Table 3 2 Geothermal capacity and potential 1995
Table 4 1 Type of windmills
Table 4-2 Installed wind capacity 2005-2006
Table 5 1 Small hydroelectric Centrals: economic and financial analysis
Table 6 1 PV solar cell technologies and efficiencies of the various module technologies
Table 6-2 Potential contribution of solar energy technologies to world energy consumption (EJ of
electricity)
Table 7 1 Geothermal Power Direct Capital Costs (US$1999 /KW installed capacity)
Table 7 2 Conventional Baseload Power Direct Capital Costs
Table 7 3 Geothermal O&M Costs by Plants Size (U.S. cents/kWh)
Table 7 4 O&M Cost Comparison by Baseload Power Source (US $)
Table 7 5 Employment Rates by Energy Technology
Table 8 1 Composition and chemical-physical characteristics of biomass, MSW, RDF and animal
manures
Table 8-2 Synthetic evaluation of the different combustion reactor technologies
Table 9-1 Fuel requirements and operating conditions vs. gasifier design

ix
 Acronyms
AC Alternating Current
CC Combined Cycle
CdS Carbon sulphur
CFB Circulating Fluidised Bed
CHP Combined Heat and Power
DC Direct Current
DCs Developed Countries
DOE Department of Energy
EGS Enhanced Geothermal Systems
EJ Exa Joule
EPA US Environmental Protection Agency
ESTIA European Solar Thermal Power Industry Association
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
GaAs Gallium Arsenic
GEF Global Environmental Facility
GHG Greenhouse Gas
Gj Giga joule
GMOs Genetically Modified Organisms
Gtoe Giga tons of energy
GW Giga Watt
GWe Giga Watt electric
GWth Giga Watt hour
HAWT Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbine
HTNM High Technology and New Materials
Hz Hertz
ICS International Centre for Science and High Technology
ICT Information and Communication Technologies
IEA International Energy Agency
IGA International Geothermal Association
IGGE Integrated gasification gas engine
IPCC Integrated Pyrolysis Combined Cycle
ISCC Integrated solar combined-cycle
K degrees Kelvin
km2 square kilometres
kw kilo watt
kWe kilo watt electric
LPG Liquid Petroleum Gas
MBTU Million British Thermal Units
MEM Ministerio de Energía y Minas
MDG Millennium Development Goals
MSW Municipal Solid Waste
MW Mega Watt
MWe Mega Watt electric
MWh Mega Watt hour
HEP Hydro Electric Power
RE Renewable Energy
OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
OLADE Latin American Energy Organization
O&M Operating and maintenance costs
ppbv parts per billion by volume
PROINFA Alternative Sources for Energy Incentive Programme
PV Photovoltaic
RDF Refuse Derived Fuel
REN21 Renewable Energies Policy Network for the 21 Century –
RES Renewable Energy Sources
RET Renewable Energy Technologies
R&D Research and Development
SEGS Sovereign Enterprises Grading Service

x
SDHW Solar Domestic Hot Water
SME Small and Sized Medium Enterprise
S&T Science and Technology
TCs Technology Centres
TWh Tera Watt hour
UN United Nations
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization
USA United States of America
VAWT Vertical Axis Wind Turbine
WEA World Energy Agency
WEC World Energy Council
WETO World Energy Technology Outlook
Wp Watts peak
WSSD World Summit on Sustainable Development
WWEA World Wind Energy Association
WWF World Wide Found

xi
1. INTRODUCTION

There has been phenomenal growth in the global production and use of liquid biofuels, mainly ethanol
and bio-diesel. In recent years, there has been renewed interest in biofuels, resulting in a number of
new pilot projects and exploratory studies in Latin America and around the world. This renewed interest
in biofuels in developing countries is attributable to a number of factors that include the rising and
volatile price of oil, ongoing efforts to revitalise the agricultural sector in the face of low commodity
prices, agricultural and trade policy reforms, local and global environmental challenges, the need to
create new jobs and stimulate rural development, and the availability of new and more efficient
technologies.

Between 2000 and 2005, global production of ethanol and bio-diesel increased by 0.9 to 3.9bn litres
respectively. 1 Second generation technologies are based on the use of non-food producing perennial
crops are also being developed. These technologies use the whole plant as feedstock and are based on
enzymatic breakdown of ligno-cellulose residues and waste to produce ethanol, while bio-diesel can be
synthesised from wood straw to a gasification stage. A wide range of proven and pilot technologies,
which are described in this report, can be used to convert the various forms of biomass into modern
types of energy or just biofuels (liquid, solid, gaseous), thereby increasing access conversion efficiencies
and reducing deforestation, reducing pollution and providing energy for industrial uses.

The development of biofuel in Latin America could bring multiple benefits such as: increased security of
energy supply through diversification and progressive substitution of oil; reduced national oil import bills;
increased agricultural productivity through the use of agricultural residues and waste in productive
processes; increased employment opportunities in agriculture, industry, infrastructure and research in
both rural and urban areas; and reduced emissions, including GHG. Furthermore, the development of
new technologies might enable developing countries to take advantage of potential international trade
opportunities, through the large scale production of biofuel.

However, there are legitimate concerns that the production of biofuel could compromise food production
either through competition for existing land or through economic feedbacks. It is also possible that small
farmers could be squeezed out by powerful large companies producing for export at the expense of the
local market. It is imperative to examine the potential production of biofuels in a holistic manner
identifying case by case the most suitable source, technology and type of biofuel for the local social,
economic and environmental conditions.

RES are the only resources capable of increasing the sustainability and security of energy supply, but
there are some fundamental barriers to their development, including:
• uncompetitiveness: in most cases RES power plants have higher investment and
energy costs than conventional ones however the health and ecosystem benefits that
accompany them often outweigh these cost disadvantages;
• planning, legal and financial instruments and methods are often incoherent: RES
development has to be supported indirectly by taxes on non-RES resources (carbon
tax, etc.) to recover the ‘external’ costs, and directly by subsidised investment and/or
use, and regulation that supports its diffusion. All have to be coherent with an energy
plan with a clear goal to develop RES;
• technologies and infrastructure improvements needed: in some cases there are not the
technologies and capabilities required to develop and implement RES projects.

1
Renewables Global Status Report, 2006 Update, www.ren21.net

1
This report aims to be a comprehensive source of information and reference on the topic of renewable
energy for the use of decision-makers in developing countries, particularly in Latin America. It highlights
the following aspects in relation to renewable energy:
1. the current outlook for the Latin American countries
2. the state-of-the-art of the different generation of technologies for sustainable energy
production
3. mapping of RET in Latin America
4. specific analysis of biofuels in Africa, perspectives, scenarios and shortcomings
5. the policy and regulatory frameworks affecting the promotion of RES, financing
mechanisms and TT processes
6. advantage and risks

This report represents the efforts of scientists, technologists, policy-makers, and specialists in different
international organisations, including UNIDO, ICS, UNDP, FAO and IEA.

The document is organised as follows. Section 1 describes the current work of ICS/UNIDO in relation to
the promotion and development of projects related to RES and Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) in
developing countries; Section 2 examines the current energy outlook of RES for the sustainable
production of energy focusing on the technologies for bio resources and biomass. Section 3 presents
the state-of-the-art of renewables in Latin America including solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and biomass
to provide a picture of what these countries may able to exploit in terms of renewable resources. Section
4 analyses the technological issues related to the exploitation of RES, specifically wind energy and also
examines its advantages and disadvantages. Section 5 presents the mini-hydro technologies in terms of
their resources, technologies, maturity of those technologies and finally its reliability and cost. Likewise,
Section 6 focuses on solar energy. Section 7 focuses on the examination of geothermal energy in terms
of its resources, related technologies, maturity of the technology as well as their current reliability and
costs. Section 8 examines biomass and waste technologies and processes available to exploit this
source of energy. Section 9 analyses the innovative technologies that developing countries might use or
start to develop in the near future. Lastly, Section 10 presents the process of anaerobic digestion, which
is related to the use and exploitation of renewable energy technologies.

2
1.1 ICS-UNIDO Programme and Activities in the Field of Renewable Energy

The International Centre for Science and High Technology (ICS) of the United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO) has the mandate of strengthening the scientific and technological
(S&T) capacity and competence of developing countries in order to support their effort toward social and
economic development with special emphasis on transfer of appropriate, sustainable and
environmental friendly technology. UNIDO is contributing to achievement of the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) through a number of programmes and projects aimed at providing an
effective response to the growing industrial divide, by addressing the three thematic priorities:

• Poverty reduction through productive activities

• Trade capacity building
• Energy and environment.

ICS activities, as detailed in the Institutional Agreement signed in 1993 between the Italian Government
and UNIDO, are in three scientific areas (International Institutes): 1) Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2)
Earth Environment and Marine Science and Technologies; and 3) High Technology and New Materials,
to improve technical and scientific knowledge and participation in the development and utilisation of
new and advanced technologies in developing countries, which are required for the accumulation of
industrial and technological capability and competitiveness.

To alleviate the challenges faced by developing countries in achieving social and economic growth, ICS
has developed a strategic work plan based on a practical step-by-step approach to awareness building,
training-of-trainers, advisory services and assistance, designed to build, develop and strengthen
national capacity in TT and partnership development.

1.2 High Technology and New Materials (HTNM)

In the past, HTNM area programmes and activities have been dedicated to supporting and cooperating
with developing countries within four scientific/technical fields: Laser application, Building materials,
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Renewable Energy (RE).

The medium/long-term objective of the RE sub-programme aims at providing assistance to all

developing countries in acquiring technologies and knowledge related to energy production based on
local resources, for cooking, food conservation, lighting and communication, for rural communities and
micro, small and medium enterprises, as users and producers of both energy, and equipment for energy
production. At the same time, there is a demand for promotion and diffusion of the technologies and
knowledge that these countries are able to produce, mainly within the UNIDO network of technology
centres (TCs), a number of which are specialised in technologies related to energy production.

Within this framework, ICS aims to be a hub of the network of TCs supporting and promoting activities
and results worldwide. It is hoped that this network will be able to provide technology support to
developing countries with ICS providing ad hoc support activities, such as capacity building (training
courses, fellowship programmes), development of decision-support tools, establishment of innovation
TCs, etc. It is hoped that, in cooperation with UNIDO HQs, a continuous project can be implemented that
focuses on the production of small quantities of energy, (less than 50-100 kw), using local renewable
resources for the benefit of needy communities.

3
The development and diffusion of low-cost and low maintenance technologies for small local production
of energy is ideal for community use in schools, small hospitals, for telecommunications (including
business centres), in small craft factories and industries, food conservation, call centres, etc.

The UNIDO HQs and the TC network have a better picture of local requirements in the respective S&T
fields. However, in certain cases they have limited resources to respond to these needs. Closer
cooperation with ICS could enable access to the S&T environment, regular upgrading of in house
expertise and promotion of local programmes and projects. At the same time, ICS, through the TCs, can
target local industrial sectors that are the end users of the activities. ICS is actively cooperating with the
local institutions and supporting the effort of their countries towards economic and social development
by offering targeted fellowship programmes and training for technicians and scientists who return to
their home countries to train others.

Another activity within this multiyear project is the collection and evaluation of national policies,
incentives, support programmes in developed and developing countries, with the scope of promoting the
use of renewable resources and supporting the local production of energy from renewable resources,
etc. for communities and to support the local production/assembly of equipment and plant producing
energy from renewable resources. Energy saving also needs to be considered. Finally, the possibility to
study, to provide ad hoc funding for pilot plants, equipment and spin offs, should be included in ICS
activities.

The expected impacts in socio-economic terms are:

• assist developing countries in the assessment of small local energy resources: solar, hydro,
geo, biomass, etc. for productive uses, and energy savings and process improvements
opportunities in selected sectors
• increase human resource capacities and capabilities
• strengthen the decision-making process at policy and regulatory levels for sustainable industrial
development
• promote local production of parts and components for equipment/plant for renewable
resources utilisation, such as solar driers, solar ovens, photovoltaic (PV) panels for tele-centres,
etc.

This project is currently being implemented in cooperation with relevant UNIDO field offices.

4
1.3 The Reasons why Latin America has been Chosen as Target

The major share of today’s human “appropriation” of biomass is dedicated to the provision of food,
feed, and bio-materials mainly fibre, and timber for construction. Currently, only about 10 percent of the
biomass is used as biofuels, but residues find their way into cooking stoves, furnaces, and power plants.
All forms of biofuels supply about 10 percent of the world primary energy demand, representing 90
percent of the global contribution of all renewable energies (Global Status Report 2006 Renewable
Energies Policy Network for the 21 Century – REN21). While biofuels shares in OECD energy supply
decreased over the last decades, they remain an important source of energy in developing countries
where on average a third of all primary energy comes from biomass; in many developing some African
countries, even up to 90%. The energy supply of approximately 2 billion people depends nearly
exclusively on traditional bio-energy such as firewood or dung, mainly used for cooking (Karekezi 2004).

Future Prospects
Forecasts show that in the most optimistic scenarios, bio-energy could provide for more than twice the
current global energy demand, without competing with food production, forest protection efforts, and
biodiversity. In the least favorable scenarios however, bio-energy could supply only a fraction of current
energy use, perhaps even less than it provides today. This significant range of uncertainty of the
sustainable global biofuel potential is a consequence of the uncertain developments in future
agricultural and land-use policies, especially in developing countries. Facto rs such as increases in
productivity could “free” the land for biofuel crops, and conversion of marginal and degraded land into
biofuels production areas could expand the resource base as well. On the other hand, impacts from
climate change such as heat waves and droughts, as well as competing uses of land (food, nature
conservation) could severely restrict the future biofuel potential.

Feed vs. Food

A key concern in the global biofuel discussion is the competition between land-use for biofuels
production and food and feed production. If there is no direct competition it could show indirectly
through economic (price) feedbacks as can be seen in recent sugar and corn price fluctuations. This
competition has a special significance insofar as food security is concerned, and the MDGs clearly
require policies to reduce hunger, and increase food security. In this respect, a switch to large-scale bio-
energy production might have adverse indirect impacts on food security, which need further attention.
As long as biofuels mainly come from plants which can be also used for food/feed production, the
economic effects of coupling the energy (i.e. biofuel) market with food/feed markets could increase
food/feed prices, and – hence – worsens the access to affordable food/feed for many. The indirect
effect of increased prices for traditional agro-products, however, could increase farmer (and country)
income, and thus help increasing food security, depending on the distribution of the increased income.
As the overall outcome of such developments is still being debated, the FAO announced recently to
research the food-versus-fuel issue in more detail (FAO, 2006). The outcome of this research should be
considered key in safeguarding future biofuel development against food/feed competition.

Economic Competitiveness
Concerning economic competitiveness of biofuels, already today, heating applications based on modern
biofuels can compete with oil and gas, and electricity generation with biogas from residues, landfills, or
waste-water treatment undercuts costs of oil- and gas-fired power plants. Ethanol from sugarcane in
Brazil is competitive without subsidies at 35-50 US$/bbl oil (WB 2005), while most other liquid biofuels
for transport need further development before becoming economically attractive at oil prices in the 50
US$/bbl range. Yet, volatility in oil prices could also endanger investments in market introduction of
biofuels.

5
Trade Implications
International biofuel trade is an issue for global players, with SMEs having a minor role so far. As a
consequence of the energy price and supply security developments, however, interest in global trade of
biofuels is spreading. Since the mid-1990s, biomass trade flows increased rapidly, partly as a result of
reduced marine bulk transport cost. Many trade flows are between neighbouring countries, but long-
distance trade also occurs, for example, with export of ethanol from Brazil to Japan and the EU, palm
kernel shells from Malaysia to the Netherlands, wood pellets from Canada to Sweden. Nearly all of that
trade is across waterways, or uses large maritime cargo vessels. The IEA Bio-energy Task 40 projects a
significant increase in global shipping of biofuels in the next years.

In addition, the failure of the WTO Doha Round in opening agricultural markets of OECD countries (and
to restrict subsidized agricultural exports) shifts the focus of traditional farming from cash crops to
dedicated bio-energy crops, which have the prospect of higher revenues on international markets if
converted into biofuels.

Sustainability Issues
With the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg and the
formulation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) , sustainable development in general, and its
link to energy became prominent issues in global fora. In this context, there are currently many national
and international initiatives underway to safeguard against negative social and environmental impacts
of future bio-energy developments. Concerns over land use (as referred to in the food vs. feed
discussion), land ownership, loss of biodiversity and genetically modified organisms (GMOs),
greenhouse gas emissions, soil erosion and other soil degradation, water use and water contamination,
human health impacts, labour conditions and rights of children are all part of the sustainability
discussion and international efforts to formulate standards.

Climate Change
Bio-energy could in comparison to fossil fuels drastically reduce greenhouse-gas and air emissions if
managed adequately. However, there are many factors to be taken into account when quantifying
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Current knowledge of GHG balances of biofuels indicates a rather
large range (Larson 2006). For specified regions like the EU, quantification is possible with regard to the
different bio-energy crops, conversion routes, and by-product utilization rates (OEKO 2006). For other
regions like the USA, and a few developing countries (Brazil, China, India), some data on the life-cycle
GHG balances exist, while other countries like Thailand have ongoing research programme in that area.

Technology Transfer
Realization of the potential of biofuels depends to a great extent on the availability of competitive
conversion technologies. Yet, these technologies are not readily available in developing countries. To
this end, there is need for support mechanisms that would encourage the transfer of relevant
technologies and associated capacities from technology producers to technology markets. Since
UNIDO’s focus will centre on providing such support mechanisms the following sections will describe the
current situation with regard to existing and future conversion technologies.

6
2. RENEWABLE ENERGY CURRENT OUTLOOK

2.1 The Energy Question

Energy is crucial for three dimensions of human life:
1. Economic: Many countries’ energy imports represent up to 50% of their trade. The price of
energy defines development.
2. Social: about 2bn people, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia do not have
energy (for cooking, heating, water, lighting, cooling, transport, communication, etc.): energy
consumption is linked to quality of life. Energy consumption per capita in the developed
countries (DCs) is less than 15% of consumption in Europe, and 10% of per capita
consumption in the US.
3. Environmental: Much of the noxious emissions come from energy systems. The rate of
energy consumptions is a billion times that of energy production.

Energy poverty, defined as lack of access to modern sources of energy, is one of the barriers to
human development and there is a strict correlation between the Human Development Index and
per capita energy consumption. In the words of former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan:
In the developing countries, some 1.6 billion people still lack access to electricity and about 2.4
billion continue to rely on traditional biomass for cooking and heating, mainly in the rural areas.
Achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of halving, by 2015, the proportion of the
world’s population whose income is less than $1 per day will depend on providing these people
with access to modern energy services for their basic needs and for income generation.
Decentralized renewable energy systems can contribute to poverty eradication efforts, in
particular in areas with widely dispersed rural populations. (UN News Service, 19.08.2005)
We currently need a new energy framework. The problem of energy is increasingly widespread
involving not only scientific institutions, energy companies and politicians, but also industry, citizens,
etc., which requires some tangible solutions:
1. International, national and local planning;
2. Legal and financial instruments;
3. Action (implementation of sustainable methods, technologies and processes).

The choice of instruments to solve this problem around the world represents the greatest
opportunity for mankind, and a challenge that we cannot pass up. To achieve a sustainable energy
system requires changes to the whole of the energy chain: from the supply sector to energy end use
technologies. There are many possible solutions; but the problem is complex and available time is
short. Thus, energy research must be aimed at the promotion and implementation of methods,
technologies and processes for sustainable economic, social and environmental development.
Operative and competitive sustainable energy systems must be implemented. In the very near
future, all energy systems will have to be sustainable, efficient and cost-effective, and convenient
and safe; energy must be available, clean, sustainable, non-polluting, and appropriate to different
local conditions. These attributes can be summarised as clean energy.
What is required is efficiency, and especially sustainable efficiency, through the development and
implementation of closed cycle systems for generating energy from renewable resources (CCER).
2.2 Diversification of Energy Sources and Vectors
From the beginning of human history to the 1850s man’s main source of energy was biomass (human,
animal and vegetable); from 1850 to 1950 it was coal; since 1950 the main source of energy has been
petroleum. Since the 1950s, several sources of energy have coexisted: petroleum, coal, natural gas,
biomass, hydroelectric power, nuclear, wind, solar, geothermal, and wave power) as can be seen in
Figure 2-1. We are living in an era of a variety of energy sources.

7
 Figure 2-1 World energy consumption per source (1860-2060)

Use of fossil resources is destined to decrease for environmental and/or economic reasons
before they are exhausted (2001 estimate of lifespan of oil, natural gas and coal resources
respectively 40, 60 and 160 years), owing to the impossibility of achieving ‘natural’ energy from
renewables (biomass is too low energy and is highly polluting) or nuclear. Hydrogen is likely to
become the main source of energy in the future (see Figure 2-2)

Figure 2-2 Global energy systems transition, 1850–2150.

Source: Hefner (2000)

Therefore, we need to focus on appropriate energy sources and related technologies with the
emphasis on renewable energy resources, which require attention to the local level.

2.3 Increase in the Demand for Energy

Figure 2-1 and Figure 2-3 illustrate the continuous increase in world energy consumption
(forecast to increase from 411 EJ in 2006, to 900 EJ in 2050, i.e. 10-22 Gtoe: population will
increase from 6bn to 9bn; world per-capita energy consumption will go from 68 Gj/year to
100GJ/year). The world’s population is still growing, but at a decreasing rate, and the increase in per
capita energy consumption in the industrialised countries will be small.

8
 Figure 2-3 Per capita energy consumption, 10,000 BC-1990 AD

This major increase in energy demand will be due mainly to reduction in the distance (see Figure
2-4) between pro-capita consumption in the poor and rich countries (reduction in the North-South
difference).

Figure 2-4 Energy consumption per capita and total (IEA, 2001 data).

Thus, the challenge is to guarantee energy for the world’s population from renewable energy
sources (RES).

2.4 Security of Energy Supplies

According to International Energy Agency (IEA) data (January 2005) on oil consumption, Asia
consumes 27% of world consumption, the US and Canada 26% and the EU 19%. Production is based
on Saudi Arabia, Canada, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Russia, Libya, and
Nigeria. Natural gas is consumed mainly in USA-Canada (26%), EU (20%) and Russia 23%; while
production is based on Russia, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, USA, and
other countries. Coal is mainly consumed in Asia 55%, US and Canada 19% and EU 13% and
production is based on China, USA, Russia, India, South Africa, Australia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan,
Germany, Poland, and Brazil.
It is clear that the geographic distribution of fossil resources is not aligned with the location of the
largest consumers. As fossil fuel reserves and nuclear decrease, there is an urgent need to increase
the use of RES and diversify other available resources. To date, renewable energy electricity projects
have focused on solar photovoltaic (PV), micro hydro and wind energy to the exclusion of geothermal

9
 and biomass (despite the abundance of these resources, underlined, for instance, by the importance
of sugar-mill power generation).

2.5 Renewable Energy: Opportunities and Barriers

RES have strategic long term value:

• CCER are the only final solution to the energy problem and they are likely to be based on RES (i.e.
RES are the only sustainable choice);
• RES generally have low environmental impact;
• there are some competitive RES applications; their investment and generation costs seem high if
we ignore the externalities of fossil and nuclear sources;
• fossil and nuclear (fission) sources are running out;
• RES, which are low density and diffuse, are more secure, provide employment and represent
investment rather than cost.

The RES involves technology, finance, regulation and environmental and social aspects.
Implementing RES has profound effects on a community. Improved understanding about how
different policy and market factors affect the renewable energy market, as well as how the project
impacts on the community (the social, economic, environmental effects), will enhance the chances
of success. Understanding the global market will help to avoid project failures and could be achieved
through cooperative enterprises. In most cases, renewable energy initiatives, such as hydro,
biomass, wind and solar projects, require large amounts of resources, beyond the capacity of one
partner. Collaborative management of energy system resources, production of the energy product
and marketing and sale of the final product would alleviate this problem.
Traditional approaches to small (solar PV) and medium (small hydro and wind energy)
electrification project technologies have often been unsuccessful, due to lack of ownership of these
projects by communities. Many large scale projects have no links with the local economies, and are
often seen as taking away resources that belong to everyone, for the benefit of a few industries.
There is a need to incorporate elements of ownership into energy projects, such as participation in
local energy boards for the management of equipment maintenance, obligations for beneficiaries to
pay for the services they receive, intervention from local power distribution companies to provide
technical assistance and monitoring and evaluation services. This could render renewable energy
projects much more popular, making them widely implemented for many off-grid or isolated grid
applications, where their costs could be significantly lower than fossil fuel solutions.
RES technologies have proven to be competitive energy options for remote areas, although there
are barriers to their diffusion. Lack of access to small amounts of credit is one of the main ones,
especially for low and medium-income groups. Rural communities need financing for renewable
energy technologies, such as solar PV, micro-hydro, windmills for water pumping and electricity
generation, biogas installations and improved woodstoves. Other barriers include:

• Uncompetitiveness: in most cases these power plants have higher investment and energy costs
than conventional ones. However, if we take into account the costs related to damage to health
and the ecosystem and other ‘externalities’, even the least competitive options become
profitable;
• Uncoordinated planning, legal and financial instruments: RES developments must be
supported, indirectly by taxes on non-RES resources (carbon tax, etc.) to recover external costs,
or directly by subsidies and regulations that support their diffusion (interconnection to
electricity grid, etc.). These should be coherent with energy plans that have the common goal of
RES development;
• Lack of information, infrastructure, and maintenance: in some cases there are no technologies
or capabilities to develop projects or markets.

10
 In Latin America, with the exception of traditional biomass and large hydro, sources of renewable
energy have been underexploited, with applications limited to pilot projects developed by NGOs,
governments and international cooperation. One of the reasons for this is the lack of information on
the potentials of RES, such as solar and wind maps, etc. In rural residential areas, wood continues to
be an important energy source because other energy sources, such as liquid petroleum gas (LPG),
are not available and/or are too expensive. Renewable energy, mainly hydro, has been exploited but
only to a small percentage of its potential. Good information on the potential of and technology
involved in alternative energy sources could extend RES coverage to isolated regions.
The distribution systems for commercial energy, such as electricity and LPG, are limited by
geography, scarce demand in isolated areas and high market prices. The electricity grid is being
extended only slowly, from the big power generation stations to consumption points, involving high
costs in energy losses during transmission and low use of the electricity grid (in some rural sectors
about 40%).
A solar PV home system of 50 Wp, based on energy storage systems, may be enough to satisfy
domestic lighting, communication and entertainment needs, but requires local participation and
technical assistance. Likewise, the installation of wood stoves can have direct health benefits, as
gas is directed outside the house. They produce significant savings in terms of amounts of fuel,
money and time spent gathering wood. It is important to have good maintenance programmes in
place to avoid fumes leaking from stoves.

2.6 Energy Prices

Energy prices are increasing as much as they did in the 1970s. The USA-DOE Annual Energy
Outlook, forecasts an increase in long term energy prices depicted in Figure 2-5.

Figure 2-5 Energy Price in US$ of 2005 per MBTU 1970-2030 (AEO 2007)

Figure 2-6 shows comparative generation costs for power stations in Latin America ($20/MBTU =
$68/MWh): the range is for a gas turbine working with diesel (SC diesel) at very low efficiency, and
thus very high operating costs, up to combined cycle (CC) natural gas at costs that are ten times
lower.

11
 Electricity Cost Generation

180.0 165.1
160.0 147.2
140.0
120.0
US$/MWh

90.2
100.0
80.0
60.0
40.0 27.0 25.8
16.0
20.0
0.0
CC Natural SPP Coal SC Natural EIC Residual 6 EIC Diesel 2 SC Diesel
Gas Gas

Fuel Tecnology

Figure 2-6. Electricity costs versus technology and fuel type November 2006 2

In terms of RES, biomass heat energy and wind electricity have the lowest investment costs;
geothermal, due to the long development time has the lowest energy cost, as shown in Table 2-1.

Energy
Capacity Investment cost Energy Cost Future Cost
Technology produced
factor (US$/kW) (cents US$/kWh) (cents US$/kWh)
(TWh)
Biomass Heat 730 25-80 170-1000 1-6 1-5
Solar thermal 57 8-20 300-1700 2-25 2-10
Geothermal Heat 55 20-70 200-2000 0.5-5 0.5-5
Large Hydro 2600 35-60 1000-3500 2-10 2-10
Biomass Electricity 170 25-80 500-6000 3-12 4-10
Small Hydro 100 20-90 700-8000 2-12 2-10
Geothermal Electricity 53 45-90 800-3000 2-10 1-8
Wind 43 20-40 850-1700 4-8 3-10
Solar photovoltaic 1 8-20 5000-10000 25-125 5-25
Solar th. electricity 0.9 20-35 2500-6000 12-34 4-20
Table 2-1 Synthesis of World Energy Assessment data (2001)
Source: WEA (2004).

Figure 2-7 compares fossil and renewable energy prices. In electricity production with appropriate
wind, hydro and biomass (and geothermal) RES can contribute to lowering energy prices (€50/MWh
= $20/MBTU, at €1= $1.36); over time other types of renewable energy (and renewable heating and
fuel) will become competitive.

2
CC: Combined Cycle; SPP: Steam Power Plant; SC: Simple Cycle Turbine; EIC: Engine Internal Combustion.
Source: OSINERG, 2006

12
 Heat pumps
Solar thermal heating

Biomass Heat (average)

Geothermal

Biofuel 2nd generation

Biofuel 1st generation

Solar PV

Idle (average)

Wind offshore

Wind onshore
Hydro
Biomass & gas (avg.)

Figure 2-7. Average heating, transport and electricity costs (€/MWh, WETO 2006).

2.7 Environmental Aspects

Local and global environmental problems are increasing (human activity is responsible for 90%
of green house gas (GHG) emissions (IPCC, 2001), 66% growth in mean global earth temperatures
from 1.8°C to 4°C, rise in sea levels from 18 to 59cms; permanence of CO2 emissions over 100
years, environmental damage rising from 5% to 20% of world GDP).
Even if globally adopted, the Kyoto Protocol would not be sufficient to counteract all these
problems. Most countries that have signed up to the Protocol are likely to fail to reach their
emissions goals (e.g. Italy’s goal by 2010 minus 6.5% of 1990 CO2 emissions, but in 2006 Italy was
plus 13%). New objectives and measures need to be implemented (e.g. EU plans to reduce CO2
emissions by 8% by 2010, 20% by 2020, 50% by 2050, to stabilize at 550 ppbv CO2 level,
implementing by 2020 an increase of 20% of energy efficiency, 20% of primary energy sources from
RES, 10% of biofuels 3 in the transport sector). These measures if applied, would have global
consequences, but will require new technologies, a new industrial revolution.

2.8 Current Renewable Energy Share

RES are gradually expanding their role in global energy supplies. In 2004, renewable energy
accounted for approximately 13% of global primary energy supply, as shown in Figure 2-8.

Figure 2-8 Fuel shares of world primary energy supply (IEA, 2006)

3
In the International Conference on Biofuels held in July 2007, the European Energy Commissioner said that the targeted
10% biofuels could be produced within Europe, but that biofuel with the highest levels of CO2 should be avoided.

13
 The biggest contributors were large hydropower (approximately 2%) and biomass (just over 10%).
Around 1% of global primary energy came from new renewable sources, such as PV, solar thermal,
wind power, small-scale hydropower, geothermal, biogas and new biomass (Table 2-2).
Technology EJ Share
Hydro 10.0 2.1%
Geothermal power 1.9 0.4%
Wind power 0.3 0.1%
Solar power (PV) 0.005 0.001%
Geothermal heat 0.2 0.04%
Solar heat 0.2 0.04%
Biomass 48.3 10.4%
Total renewable 60.9 13.1%
Total global primary energy
consumption 465.4 100.0%
Table 2-2 The contribution of RES in global primary energy supply in 2004

Table 2-3 shows production of electricity (power generation), demonstrating that hydro has the
largest installed capacity, followed by wind, biomass, geothermal and solar PV; for heating, biomass,
has the largest installed capacity, followed by solar thermal and geothermal.

14
 Table 2-3 Renewables installed capacity 2004-2005

As can be seen from Figure 2-9, the fastest-growing energy technologies are wind and solar, and
over recent years they have increased by some 30-50% annually, albeit starting from very low levels
(especially PV). Biodiesel is increasing, over the last five years by 25%, calculated as the average
annual growth rate.

15
Figure 2-9 Annual growth of renewables supply from 1971 to 2003 (IEA, 2006)

Figure 2-10 Renewables data 2004-2005 (REN21)

Due to the major contribution of biomass in total RES, regions in Asia, Africa and Latin America
emerge as the main renewables users; but in terms of hydro and other (or ‘new’) renewables (solar,
wind), the OECD countries account for the biggest use (Figure 2-11).

16
 Figure 2-11 Regional shares of renewables supply (IEA, 2006)

Figure 2-12 and Figure 2-13 show installed capacities of renewables compared with world
capacity and the installed capacities of developing countries.

Figure 2-12 Top five countries in 2005

17
 Figure 2-13 Renewables electricity capacity

Most consumption by the residential sector is for cooking and heating (Figure 2-14). In fact, there is
a deep difference in renewables energy uses from traditional and non commercial to modern energy
sources.

Figure 2-14 Global sectoral consumption of renewables (IEA, 2006)

2.9 Renewable Energy Potential

An overview of the availability of energy resources 4 is essential regardless of what long term
energy policy will be adopted. There are some differences regarding RES and fossil sources.
We look at the theoretical potential of RES, e.g. sun, wind, biomass, water, geothermal, etc., to
estimate annual energy flows. We analyse this theoretical potential using maps for equivalent annual
solar radiation, speed and distribution of wind, biomass index, water capacities (difference between
precipitation and evaporation), hydraulic heads (differences in geodetic quotas), geothermal fields,
etc. It is also possible to include physical and socio-economic considerations (slope of the land,
eventual road access, presence of electrical grid, gas pipeline and proximity of aqueducts to power
plants, etc.) to determine the theoretically available potential. To analyse fossil fuel global
occurrences, taking into account all the typologies of resources, are examined. 5

4
The World Energy Council (WEC) in 1998 defined energy resources as primary energy sources with a demand and
conversion and use technology[5].
5
Also in this case we include the resources available without technical-economic limitations.

18
 Figure 2-15. Forms of potential for renewables and fossil resources

The technical potential of RES is the fraction of the theoretical potential that current technologies
allow to be exploited. The equivalent for fossil resources is constituted by the resources (economic or
not, identified or not, excluding resources that current technologies do not allow to be exploited).
The economical potential is the fraction of technical potential that it is economic to exploit. The
equivalent for fossil resources is the reserves (verifiable, probable and feasible). Finally, the effective
potential of RES is the fraction of economic potential that is exploited, taking into account a
country’s demand and energy policies. For fossil resources, assuming existing demand and
favourable policy, the effective potential is analogous to the verifiable reserves, i.e. the effectively
measured reserves, whose production is possible based on the economic and technological
conditions.
Obviously these potentials are affected by several factors (environmental, technical, economic
and social), so the numeric value of each could change dynamically with environmental changes,
technological developments, market conditions and the political situation.

2.10 Current and Potential Contribution of RES

The current contribution of RES is about 10% of world energy consumptions, but the theoretical
and technical potential of RES is huge mainly as solar and geothermal energy. In fact only about
0.02% of the global contribution to the earth’s energy balance 6 does not come from solar energy;
this small amount comes from geothermal, gravitational and nuclear sources. Moreover, all the
technical potential of indirect solar (wind, hydro, biomass, wave) is about half or a third (depending
on the assessment) of the direct solar technical potential. The heat stored in the earth, the
geothermal energy theoretical potential, originates from the earth’s molten interior and from the
decay of radioactive materials; it exists in larger quantity than solar energy theoretical potential
(annual solar irradiation). Thus, not only is total theoretical potential over 100,000 times more than
world energy consumption (geothermal 100,000, solar 10,000, others about 10), 7 the total
technical potential of RES is 20 times higher. Therefore, implementation of RES is mainly dependent
on technological proficiency and cost, not availability. Owing to the very huge undeveloped potential
we have to take account of not only present but also expected capacity and efficiency, and
economic, social and environmental impacts. For example, goal-yield is the yield starting from actual
yield that increases following improvements resulting from R&D and experience.

6
The earth is a physical open system (exchanging energy, not matter), it receives energy from the sun rejecting almost the
same average quantity thus maintaining its equilibrium.
7
From the mean average value of annual solar constant (1.37 kW/m2) and the mean radiated terrestrial surface, it is
possible to calculate a terrestrial annual solar irradiation of about 5.44×1024 J (1,370 W/m2 × 1,27 × 1014 m2 × 3,600
J/W × 24 × 365) against an annual primary energy consumption of about 500×1018 J= 500 EJ (1 oil kg has 10,000 kcal
= 4.1868 ×107 J; thus 1 Gtoe = 4.1868 × 1019 J = 41.868 EJ).

19
 Technical Theoretical
Resource Current Share Share Share
potential potential
Biomass 48.3 10.4% >276 3.6% 2,900 0.0020%
Hydro 10.0 2.1% 50 0.7% 147 0.0001%
Solar power 0.2 0.001% >1,575 20.7% 3,900,000 2.7083%
Wind power 0.3 0.1% 640 8.4% 6,000 0.0042%
Geothermal power 2.1 0.4% 5,000 65.8% 140,000,000 97.2222%
Total renewable 60.9 13.1% >7,600 100.0% 144,000,000 100.0000%
World energy
465.4 100.0% 6.1% 0.0003%
consumption
Table 2-4 Summary of the RES potential in EJ/y (WEA, UNDP, 2004)

Although it is difficult to foresee major technological improvement for large hydro and geothermal
energy, thermal solar power plants can be considered to hold huge promise for the future ( currently
there are no commercial power plants on pilot trials). For mini-hydro, wind and PV there should be an
increase in efficiency and a decrease in costs, of 10% and 50% respectively. There will also be
improvements in bio-energy systems, increasing annual operating hours e.g. from 5,000 to 7,000.
Table 2-5 presents total installed power and energy production. Equivalent full annual operating
power time is calculated by dividing energy production by operating capacity. The table shows
current investment and energy costs and other aspects, for hydro, wind and solar energy
technologies.
Mean Full
Operating Energy
Power Energy Environ Expected
capacity produced Investment
Annual Cost -mental Improve
in GW in TWh cost (€/kW)
Equivalent (€/kWh) Aspects -ments
end 2001 (th or e) 2001
h
Large Hydro 690.00 2,600.00 3,768 2000 0.05 High No
Small Hydro 25.00 100.00 4,000 3000 0.05 Low Yes
Total Hydro 715.00 2,700.00 3,776
Wind 23 43.00 1,869 1150 0.05 Low Yes
Solar PV 1.10 1.00 909 6000 0.35 Medium Yes
Solar Th.El. 0.40 0.90 2,250 5000 0.20 Medium Yes
Solar Ther. 57.00 57.00 1,000 1000 0.02 Low No
Total Solar 58.50 58.90 1,007
Table 2-5 2001 World RES capacity and energy produced and mean data

20
2.11 References

1. International Energy Agency (IEA) statistics, web site: www.iea.org/statist/keyword/keystats.htm,

2007.
2. IEA, World Energy Outlook 2006, www.iea.org, WEO, 2006.
3. IEA, Potential for Building Integrated Photovoltaics, 2003.
4. United Nation Organisation statistics, web site: www.undp.org, 2007.
5. United Nations Development Program (UNDP-UNDESA-WEC), World Energy Assessment, WEA,
2000 and update 2004.
6. IEA - United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Hydropower and the World’s
Energy Future, 2000.
7. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Department of Energy (DOE) statistics, web
site: www.nrel.gov and www.eren.doe.gov.
8. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Department Of Energy (DOE), International and Annual
energy Outlook 2007, www.eia.doe.gov, IEO and AEO, 2007.
9. European Commission, World Energy Technology Outlook 2006 (DGRTD),
http://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/pdf/weto-h2_en.pdf, WETO, 2006.
10. European Commission, Energy Policy for Europe, http://Eur-
lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/it/com/2007/com2007_0001it01.pdf, 2007.
11. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Climate Change 2007, www.ipccc.ch, 2007.
12. Stern, Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, www.hm-
tresaury.gv.uk/indipendent_reviews/stern_report.cfm, 2007.
13. World Wide Found (WWF), The living planet report 2006, 2006.
14. Energy and Environment Italian Agency (ENEA), 2006 Energy and Environment Report (Rapporto
Energia e Ambiente), 2007, (in Italian).
15. ENEA, Solar thermal energy production: guidelines and future programmes of ENEA, 2001.
16. International Solar Energy Society (ISES), Renewable Energy state of art (Stato dell’arte delle fonti
energetiche nuove e rinnovabili), 1996, (in Italian).

21
3. CURRENT STATE-OF-ART OF RENEWABLES IN LATIN
AMERICA

3.1 Renewables and the Power Sector

Since the mid 1990s most Latin America countries have adopted similar energy policies that
include monopolisation, unbundling, regulatory bodies, privatisation and subsidy removal. In many
countries of Latin America:
1. the State has a majority role;
2. RES are not central in energy policies;
3. there is a limit on small scale connection of RES to the grid.

The power sector is in crisis, particularly in terms of financing and ability to meet demand at
least-cost, and on an environmentally sustainable basis. Most Latin American countries need a
restructuring of their energy sectors and a focus on the development of renewable energies. Some
regions are starting to make progress in the area of RES through the provision of funding, subsidies
and rural developments; however, much remains to be done. There is a strong polarisation in the
region between north and south, and between the coastal region and the mountains, this last area
being particularly challenging in terms of electrification.
In general, significantly expanded access to energy will be required to improve security of energy
supply and social equity, create jobs, and protect the global and local environment.

3.2 Energy Resources in Latin America

Energy supply in the Latin America region is based mainly on oil. Only some countries, Mexico,
Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil, in the area have sufficient oil resources to be self sufficient; the rest
of the region depends on imports.
Hydro resources are available in most countries. Brazil and most of Central America depend on
hydro electricity generating. Natural gas is plentiful in Argentina, Bolivia and Peru, but its exploitation
needs to be developed in some countries. Several countries in the region have no commercial fossil
fuel supplies.
All the countries in the region are endowed with abundant RES. Solar, wind, biomass, small hydro
and energy resources derived from the ocean are available in region in larger or smaller quantities,
depending on their geographical location and morphology.
Wind, based on commercially available and cost-competitive technologies, can be used to
produce mechanical power and electricity. South east Mexico and most Central American and
Caribbean countries are under the influence of the Trade Winds, while Southern Mexico and Central
America are also exposed to strong and almost constant thermally driven winds, which are known in
Mexico as Tehuantepacer. These winds are produced by the temperature difference between the
Atlantic waters and the Pacific Ocean. There are also windy areas in the southern hemisphere. The
wind must be of a certain strength to produce power effectively, but excessively strong winds can be
a major threat to wind generators. However, when properly harnessed, wind has been proved to be a
reliable energy resource. Brazil and Argentina have developed wind maps to guide wind project
developers. A low resolution wind map of the region was developed in the mid 1990s by the Latin
American Energy Organization (OLADE).

22
 Figure 3-1 Wind potential for Latin America

Solar is fairly evenly distributed in the region, with many countries lying within the so-called Sun
Belt Region of highest solar radiation. Thus, apart from site specific adverse microclimates, solar
energy would be a predictable and reliable resource, capable of transformation to heat and
electricity using various technologies currently at different stages of development and commercial
availability. Solar irradiation maps are available for Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Peru and a
few other countries.

Figure 3-2 Global radiation in Latin America

23
 As a natural consequence of the solar radiation available, photosynthetic activity in most of the
area is high, leading to major production of biomass. The economies of many of the countries in the
region are based on agriculture, which produces vegetable waste, and forest and animal waste,
which are abundant sources of biomass. These resources are difficult to evaluate, and information in
aggregate form is scarce.

Figure 3-3 Fuelwood production in Latin America

Figure 3-4 Productive forest area in relation to the total area of the country

Most countries in the region already use a good portion of their hydraulic potential to generate
electricity. However, most operations are in the multi-megawatt range, seeking economies of scale
characteristic of hydroelectric technologies. This leaves a large portion of small hydroelectric
potential unexploited. Given the high rainfall indices and the rough topography of many countries,

24
 small hydropower offers a good alternative for electricity supply, especially in remote and difficult to
access sites.

Figure 3-5 Theoretical hydraulic potential

Wave and tidal power, along with other forms of ocean energy, represent enormous energy
potential for countries in the region, because of the large coastline to inland ratio of most countries.
Unfortunately, the technologies to tap these energy resources are still far from commercialisation.
The down side of the RES scenario in the region is that few efforts have been made to properly
measure and characterise the resources. Where information exists it is limited, and not very reliable.
In most cases, however, there is no information, which represents a major barrier to the
incorporation of RES in national energy plans and policies.

3.3 Hydro

3.3.1 Argentina

The Hydropower and Dams World Atlas quotes Argentina’s theoretical gross hydropower potential
as 172,000GWh/yr; the technically feasible potential is put at 130,000GWh/yr, of which about 24%
has been exploited.
Hydro output in 2002 was 36.0TWh, which was exceptionally high and reflected unusually
favourable hydrological conditions. With an installed capacity of 9,734MW at the end of 2002, an
average year’s hydro output would be around 30.8TWh.
A substantial portion of Argentina’s hydro capacity is accounted for by its 50% share in two bi-
national schemes: Salto Grande shared with Uruguay, Yacyreta and Paraguay. Latter plant is
currently operating at a reduced head, and capacity restricted to 1,800MW.
Total hydro capacity reported as under construction at the end of 2002 was 191MW, with a
further 1,013MW in the planning stage. The Secretariat of Energy for Argentina has prioritised the
compiling of a catalogue of hydroelectric projects. This involves setting up a projects library, updating
and improving cost-estimation procedures, reviewing existing projects and evaluating newly
identified resources.

25
3.3.2 Bolivia

For Cochabamba’s conditions, a mini-hydroelectric 100kW plant costs around US$300,000 and
is capable of providing domestic and production-oriented energy to 400 households; a 200W unit
costs US$600 for electromechanical equipment, and another similar amount for civil works. As costs
are lower than for solar systems, the cost of the energy produced is about 15 times lower than that
derived from solar energy.
A project inventory carried out by the national energy ministry, in the early 2000s, revealed the
feasibility of installing 7MW micro-plants, distributed across more than 100 projects, to supply
almost 20,000 families.

3.3.3 Brazil

Hydroelectric power is one of Brazil’s principal energy assets: the republic has the largest
hydropower resources on the continent. The Brazilian World Engineer Convention (WEC) Member
Committee reports that gross theoretical capability exceeds 3,000TWh/yr, with an economically
exploitable capability of over 800TWh/yr, of which nearly 40% has so far been harnessed. Hydro
output in 2002 was 285TWh, which accounted for 89% of Brazil’s electricity generation.
Hydroelectric plants (above 30MW capacity) represent 78% of Brazilian installed capacity. Thus,
Brazil’s electricity generation is strongly influenced by the natural flows of rivers and other
watercourses. In 2001, due to unexpectedly low water flows, a power outage occurred in Brazil.
However, in 2002 reservoir levels rose, new power plants came into operation and consumers were
making more efficient use of energy, all of which has considerably reduced the risks of future power
outages in the short term.
Hydro generating capacity in Brazil more than doubled between 1980 and 1999, partly through
the commissioning of the huge Itaipu scheme (total capacity 12,600MW), which came on line
between 1984 and 1991. Brazil shares Itaipu’s output with its neighbour Paraguay, which sells back
to Brazil the surplus remaining after its own electricity needs have been satisfied. At the end of
2002, Brazil had over 7GW of hydro capacity under construction, including a major (4,125MW)
extension of capacity at Tucuruı and two additional 700MW units at Itaipu. Nearly 7GW of hydro
capacity is planned for future development.
In the above context, small-scale hydro (defined by Brazil in 1998 as 1–30MW capacity plants)
has an economically exploitable capability of about 17TWh/yr, some 27% of which had been
exploited by capacity installed at the end of 2002.
The 975MW of small-scale hydro currently in place will be augmented by the 2,280MW additional
capacity that is under construction or planned. Under current legislation, owners/developers of small
scale hydro schemes receive incentives, which are designed to increase competition in the electricity
market.

3.3.4 Chile

Chile has substantial hydropower potential, with technically exploitable capability estimated at
about 162TWh/yr, of which some 15% has so far been exploited. Hydro output in 2002 was
22.6TWh, equivalent to about 53% of Chile’s total electricity generation. The largest hydro scheme
currently under development is the 570MW Ralco project, which is expected to become operational
in 2004. A number of projects, including some long-term schemes, are planned: La
Higuera/Tinguririca (260MW), Baker (1,000MW), Pascua (1,200MW), Neltume (400MW),
Choshuenco (150MW) and Punilla (100MW).

3.3.5 Colombia

The theoretical potential for hydropower in Colombia is large - estimated at 1,000TWh/yr, of

which 20% is classified as technically feasible. The economically exploitable capability has been
evaluated at 140TWh/yr: hydro output in 2002 represented about a quarter of this potential, and
accounted for around two-thirds of Colombia’s electricity generation. Two large hydro schemes have
recently come on stream - Porce II (392MW) and La Miel I (400MW). Around 10,000MW of new
capacity is at the planning stage for medium- to long-term implementation, including Sogamoso
(1,035MW), Nechı (750MW), Porce III (660MW), La Miel II (411MW) and Quimbo (400MW).

26
3.3.6 Costa Rica

For a country with a surface area of only 51 100 km2, Costa Rica has surprisingly large
hydroelectric potential. Its gross theoretical potential is estimated at 223TWh/yr, of which 43TWh/yr
has been assessed as technically feasible. Aggregate hydro capacity was 1,263MW at end-2002,
equivalent to about 77% of Costa Rica’s generating capacity. Several new hydro plants are under
construction or planned: the largest being Cariblanco (70MW), due to be commissioned in 2006,
and Pirris (128MW), scheduled to come on line in 2007.

3.3.7 Cuba

Cuba has 175 hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of 54.7MW, which generate
90GWh.

3.3.8 Ecuador

Ecuador has a portfolio of small hydro projects including some 3,220MW plants. These should
receive funding within the framework of support mechanisms, such as the FERUM (Fund for
Electrification of Marginal Rural and Urban Areas). In discussions about the prospects for renewable
energy, the importance of including hydro energy as a sustainable source was underlined, e.g. one
project (Proyecto de Propósito Múltiple Quevedo Vinces) involves integration of the Baba dam project
with the Río Guayas basin. This project is expected to generate more than 50MW, reduce flooding
downriver, regularise flows (80% between January and May) and enable irrigation.

3.3.9 Mexico

With a gross theoretical hydro capability of 135TWh/yr and a technically exploitable capability of
49TWh/yr (Hydropower & Dams World Atlas, 2003), Mexico possesses considerable hydroelectric
potential. Its economically exploitable capability quoted by the same source is 32.2TWh/yr.
The Mexican WEC Member Committee reports that actual hydro generation in 2002 was
24.9TWh, equivalent to 11.6% of total net generation. Nearly 1,700MW of additional hydro capacity
was reported to be under construction at the end of 2002, with approximately the same amount of
capacity planned for future development. The principal plants are
1. El Cajon (680MW), scheduled for completion in 2007;
2. La Parota (765MW), due on stream in 2008;
3. Copainala´ (210MW), due on stream in 2008.

A major extension of the Manuel Moreno Torres (Chicoasen) hydro plant is planned for
completion in 2003; this will add three units, with a total additional capacity of 900MW. At end
2002, installed capacity of small scale hydropower as reported by the Mexican Member Committee,
was 385MW, with an annual output of 1,488GWh.

3.3.10 Paraguay

Paraguay’s outstanding natural energy asset is its hydroelectric potential, which is mainly derived
from the river Parana and its tributaries. The country’s gross theoretical capability for hydroelectricity
is about 111TWh/yr, of which 68TWh is estimated to be economically exploitable. Two huge
hydroelectric schemes currently exploit the flow of the Parana: Itaipu, which Paraguay shares with
Brazil, and Yacyreta, which it shares with Argentina.
Itaipu is the world’s largest hydroelectric plant, with total generating capacity of 12,600MW, half
of which goes to Paraguay. This share is far in excess of Paraguay’s current or forecast needs and
most of this output is sold back to Brazil. Two more 700MW units are being installed at Itaipu, with
completion expected in 2004.
The bi-national plant at Yacyreta, downstream from Itaipu, has an installed capacity of 3,100MW.
There are 20 generating units, each of 155MW capacity, all of which are operating at only 90MW per
unit, owing to the reservoir level being held below what was originally planned. The planned addition
of 255MW of hydro capacity on the Añacuá, a tributary of the Parana´, would raise the level of the
water in the Yacyreta reservoir, leading to improved utilisation of the bi-national scheme’s turbines.

27
 Paraguay has a wholly owned 256MW hydro plant (Acaray), which will probably be upgraded
during the next few years. The state electricity utility, ANDE, also plans to install two 100MW units at
Yguazu. An environmental impact study has been conducted for the projected bi-national Corpus
Christi dam (2,880MW, to be shared with Argentina), to be sited on the Parana´, downstream of
Itaipú and upstream of Yacyreta.

3.3.11 Peru

Peru’s topography, with the Andes running the length of the country and many fast-flowing rivers,
endows the republic with enormous hydroelectric potential. Its hydro capability is assessed as
among the largest in South America: its economically exploitable capability is some 260TWh/yr.
Current utilisation of this capability is very low, at around 6%. Hydro provides about 75% of Peru’s
electricity.
Plants under construction at the end of 2002 were Chimay (142MW), Ocona (150MW) and
Yu´ncan (134MW). About 1,500MW of hydro capacity is planned for development over the
short/medium term, including Olmos (624MW), Cheves (525MW) and El Platanal (two plants
totalling 270MW).

3.3.12 Uruguay

Hydropower is Uruguay’s only indigenous source of commercial primary energy, and is limited.
According to Hydropower & Dams World Atlas 2003, the technically exploitable potential is
10TWh/yr, from a gross theoretical potential of 32TWh. The Uruguayan WEC Member Committee
estimates the gross theoretical capability at only 16TWh and reports 2002 output to be 9,535 GWh,
thus leaving only small incremental capacity available for exploitation in the future.
During the 1980s almost all of Uruguay’s incremental generating capacity was in the form of
hydropower, based on the commissioning of the bi-national Salto Grande (1,890MW) plant on the
river Uruguay, whose output is shared with Argentina. No new hydro plants are under construction or
planned: future increases in generating capacity are likely to be fuelled by natural gas.

3.3.13 Venezuela

The Venezuelan WEC Member Committee reports a gross theoretical capability of 320TWh/yr, of
which 130TWh/yr is considered to be economically exploitable. Hydroelectric output in 2002 was
54.8TWh, a relatively low level due to low water availability. Hydro output in an average year should
reach 65TWh, representing half the realistic potential.
About 70% of the republic’s electricity requirements are met from hydropower. A large increase in
hydroelectric capacity occurred during the 1980s as a result of the new Guri plant (Raúl Leoni), on
the river Caronı in eastern Venezuela, whose 10,300MW capacity makes it (at the time of writing)
the world’s second largest hydro station, after Itaipu. Its capacity is currently being expanded to
10,700MW.
At end 2002, total hydroelectric generating capacity is reported to be 13.76GW, 4.5GW under
construction and a further 7.4GW planned for future development.
The 2,160 MW Caruachi project, sited 59km downstream from Guri, is scheduled for phased
entry into operation between 2003 and 2006. There are two other major projects planned for the
river Caronı: Tocoma (2,160MW) and Tayucay (2,450MW).

3.3.14 Dominican Republic

Although the Dominican Republic claims to have made substantial progress in exploiting its large-
scale hydroelectric potential, mini-hydro potential has neither been properly identified nor exploited.
According to the available information, the most significant contribution from RES comes from
conventional hydro sources, with installed generating capacity standing at 452MW, with mini plants
representing aggregate capacity of 0.93MW.

28
3.4 Wind
Wind represents one of fastest growing energy technologies, increasing over the last 5 years by
more than 30% per annum on average. Europe accounts for most wind power, with 75% of global
installed capacity. A major development is offshore installations, which, if successful, will provide a
huge new wind energy resource. This should spur technological development of even bigger wind
turbines, up to 5MW.
The increase in wind turbines is providing challenges for electricity systems. In Western Denmark
more than 20% of annual electricity consumption is now delivered by wind turbines. New grid
developments are needed to cope with this new source of electricity.
The increased numbers of wind turbines has produced a downward trend in the price of turbines
and generating costs. This is in line with conventional industrial theory. These reduced costs will be
an important factor in promoting the diffusion of wind power. Other important factors are the
reduced dependence on fossil energy resources and emission free wind turbine operations. Wind
resources can be exploited in most parts of the world. For wind power to be feasible, modern
technology is required accompanied by annual average wind speeds over 5m/s (metres per second).

3.4.1 Argentina

Although the whole country experiences windy conditions, the greatest concentration of wind
farms is in Patagonia, whose potential for wind energy is considered to be one of the largest in the
world. Potential output, according to some studies, is estimated at 300,000MW based on mean
wind speeds of over 8m/s.
Wind resource applications are being utilised to generate electricity for mechanical pumping for
water troughs for cattle, sheep, pigs, etc. and for irrigation. Electricity generation is based on
cooperative ventures that supply electricity to the public.
There are three sizes of water pumping mills on the domestic market, rated according to the
diameter of the rotor. The calculations of power and energy output are based on an average mill.
According to the manufacturers’ data, mean power is 1hp, equivalent to 0.75kW, and average use is
8 hours/day, 330 days/yr.
The PERMER Project in Argentina was set up to promote the development of renewable energies
in rural markets.

3.4.2 Brazil

According to the Brazilian Wind Atlas, the gross wind resource potential is estimated at
approximately 140GW. However, only a portion (30GW) of that potential could be effectively
harnessed for wind power projects.
The Brazilian Government launched the PROINFA—Alternative Sources for Energy Incentive
Programme, a national programme designed to promote the use of wind, biomass and micro-hydro.
The first and second phases of the programme aim at a total of 4.15GW of wind energy by the end of
2014.
The main application of wind energy in Brazil is for installed capacity to be grid connected. At the
time of writing there were nine projects, representing 22,075MW installed, generating some
54GWh/yr:
City State Capacity (kW)
Fernando de Noronha Pernambuco 75
Aquiraz Ceara´ 10,000
Sa˜o Gonc¸alo do Amarante Ceara´ 5,000
Gouveia Minas Gerais 1,000
Palmas Parana´ 2,500
Fernando de Noronha Pernambuco 275
Fortaleza Ceara´ 2,400
Bom Jardim da Serra Santa Catarina 600
Olinda Pernambuco 225
Table 3-1 Installed capacity for Wind energy in Brazil

29
 3.4.3 Chile

In 1992, the available information on wind power was used to evaluate wind resources in the
country (Evaluación del potencial de energía eólica en Chile, CORFO). At the same time, the National
Energy Commission produced a preliminary mapping of wind power potential for the Chiloé
Archipelago, in order to evaluate this resource for rural areas not connected to the grid. This map
enabled the development of hybrid wind-diesel projects forecast to supply more than 3,100 families
on 32 islands in the archipelago.
At the time of writing only one of these projects, Alto Baguales, was up and running Alto Baguales
is an area with three wind generators (660kWc/u) with a nominal combined capacity of 2MW. In
November 2001, it was connected to the Aysén electricity system, which serves 19,000 families in
Chile’s XI Region. The project is owned by the Aysén electricity company (Empresa Eléctrica de
Aysén). The area’s high potential for wind power made this wind farm possible

3.4.4 Costa Rica

Costa Rica is reputed to have some of the highest average wind speeds in the world. In addition
to using geothermal and biomass resources, the Costa Rican government is demonstrating
commitment to the utilisation of wind in an effort to increase sustainability and reduce GHG
emissions.
In 1993 the government issued a tender for a 20MW grid-connected wind plant near the town of
La Tejona. The project involved the installation of 40-100 turbines on two parallel ridges to the
northwest of Lake Arenal. However, many problems were encountered, which delayed the project
until the late 1990s. It was not until September 2001 that the turbines were shipped and installation
began.
Another project, also near Lake Arenal, financed by private and public loans, various banks and
the Danish International Development Agency, has been developed. The 24MW Tierras Morenas
wind farm sells approximately 70,000MWh/yr of electricity to the Instituto Costarricense de
Electricidad, the state-owned national electric utility, under a 15-year power purchase agreement. At
the present time Costa Rica is the only country on the Central American isthmus that has wind parks
connected to the grid.
At the end of 2002, installed wind energy capacity was 62MW, which increased to 69MW by the
end of 2003.

3.4.5 Cuba

Cuba has 6,767 windmills to pump water, which increased to almost 10,000toe in 2002. There are
three facilities for the production of electricity using wind, with a total capacity of 0.46MW.

3.4.6 Ecuador

There is an interesting wind power initiative in the Loja region in the south of Ecuador. This is a high
potential site that has stable, almost unidirectional winds with average speeds of 10m/s, enabling the
installation of a 110MW plant. The first phase will involve development of a 15MW project, with funding
from the Andean Development Corporation (as the guarantor) and the Government of Denmark (to
finance the wind generators). The project design is based on strong leadership from the local
community in coordination with MEM.

3.4.7 Mexico

Mexico’s estimated wind potential is about 5,000MW, mostly located in the south of the country. The
Comisión Federal de Electricidad operates 2MW of the total installed capacity, 1MW is operated by self-
producers and 3MW are from small wind power generators and wind water pumps. Currently, the cost of
investment in wind power installations is around US$1,000 per kW installed, and electricity generation
costs are between US$5 and 11cents/kWh.

30
 3.4.8 Peru

To evaluate the country’s wind power, 31 metering stations have been set up across most of
Peru’s districts (departamentos). Results indicate that the best conditions are on the coast and
border regions between Bolivia and Chile. The Peruvian coast has significant wind power potential
with average wind speeds of 8m/s in Malabrigo, San Juan de Marcona and Paracas. Along most of
the rest of the coast, annual average wind speeds reach 6m/s, which indicate the value of
conducting an analysis of their potential for generating electricity.

3.4.9 Dominican Republic

The potential for wind power in the Dominican Republic is estimated at over 10,000MW, mostly
on the northern (towards the north-east) and the south-eastern coasts. There are already 30 small
facilities that use wind power.

The Dominican Republic has several RES projects, including eight wind power projects, involving
capacities ranging from 2-100MW, and a total of more than 300MW. Concessions are in place for
half of this capacity.

3.4.10 Uruguay

At the present time wind energy is utilised for water pumping in remote rural areas not connected
to the electricity grid. A pilot plant to study the feasibility of grid-connected wind generated electricity
was installed in March 2000.

3.5 Solar Energy

3.5.1 Argentina

Total installed power in the form of PV solar power energy, as part of the public utility services,
was estimated at 5MW in 2002. Estimated energy produced by this installed capacity was some
7MWh/year.

3.5.2 Bolivia

The rural electrification plan being implemented at the time of writing proposes the combined
implementation of distribution lines, local systems and decentralized power plants, mainly based on
solar energy, with the target being 45% coverage, adding to 60MW of demand by 2007.

3.5.3 Brazil

On average, Brazil receives 230Wh/m2 of solar radiation per year, giving the country considerable
theoretical potential for solar energy. However, the problems and uncertainties are equally large. In
common with the rest of the world, the future role of solar energy in Brazil is hard to predict. Many
technological advances would be required to make solar energy economically viable. Currently, there
are approximately 6,000 small projects with peak installed capacity of 3,000kW in a variety of
applications, primarily water pumping and lighting..

3.5.4 Cuba

Cuba has 7,000 PV systems with a capacity of 1.5MW, including 350 medical centres, 5 rural
hospitals, 2,364 primary schools, 1,864 rural television rooms and 150 social centres. There are
more than 1,800 facilities for heating water based on solar energy.

31
 3.5.5 Peru

Peru is equatorial and experiences little fog, thus solar energy is abundant. Average solar radiation
across a horizontal area of the Sierra is over 5kWh/m2 and in the forest ranges from 4-5kWh/m2, which
are very high levels.

3.5.6 Dominican Republic

There is a registry of a relatively small number (no more than 80) PV solar facilities for community
and private use. Of these, 29 are used in computer laboratories in the country’s border regions.]
A project to produce 83.4GWh using sugarcane bagasse has been reported and 41 drinking
water pumping systems that use PV systems are planned for border military posts.

3.6 Geothermal
Table 3.2 shows the levels of geothermal resources in the Latin American countries: geothermal
installed capacity and potential in MW (1995 data); total installed electricity capacity in MW (1995
data); population in millions and percentage of the population with electricity supply (1998 data). It
can be seen that geothermal energy potential in Latin America is important (in most case greater
than total electricity capacity), but and that only a few countries have installed geothermal power
plants. Potential is high for Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Peru and Costa Rica, but Peru has no
geothermal power plants.
Table 3.2 Geothermal capacity and potential 1995 8

Geothermal Geothermal Installed Population Electrification

Capacity Potential Capacity millions (% of
MW MW MW population)
Argentina 0.67 2010 20207 36.26 92%
Bolivia 0 2490 805 7.83 64%
Chile 0 2350 5946 14.79 97%
Colombia 0 2210 10584 38.58 NA
Costa Rica 152.5 2900 1370 3.6 93%
Ecuador 0 1700 3000 12.34 NA
El Salvador 160 2210 833 5.75 65%
Guatemala 29 3320 1005 12.01 68%
Honduras 0 990 721 5.86 50%
Mexico 751.88 6510 41071 98.55 95%
Nicaragua 70 3340 430 4.58 48%
Panama 0 450 985 2.73 67%
Peru 0 2990 4520 26.11 72%
Venezuela 0 910 18980 22.80 NA
Figure 3-6 shows that the main volcanoes (and the sites with high temperature geothermal
energy) are located along the Pacific coast. The countries where volcanoes occur are Argentina: 32,
Bolivia: 32, Chile: 117, Colombia: 14, Costa Rica: 11, Ecuador: 23, El Salvador: 19, Guatemala: 24,
Honduras: 4, Mexico: 39, Nicaragua: 19, Panama: 3, Peru: 12.

8
Battocletti, Lawrence & Associates, Inc. (1999) Geothermal Resources in Latin American and the Caribbean. For Sandia
National Laboratories & the US Department of Energy, Office of Geothermal Technologies.

32
 Figure 3-6 Volcanoes in Latin America 9

References
1. Jorge M Huacuz, Overview of Renewable Energy Sources in Latin America, Non-Conventional
Energy Unit, Alternative Energy Division, Electrical Research Institute (IIE)
2. World Energy Council. 2004 Survey of Energy resources
3. Renewable Energy Resource Maps. http://www.geni.org/globalenergy/library/renewable-
energy-resources/index.shtml

9 Source: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/

33
4. WIND ENERGY

4.1 Wind Resources

Wind is a product of the earth’s solar radiation, the earth’s rotation, local differences in the
earth’s surface, temperature, density and pressure differences (in space and in time).
The most relevant parameters are wind speed (annual mean, maximum and instantaneous), and
the related frequency distributions and directions. Wind speed is measured on the Beaufort scale
(from 0 no wind, to 12 hurricane force). Quantity is measured using anemometers, the most
common types being depicted in Figure 4-1 .

Figure 4-1. Anemometers.

Figure 4-2 depicts the Betz limit (maximum efficiency 16/27 or 59%, attained when the rotors on
a wind turbine slow wind speeds by a third). It can be seen that the turbines are driven by pressure
differences, which produce a decrease in air speed.

Figure 4-2 Analysis of wind flow

In general power is derived from the kinetic energy induced by the mass of moving air (wind).

1 Equation 4-1
P= ρ ⋅ A ⋅ V13 ⋅ 0,59
2
Equation 4-1 shows that the amount of power increases by a factor of 3 as the speed of wind
increases and is proportional to the density of the air and to the swept area (for a HAWT10 the area
through which the rotor blades pass by the rotors). Because of the low density of air (1.25kg/m3), the
power density of wind is lower than the power density of water (1,000kg/m3). If the diameter of the
rotor blades is doubled, the power increases by a factor of 4. If the wind speed then doubles, the
power increases by a factor of 8.
Wind speed, then, is the most important factor. Wind speeds are measured at different heights
(Figure 4-3 shows the US wind map) so models based on this simple information give the values at
different heights, and taking into account macroscopic ‘rugosity’ and average atmospheric
conditions.

10
Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbine

34
 Figure 4-3 U.S. Annual wind power resource and wind power classes

Wind speeds vary in intensity and direction over short periods of time, necessitating statistical
analysis. Wind speeds up to 5m/s (breeze) are classed as low (scarcely perceivable: thus class 1
areas are unsuitable for wind energy development); from 5 to 15m/s (54km/h) is ‘normal’ (but only
areas designated class 4 or higher are suitable for wind turbine technology; class 2 and 3 areas may
be included with more advanced technology), over 15m/s is storm force (35m/s, i.e. 126km/h is
hurricane force). Significant areas of the world have annual mean wind speeds of above 4-5m/s,
which makes small-scale wind powered electricity generation an option. It is important to obtain
accurate wind speed data before any decision about the suitability of sites for wind exploitation is
made.
4.2 Wind technologies
From ancient times wind energy has been used as a source of power (sailing boats in Egypt in
2500BC, windmills, described by Hammurabi in 1792BC, drying, ventilation, etc.), but it is only
recently that wind energy has come to be better understood and used with greater efficiency.
Windmills that changed the axis from vertical to horizontal were used during the middle ages in
Europe. In the beginning of the 1900s, windmills based on modern aerodynamic theory used lift
instead of drag, reducing the sails and increasing the efficiency. It was not until the mid-1970s that
modern grid-connected wind turbines began to be installed.
In 1900, in Denmark, Paul La Cour developed a four sail Horizontal Axes Wind Turbine (HAWT). In
1925, Albert Betz calculated maximum wind turbine performance, which came to be known as the
Betz limit, and the optimal geometry of rotor blades. In 1930 S.J. Savonius in Finland developed a
new, but still drag prevalent, Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) and F.M. Darrieus designed a vertical
axes rotor. In 1950, Professor Ulrich Hütter applied aerodynamics and fibre optics technology to the
construction of rotor blades for an experimental wind turbine.

35
 Table 4-1 shows the main categories of wind turbines (in general there are also mixed types, i.e.
Darrieus plus Savonius to self start, and other types).

Type Figure Efficiency Turn Torque Advantages Disadvantages Applications

self-start, pumping,
Vertical Axis also low and low efficiency, grinding,
Low (tip
Low strong forces on the domestic
Drag speed
High winds, very bearings and electricity
Prevalent (10-20%) ratio < quiet, safer, generator high, especially with
(Savonius) 1)
easier to not large scale strong turbulent
build winds

High self-start,
Vertical Axis (tip Similar to Low scale
Medium lower efficiency
speed Medium Darrieus but electricity
Drag -> Lift (15-35%) than a Darrieus
ratio > cheaper generation, etc
1) and easier

High
Vertical Axis High not self-start,
efficiency,
High (tip blades stronger
Lift can be Electricity
speed Low (but bearings
Prevalent (25-45%) ratio > mounted generation
and generator
(Darrieus) close to the
1) forces low)
ground

Horizontal Low (tip

Axis Low low efficiency,
speed
High self-start only small scale, -
Drag (10-20%) ratio < not self-aligned
Prevalent 1)

High
Horizontal Not efficient in
High efficiency,
Axis ‘closed’ space
High (tip self-start,
(i.e. high wind Electricity
Lift speed Low better
(40-50%) ratio = variability - small generation
Prevalent suited to
operative range),
(HAWT) 6-7) regular
not self-aligned
winds

Table 4-1 Type of windmills

The criteria for wind turbines are:

- the position of the axis (horizontal or vertical) and the prevalent force;
- the number of blades and, for HAWTs, the position of the rotor-tower with respect to the wind.
A HAWT with rotors rotating in front of the tower (windward) minimises the stress, and the
noise from the tower and the nacelle, while leeward HAWT are self-aligned, which limits their
use to low scale applications;
- the nominal power (power generated at a specific wind velocity, generally 11-15m/s, i.e. 40-
54km/h): small wind turbines have 5-100kW of power, medium 0.1-1MW, and large over
1MW

36
 After World War II, the most widely diffused wind turbine was the lift prevalent HAWT. Most
modern rotors have three blades, of between 40-90 metres in diameter. Figure 4.1 shows that the
VAWT, 11 although they do work at low speeds and are self-aligned, are less efficient. Thus, for large
scale electricity generation, the lift HAWT and the Darrieus VAWT are the most appropriate turbines.
For small scale generation in conditions of turbulent and/or low wind speeds a mixed drag-lift VAWT
is the most appropriate.
The performance of wind turbines based on the lift principle is higher (around 50%, close to the
theoretical limit) than turbines that work on the resistance (drag) principle, due to the relatively high
lift-to-drag ratio. In the former type the lift exerted on the rotor blade is generated by the wind
velocity, but even more so by the blade's own rotation; thus, wind turbine performance can be
improved by optimising tip speed ratio (lambda), i.e. the ratio of wind to tip of rotor blade velocities. If
the tip speed ratio = 1, the rotor will have many blades, will generate great torque, and run at slow
speeds. If the tip speed ratio is higher, the rotor will have fewer blades, generate less torque, and run
at higher velocity (modern HAWT have λ=4-8; so, with a wind speed of 10m/s, the rotor tip can be
travelling at velocities of 40-80m/s, i.e. 144-288km/h). Moreover modern wind turbines can change
the velocity of the rotor based on the instantaneous wind speed, to work at optimum λ, across a wide
range of wind speeds. As shown in Figure 4-4, the power and the moment vary with λ.

Figure 4-4 Power and moment versus λ in different turbines

The three-blade model is the most common: the one or two-blade models have poorer
distribution of mass (and consequently involve greater stress) and are noisier. Noise levels increase
by a factor of 6 as the speed of rotor tip increases.
Wind turbines begin generating power at the cut-in speed of around 2.5-4m/s (the wind speed
required to turn a loaded rotor, start up speed, which turns an unloaded rotor is slightly lower) and
cut off speed of 25-34m/s (furling wind speed). Between these ranges there is nominal velocity (the
rated wind speed that generates nominal power, normally 11-15m/s). Thus, a wind turbine has four
work conditions depending on wind speed:

1. before cut in, the rotor is fixed;

2. between cut in and rated wind speed, the turbine works at partial load;
3. between nominal and furling wind speeds, the turbine works at controlled power;
4. beyond furling wind speed the turbine is stopped (resisting, by the actual normative, up to 70m/s)

Power output is generally controlled in the following ways:

1. Stall control (aerodynamic turbulence): the rotor blades are designed to cause turbulence at the
edge of the blade (stall) to limit speed. In active stall control, the pitch of the rotor blades can also
be changed.

11
Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine.

37
2. Pitch control: Electronics and hydraulics are used to adjust the pitch of each blade (rotate the
blades) infinitesimally. This reduces the lift, so that the rotor continues to generate power at
nominal capacity even in conditions of high wind speeds.
3. Yaw control: to position the nacelle in the direction of the prevailing wind or to position the nacelle
away from very strong winds, through a twist in the vertical axis. For rotors up to 10m in diameter
this is achieved by a vane after inactive mode with anemometer and motor.

Stall control Pitch control

Figure 4-5 Stall and pitch control

To feed electricity into the grid there are three possible configurations. For European grid
frequencies (50Hz) the rounds per minute of the generator, for a 2-pole generator, are 1500
(60*50/2), thus the tip speed, based on 40m diameter, is unrealistic (about 3.000 m/s,
1500*6.28*20/60). However, for 15m diameter and 30 pole generators the tip speed is acceptable
(approx. 80m/s). Therefore, for large wind turbines, the rotor is connected to the generator (normally
asynchronous) through a gearbox (e.g. 1:50 ratio) or for a synchronous generator, a direct drive
system. Because voltage and frequency vary with speed, the alternating current (AC) output is
converted into direct current (DC) using a rectifier, is filtered and then converted back into AC using
an inverter which has high speed variability. Asynchronous generators ‘naturally’ limit power
production, restricting the speed of the system to the frequency of the power grid (and where
applicable the pitch control). Thus, asynchronous generators are robust and low-maintenance and
reduce the need for synchronisation or sophisticated electronic controls. Synchronous generators
are more efficient and, if the direct drive system is utilised, maintenance (fewer wearing parts, no
gear oil changes, etc.) and noise levels are lower, and grid compatibility is higher.

4.3 Maturity
Currently wind energy is via wind turbines to produce mechanical energy for electricity (wind
generators), where in remote areas, there is small scale direct use of mechanical energy for water-
pumping (wind pumps). Figure 4-6 depicts average growth rates in installed capacity from wind
generators, of about 20-30%. Wind energy worldwide showed dynamic growth in 2006: 14.900 MW
were added, bringing the total for end 2006 to global installed capacity of 73.904MW. This
represents a growth rate of 25% in 2006 (growth was 24% in 2005). Currently installed wind power
capacity generates more than 1% of global electricity consumed. Based on these accelerating
developments, the World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) has modified its forecasts for 2010 to
160,000MW installed capacity.

38
 Figure 4-6 Total installed wind capacity (1997-2010)

Between 1997 and 2006, within only ten years, we have seen a tenfold increase in installed
capacity worldwide. Wind energy technology continues to be the most dynamic energy source
and wind is clearly emerging as the currently most promising solution to replace the most
undesirable fossil fuel based electrical energy. However, in addition to still existing political and
administrative constraints, one major limiting factor is the need for additional wind turbine
manufacturing capacities. Governments as well as international organisations have to provide
reliable long-term frameworks so that investment in this key sector can continue to grow. (Dr
Anil Kane, President of the World Wind Energy Association).
Table 4-2 shows that more than 90% of installed and new capacity is accounted for by Germany,
Spain, the US, India, Denmark, China, Italy, the UK, Portugal and France.

Table 4-2 Installed wind capacity 2005-2006

39
 Indeed in the 2005-2006 period:

• Five countries each added more than 1,000MW: the US (2,454MW), Germany (2,194MW), India
(1,840MW) and Spain (1,587MW) were able to secure their leading market positions and China
(1,145MW) joined the group of the top five markets and is now ranked fifth for added capacity,
showing a market growth of 91%.
• Five countries added more than 500MW each, showing excellent growth rates: France (810MW,
107% growth), Canada (768MW, 112%), Portugal (628MW, 61%) and the UK (610MW, 45%).
• Brazil was the most dynamic market in 2006 adding 208MW, representing a sevenfold increase in
installed capacity in one year.

Figure 4- shows the main manufacturers of turbines. More than 70% are produced in Europe
(Vestas, the world leader, is Danish, Gamesa Spanish, Enercon German), which is the biggest
market. The countries with the biggest wind penetration are in Europe, e.g. Denmark, which with
more than 20% of electricity produced by wind generators, has demonstrated the viability of
electricity generated by intermittent sources.

Figure 4-7 Manufacturer world market shares, 2005. 2006

There are also more than 1 million water-pumping wind turbines, manufactured in many
developing countries, supplying water for livestock, mainly in remote areas. And tens of thousands of
small battery-charging wind generators are operating in China, Mongolia and Central Asia, (WEA,
2000).

for the benefit of the future generations, it is now time to take care of those countries,
especially in the developing world, where wind energy does not yet play a major role in the
energy supply. Wind technologies need to be made available to harvest the great potentials –
the encouraging news from Brazil indicate that the change has already started. The World Wind
Energy Conference 2007 in Argentina sends out a strong signal especially to the Latin American
region. (Prof. Erico Spinadel, WWEA Vice President and President of the Argentine WEA).

40
 Actual use of wind energy (2006 installed capacity of 74GW produced some 150TWh, i.e. 0.5EJ)
is very far from technical potential, and the theoretical potential is many times higher than the
technical potential. 12 In addition, the investment and energy costs are competitive for many
applications. In recent decades huge progress has been made in the development of wind turbines
for electricity production.
Wind turbines became powerful. Based on economies of scale, average power size has increased
by 60 times in the last 30 years (from 30kW, 10m diameter unit, to 2MW, 70m diameter units). In
some cases 5MW turbines (116m diameter) are already being installed.
Wind turbines became light. The weight of aero generators halved in the space of five years as a
result of new materials and the removal of some components. This has resulted in lower costs,
increased reliability and easier maintenance. For example carbon fibre, directly driven, slow-running
generators, with yaw and pitch control are being installed world wide.
Wind turbines became more controllable and grid-compatible. Blade pitch control systems
combined with variable speed electricity conversion systems are replacing simple stall control
combined with easy asynchronous generators, increasing efficiency and producing excellent power
quality.
Wind turbines went offshore. The sea depths possible have doubled for offshore applications and
specific offshore design features enable greater reliability, larger wind turbines, novel installation
concepts, electricity conversion and transport systems, corrosion protection, and integration with
external conditions (both wind and wave loading).
Wind power became more predictable. Meteorological research on predicting the output of wind
farms has become more precise. Average wind speeds, statistical wind speed distribution,
turbulence intensities, and roughness of the surrounding terrain can be more accurately calculated.
Moreover, the ability to predict output a few hours in advance has resulted in computer programs
that optimise the operational and fuel costs of regional electricity production parks (Denmark,
Germany). This will increase the capacity value of wind power and the value of the electricity
produced.
Further improvements expected: Improvements in low speed wind technologies are expected in a
number of areas:

• Power: Increases in single unit power sizes and possibility to exploit class 2 and 3 areas (larger
rotors to harvest the lower-energy winds without increasing cost, taller towers to take advantage of
the higher wind speeds at higher altitudes, etc.);
• Rotors: Blade development (lighter and quieter rotors using new materials), aerodynamic code
development and validation, aero-acoustics research and testing;
• Control: More efficient generating equipment and power electronics to accommodate sustained
light wind operation at lower power levels without increasing electrical system costs; advanced drive
trains with novel configurations; advanced power electronics to improve overall efficiency and
provide higher-quality power; advanced controls to monitor overall system health and reduce
maintenance costs;
• Offshore: Better foundation and control, addition of wave/tidal/stream technologies, increased
depths, etc;
• Site specific design: Greater understanding of the nature of the atmospheric loading at increasing
heights; integration into standard design practices of methods of estimating and designing for site-
specific environments with uncertainty-based design margins, etc.

12
Studies on Europe indicate that the offshore wind resources available are bigger than total electricity demand in Europe;
in general, assuming that 25% of the earth’s land surface is exposed to an annual mean wind speed higher than 5m/s at
10m above ground (class 3 and above), and that 4% of this entire area could be used for wind farms, the potential is
about 70EJ, more than total worldwide electricity production.

41
4.4 Reliability and Cost
Modern wind turbines are complex technical systems that combine the theory from several fields.
1. Aerodynamics, lightweight construction: rotor blades, dynamics, overall system.
2. Mechanical and plant engineering: shafts, gearboxes, bearings, brakes, and tower.
3. Electrical engineering: generator, converter, mains connection, electrical lines.
4. Electronics, instrumentation and controls: system controls, remote monitoring.
5. Construction engineering: foundations, access roads.
6. Meteorology: design, yield.
Wind and other RES are widely available, but fossil fuel sources are cheaper and currently more
reliable. Because of their reliance on wind speed, determining the potential of wind energy at a
specific site is not straightforward. More accurate meteorological measurements and wind energy
maps and handbooks are being produced and published, which should enable wind project
developers to better assess the long-term economic performance of their proposed projects. But
there are serious barriers to efficient implementation of wind turbine projects. Complicated, time-
consuming and expensive institutional procedures are necessary due to the lack of public
acceptance, which varies considerably from country to country. Project preparation time is often
longer than the ‘time to market’ of new wind turbine types and there are no internationally accepted
certification procedures or standards.
Because wind energy is intermittent, wind turbines have a low capacity factor (annual yield
divided by the product of the wind turbine's nominal output and the 8,760 hours in a year), often
only 20%. (The capacity factor can range from 30% in coastal areas with strong winds, to around
18% in inland locations; the equivalent full power annual operative time is about 2,000h.) However,
the wind energy fed to the power grid does constitute part of the baseload. In large land areas (e.g.
Germany), some 10% of the nominal power of all wind turbines can be expected to be fed to the grid
as constant output.
Investment costs are about €850 divided by 2,500/kW, depending on the site (accessibility, grid
proximity) and the size (higher for smaller sizes). Project preparation and infrastructure costs depend
heavily on local circumstances, such as availability of accurate wind speed data, soil conditions, road
conditions and availability of electricity substations. Wind turbines larger than 2MW can incur
installation costs of less than €1,000/kW, while domestic 1kW (2m diameter) Windsave 1,000 wind
turbines cost around €2,200, including planning permission, home survey and installation.
Despite a small increase (contrasting with normal trends) in investment costs, the downward
trend in wind electricity costs in 2006 is expected to continue. Design and prediction tools have
improved such that designing on the basis of fatigue lifetime has become possible and energy
output can be estimated near the theoretical maximum (E= 3.15 x v^3, where v is the average wind
speed at hub height). In practice, for economic calculations for large turbines, turnkey costs are
€500/m2 (swept rotor area), interest is at 5%, the economic lifetime is 15 years, technical
availability is 95%, and operating and maintenance is €0.005/kWh. Thus, if average wind speeds at
the hub height range from 5.6-7.5m/s, corresponding electricity production cost is €0.11-0.04/kWh.
So cost per unit of energy produced is comparable to the cost of new generating capacity for fossil
fuels and if local average wind speeds exceed 5m/s, economic exploitation of grid-connected wind
turbines is possible.
Interest in small turbines for standalone and autonomous systems for rural areas, is being revived.

The negative environmental impacts of wind turbines are limited: acoustic noise emissions, visual
impact on the landscape, impact on bird life, moving shadows caused by the rotor, and
electromagnetic interference with radio, television and radar signals. In practice, the noise and visual
impact cause the most problems, increasing public resistance against the installation of new
turbines in densely populated countries. Aero-acoustic research has provided design tools and blade
configurations to make blades considerably quieter, reducing the distance required between wind
turbines and housing. The impact on bird life appears to be minor if turbines are properly located. A
research project in the Netherlands showed that bird casualties from collisions with rotating rotor
blades on a wind farm of 1,000MWs was a very small fraction of casualties from hunting, high
voltage lines and road traffic (Winkelman, 1992).
The positive environmental impacts of wind turbines are large: no exotic materials or
manufacturing processes are required to produce wind turbines or build the civil works. Because all

42
components are conventional, the recycling methods for decommissioning wind turbine are
conventional. Blades are generally constructed of glass or carbon fibre reinforced plastics, and are
processed by incineration. To replace glass and carbon and close the material use cycle, wood
composites are being applied and biofibres developed. The energy payback time of a large wind
turbine, under typical Danish conditions, is 3-4 months (Dannemand Andersen, 1998). A study by
BTM Consult (1999) indicates that in 2025 wind energy could reduce CO2 emissions by 1.4-
2.5gigatonnes per year.

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5. MINI-HYDRO TECHNOLOGIES

5.1 Hydro Resources

Hydro technologies use the kinetic energy of flowing water rather than air currents to produce
power. The hydro cycle (evaporation, increasing altitude and cloud formation, precipitation flowing
back down to the rivers and oceans - Figure 5-1) is also driven by the sun.

Figure 5-1 The water (hydrologic) cycle

The study of water resources, which is fundamental, involves the science of hydrology, which is
the study of rainfall and stream flow, the measurement of drainage basins, catchments, evapo-
transpiration and surface geology. The flow of water from point A to point B along a watercourse
releases energy - see Equation 5-1. This can be converted into power.

P = Epot / time = M * g * H / s = Q ⋅ ρ ⋅ g ⋅ H Equation 5-1

where P is the power in W, Q the flow in m3/s, ρ the water density (1,000kg/m3), g the acceleration
due to gravity (9.81m/s2) and H the gross head in m (the vertical difference in level). To estimate the
potential it is necessary to know the variation in the discharge throughout the year and the gross size
of the available head. The UN World Meteorological Organization, along with national hydrological
services, river basin authorities and other institutions, provide hydrological information, but regular
gauging along rivers, for example, is not routine. Thus, when small hydro schemes are proposed, it is
necessary to model data on precipitation (monthly rainfall), evaporation (linked to temperature
values, etc.), water levels, sediment and water quality and groundwater in order to calculate the
available head of water and the variations in discharge throughout the year. The best hydropower
sites are usually mountainous areas with high precipitation levels.

Figure 5-2 World hydrological cycle observing system: an example

5.2 Hydro technologies

Falling water has been used as a source of energy since ancient times when waterwheels were
common; however, it is only, with the development of modern fluidodynamic and electromagnetic
theories in the early 18th century, that hydropower became efficient and linked to electricity
generation. In the early 20th century, hydropower was the most common way of generating electricity
and is the main RES of electricity today.

44
 The water head is categorised as high at 100-m and above; medium at 30-100m; and low at 2-
30m. Facilities are classified as impoundment facilities (or dam facilities) or flowing facilities (or
diversion, run-off river, integrated facilities).
An impoundment facility (Figure 5-3) stores river water in a reservoir. Water released from the
reservoir flows through a turbine, causing it to turn, which activates a generator to produce
electricity. Many dams were originally constructed for other purposes and hydro electric power (HEP)
generating facilities were added later. In the US there are some 80,000 dams only 2,400 of which
produce power. The others are used for recreation, stock/farm ponds, flood control, water supply
and irrigation. Facilities with reservoirs regulate loads, pumping water when the demand for
electricity is low and releasing it during periods of high demand.

Figure 5-3 Impoundment facilities

A diversion facility is where HEP plant uses only the water that is available from the river’s natural
flow (Figure 5-4). In a run-off river facility, there is no water storage and power fluctuates with the
stream flow.

Figure 5-4 Run-off river facilities

Hydropower installations are classified as: large - installed capacity of more than 10MW; small -
500kW-10MW; mini - 100-500 kW and micro - less than 100kW. Thus, size of HEP installations can
vary from a few tens of Watts (small centimetres diameter turbines) to several MW for the largest
HEP plants. The Three Gorges Dam in China, with 22,400MW projected, is the largest power plant in

45
 the world. Construction started in 1994 and power was first produced in 2003, with 10,500MW
installed by June 2007.
HEP facilities involve various parts - hydraulic, mechanical and electronic. The core of the power
plant is constituted by the turbine, which converts the potential energy from the water into
mechanical energy. Hydro turbines are capable of converting water pressure into mechanical shaft
power, which can be used to drive an electricity generator, a grinding mill or some other device by
one of two mechanisms:
• Impulse: In these turbines the water strikes the blades intermittently, hence impulse turbines. Prior
to the water coming into contact with the turbine blades, the water pressure (potential energy) is
converted to kinetic energy by a nozzle, which is and focused on the turbine. No pressure change
occurs at the turbine blades, and no housing is required for the turbine. The jet impinges on the
turbine's curved blades, which changes the flow. The resulting change in momentum (impulse)
exerts a force on the turbine blades before the water is discharged. There is no suction on the
down-side of the turbine. Impulse turbines do not require draft tubes since the runner (turbine
wheel) must be located above the maximum tailwater to permit operation at atmospheric pressure.
The Pelton, Turgo, crossflow and Kaplan are types of impulse turbines, in which power is derived by
turning, slowing or stopping the flow of water striking the turbine blades. An impulse turbine is
generally suitable for high head, low flow applications.
• Reaction: The runner is placed directly in the water stream, which flows over the blades rather than
striking each blade individually. The water pressure applies a force on the face of the runner blades,
which decreases as it proceeds through the turbine. A reaction turbine develops power from the
combined action of pressure and moving water. The working fluid changes pressure as it moves
through the turbine, releasing its energy. A casement is needed to contain the water flow. Reaction
turbines (Francis, Kaplan, etc.) are generally used for sites with lower head and high flows.
The Pelton impulse turbine takes a jet of water onto its double spoon shaped blades which turn
nearly 180◦ from the angle of entry. The jet strikes one or two blades at a time. Multijets can be used
when there is more water than one jet can handle, covering a wide range of applications. This is a
very efficient way of extracting energy from the flow of water (90%). The Pelton is limited in terms of
the volume of water flow that it can handle. This horizontal and vertical shaft design turbine utilises
the highest heads up to 1,800m and unit outputs up to 420MW, but can also be used as a micro
turbine (the 10 centimetre Harrys Hydrelectric Pelton generates a maximum 1kW).
The Turgo runner is a refinement of the Pelton in which the water enters on one side, turns
through 145◦ and exits on the other side. The Turgo is especially useful for situations with high water
flows because the design allows for larger jets enabling the generation of significant power from low
heads. Based on a design combining attributes of the Pelton and Turgo, the Canadian company
Energy Systems and Designs, makes the smallest (runner of 5cm) impulse turbine. A micro Turgo
that can operate on heads of 1.5-60m and flow of 40-600l/s costs around €2,000 and generates
40-1500W).
The cross-flow turbine is drum-shaped. It uses an elongated, rectangular-section nozzle that is
directed at curved vanes on a cylindrically shaped runner. It resembles a squirrel cage blower. The
cross-flow turbine allows the water to flow through the blades twice, first when the water flows from
the outside of the blades to the inside, and then when it flows back out. It is claimed that the entry
side contributes about 75% of the power extracted from the sheet of water and the exit side
contributes the remainder. It can be put together without any particular expertise and is similar to
the ancient waterwheel). The cross-flow turbine was developed to accommodate larger water flows
and lower heads than the Pelton.

46
 Pelton Turgo Cross Flow

Figure 5-5 Impulse turbines

The Francis turbine is an inward flow reaction turbine that combines radial and axial flows.
Francis turbines are the most common water turbine in use today. They operate at head ranges of
ten to several hundred metres. The Francis turbine has a runner with nine or more fixed buckets
(vanes). The inlet is a spiral. Guide vanes direct the water tangentially to the runner. This radial flow
acts on the runner vanes, causing the runner to spin. The guide vanes (or wicket gate) are adjustable
to allow efficient turbine operation for a range of water flow conditions. The other major components
are the scroll case, wicket gate and draft tube. This type of turbine can be used with a wide range of
head sizes and output. They can vary in size from a few hundred millimetres up to 10 metres
covering a wide head range, and producing up to 1,000MW.
A propeller turbine is a pure axial-flow evolution of the Francis turbine. Its invention allowed
efficient power production from low heads, not possible with Francis turbines. In the runner, which
usually has three to eight blades, the water is in continuous contact with all of the blades, similar to
a boat propeller running within a pipe. The pitch of the blades can be fixed or adjustable. The other
major components are the scroll case, wicket gates and draft tube. The propeller turbine can be
used for head ranges of 10-80m. 10m diameter propeller turbines can produce up to 200MW. There
are several different types of propeller turbines. For example:
• Kaplan: Both blades and wicket gates are adjustable, allowing for a wider range of operation.
The flow enters radially inward and is turned at a right angle before entering the runner in an
axial direction. Thus, water is directed tangentially, through the wicket gate, and spirals on to a
propeller shaped runner, causing it to spin. The outlet is a specially shaped draft tube that
helps decelerate the speed of the flow and recover the kinetic energy. The higher turbine
location increases the suction on the turbine blades exerted by the draft tube, thus the
resulting pressure drop can lead to cavitation. The variable geometry of the wicket gate and
turbine blades allows efficient operation for a range of flow conditions. Kaplan turbine
efficiencies are typically over 90%, but may be lower in very low head applications.
• Bulb, Straflow and Tube turbines, which are based on the Kaplan. In the bulb the generator is
contained in a waterproofed bulb submerged in the flow; in the Straflow the generator is
outside of the water channel connected to the perimeter of the turbine; and in the tube the
penstock bends immediately before or after the runner.
Kinetic energy turbines, also called free-flow turbines, generate electricity from the kinetic energy
in the flowing water rather than the potential energy from the head. These systems can operate in
rivers, man-made channels, tidal waters or the oceans’ currents. Kinetic systems utilise the natural
pathways of water flows. They do not require the water to be diverted through manmade channels,
riverbeds or pipes, although they could have applications in such conduits. Kinetic systems do not
require large civil works and can exploit existing structures such as bridges, tailraces and channels.
A micro free-flow turbine uses flows of a few m/s, is a few centimetres in diameter and can produce
several hundred Watts of power (the Aquair UW Submersible Generator costs around €1,300, is 30
cm in diameter and produces a maximum 100W of electricity).

47
 Francis Kaplan Free-flow

Figure 5-6 Reaction turbines

The type of hydropower turbine selected is based first on the head and the flow of water, as
depicted in the Figure 5-7. Other deciding factors include depth at which the turbine must be set,
efficiency and cost.

Figure 5-7 Water turbine chart (net head versus flow)

5.3 Maturity
HEP technology (the plants and the technologies exploiting it) is a traditional energy technology.
The 2005 world installed capacity of power plants was 750Gwe for 10MW and over (large hydro), 66
GWe for under 10MW (small hydro) with total world electricity capacity of 4,100MW. The theoretical
potential of HEP is 147EJ, the technical potential 50EJ (actual about 10EJ). The equivalent full power
annual operative time is approximately 4,000 hours for small hydro and about 3,000 hours for large
hydro. Thus, the technology is fully developed and competitive. The industrialised countries have
developed (actual capacity near to technical potential) large hydro that are being used to regulate
the national electric load working in the upper peak load, and storing the electricity in the lower peak
load. Increased capacity in the developing countries will come from large and small hydro and in the
industrialised countries from small hydro.
During 2005 small hydro installations grew by 8%, increasing total world small hydro capacity to
66GW. Over 50% of this was in China (with 38.5GW), followed by Japan (3.5GW) and the US (3GW).

48
 Many companies offer standardised turbine generator packages in size ranges from of few
hundred watts to 10MW. These ‘water to wire’ packages simplify the planning and development of
sites since one vendor is responsible for most of the equipment supply. Non-recurring engineering
costs are minimised and the development cost is spread over multiple units, making these systems
very cost efficient. While synchronous generators capable of isolated plant operation are often used,
small hydro plants connected to a distribution system can use economical induction generators,
which further reduce installation costs and simplify control and operation. Micro-hydro plants can
exploit industrial centrifuge pumps, connected in reverse to act as turbines. While these machines
rarely have optimum hydraulic characteristics when operating as turbines, their low purchase cost
makes them attractive for micro-hydro installations. Other small hydro schemes can use tidal energy
or propeller-type turbines immersed in flowing water to extract energy.
5.4 Reliability and Cost
Small scale hydro or micro-hydro power is being used increasingly as an alternative energy
source, especially in remote areas where other sources of power are not viable. Small scale
hydropower systems can be installed in small rivers or streams (potable aqueducts, irrigation
channels, etc.) with little or no discernible environmental effect. Most small scale hydropower
systems do not require dams or major water diversion and thus are very simple facilities although
they are dependent on the supply of water as they cannot store it. One of the advantages of
hydropower over other renewable energy technologies is that energy pumping water can be stored
and then released to generate the electricity when it is required. Therefore, for small scale systems it
is important to understand the amount of water flow available. Water rights and easements can
raise legal and regulatory issues.
Since small hydro projects usually involve minimal environmental and licensing procedures, and
since the equipment is usually in serial production, is standardised and simple, and since the civil
works involved is very small, they can be developed very rapidly. The physically small size of the
equipment makes it easy to transport to remote areas that do not have good road and rail access. In
remote communities, micro hydropower, with a capacity of 100kW or less, allows communities to
generate their own electricity. This form of power is supported by various organizations such as the
UK's Practical Action.
Allowable flows are dictated by multivariate optimisation based on:

• fish, wildlife, and other related environmental needs

• irrigation
• navigation
• flood control
• recreation
• energy/power demands.

There are technical, institutional, economic and political factors that need to be considered.
Engineering considerations include integrated controllability and generator response times, the
transmission systems linking the physical locations of the hydropower and wind power facilities, and
the characteristics of the utility electrical load. Capacity of reservoirs, seasonal and yearly inflow
variability (for normal, wet and dry years) are also important.
Institutional factors are related to type of control and responsibility of the utility or operating
agency. For example, a hydropower system can be integrated, such that a central utility has the
responsibility for electric load demand growth. It could also be operated with little seasonal or annual
storage capability, governed by capacity, rather than energy (more water available than generators to
run it through). Another possibility is that the utility can purchase additional power for wholesale
customers on request, passing all additional costs directly on to customers. Finally, where there is
the capability for storing water for long periods, and output is energy rather than capacity limited
(water supply limited, but no limit in terms of number/size of generators), then power can be
allocated on a project-by-project rather than a system basis.
Individual institutional situations are important in assessing wind/hydropower integration
opportunities. For example, in some cases an individual hydropower resource will be developed to
benefit specific customers; in others, a complete drainage system may be operated in an integrated
fashion.

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 The opportunity for hydropower to facilitate large-scale integration of wind energy has long been
discussed. In theory, hydropower should be able to provide short- to medium-term buffering of wind
plant power fluctuations to reduce ancillary services costs and to increase the economic value of the
power delivered. But adding wind power to the system may or may not help hydropower meet power
and other system demands by allowing water delivery times to be shifted.
Economic analyses are mainly associated with value tradeoffs, market prices and the ability to
limit non-power producing water spills. The investment costs for large hydro can be estimated at
about €1,000÷3,000/kW. Energy costs are competitive, especially for large hydro (about
€0.05/kWh), 13 based on average operating times (about 4,000h annual), the long life of the plant
(civil and mechanical parts 60 and 30 years), and the low operating costs (2-3% of investment
costs). Small hydro are generally profitable, but small hydro have less social and environmental
impact and we can expect further improvements to the technologies (turbines at variable speeds
and low loads, better generation and control of electricity systems, subaqueous turbo-generators,
tele-control systems). Owing to the less economic performance of small hydro, profitability can only
be guaranteed at sites with good head and flow and minimum civil works requirement (existing
pipeline, reservoir, etc.).

Taruc Moche C. El Sauce Graton Tanguche Quitaracs Santa Santa

Ani I&II Mulato II aI Rita Rosa
Data
Installed [MW] 49 20.6 8.6 9.4 5 30.3 114.6 170 4.1
Capacity
Capital Cost [$USm] 54.3 16.7 8.7 11.7 5.1 27.5 119.9 137.0 3.6
Construction [years] 2 3 2 2 2 1.5 3 3 1.5
time
Cost/kW [$US] 1108 812 1008 1239 1029 908 1046 806 872
Annual O&M [$USm] 2.56 0.50 0.24 0.21 0.13 0.74 2.00 3.16 0.11
cost
[as % of capital] [ % ] 4.7 3.0 2.8 1.8 2.6 2.7 1.7 2.3 3.0
Load factor [ %] 85.7 55.5 69.1 48.1 63.2 80.3 63.5 66.4 83.5
Generation [GWh/ 368 100 52 40 28 213 638 989 30
año]
Economic rate of return
(ERR)
ERR [ %] 16.6 14.7 16.0 8.6 14.3 21.9 13.5 18.3 22.6
ERR with carbon [ % ] 17.7 15.7 17.1 9.3 15.3 23.3 14.3 19.4 24.0
Table 5-1 Small hydroelectric plants: economic and financial analysis

Next, we discuss new hydroelectric plants in Peru. Table 5-1 shows that the estimated economic
rate of return (ERR) is strongly correlated with the load factor. Load factors above 70% are typically
associated with irrigation projects, where hydro benefits from regular flows. The Sauce Project in
Peru has a low load factor, thus, its ERR is the lower than for other options.
The crucial value is economic profit: the calculations in Table 5.1 use the purchasing power
agreement (PPA) price 14 for Santa Rosa in Peru (based on systems bar price interconnected at
Huacho substation, i.e. power US$10/kW/month, energy US$3.86/kWh peak and US$2.85/kWh off
peak).

13
Interest rate 5%, life 15 years, availability 95%, 0.005 €/kWh operating costs
14
PPA- Power Purchase Agreement is a contract with a predefined period for the energy purchase and sales between an
independent energy producer and a concessionaire. The PPA specifies terms and conditions under which the energy will be
generated and bought.

50
6. SOLAR ENERGY

6.1 Solar Resource

Solar radiation is radiant energy emitted by the sun resulting from a nuclear fusion reaction that
creates electromagnetic energy. The spectrum of solar radiation is close to that of a black body with
a temperature of about 5,800K. About half of the radiation is in the visible short-wave part of the
electromagnetic spectrum. The remainder is mostly in the near-infrared part, with some in the
ultraviolet part of the spectrum. Sunlight and heat are transformed and absorbed by the
environment in many different ways. Some of these transformations result in renewable energy
flows, such as biomass, wind and waves. Effects such as the jet stream, the Gulf Stream and the
water cycle are also the result of the absorption of solar energy in the environment.

Figure 6-1 Solar–earth balance

The earth receives 174PW (Peta Watts) of solar radiation in the upper atmosphere. On its journey
through the atmosphere, 6% of the incoming solar radiation (insolation) is reflected and 16% is
absorbed. Average atmospheric conditions (clouds, dust, pollutants) reduce insolation by a further
20% through reflection, and a further 3% through absorption. The absorption of solar energy by
atmospheric convection (sensible heat transport) and by evaporation and condensation of water
vapour (latent heat transport) drives the wind and water cycles. The total solar energy available to
the earth is approximately 3,850ZJ (zettajoules) per year. Oceans absorb approximately 285ZJ of
solar energy per year. Winds can theoretically supply 6ZJ of energy per year. Biomass captures
approximately 1.8ZJ of solar energy per year. Worldwide energy consumption was 0.471ZJ in 2004.
Solar radiation varies with latitude. The map in Figure 6-3 shows annual average ground level
insolation. In North America, for instance, average insolation at ground level over a year (including
night time and cloudy periods) is 125-375W/m² (3-9kWh/m²/day).
The interaction of solar radiation with the earth’s atmosphere and surface is determined by three
factors:

1. the earth’s geometry, revolution and rotation (declination, latitude, solar hour angle);
2. terrain (elevation, surface inclination and orientation, shadows);

51
 3. atmospheric attenuation (scattering, absorption) by gases (air molecules, ozone, CO2 and
O2); solid and liquid particles (aerosols, including non-condensed water); clouds (condensed
water)

The first group determines the available extraterrestrial radiation based on solar position above
horizon and can be precisely calculated using astronomic formulas.
The radiation input to the earth’s surface is modified by its terrain topography, namely inclination
and aspect, and the shadowing effects of features of the neighbouring terrain. This group of factors
can be modelled with high levels of accuracy. The elevation above sea level determines the
attenuation of radiation by the thickness of the atmosphere.
Intensity of the extraterrestrial solar radiation traversing through the earth’s atmosphere is
attenuated by various atmospheric constituents, namely gases, liquids and solid particles, and
clouds. The path length through the atmosphere is also critical. Because of its dynamic nature and
complex interactions atmospheric attenuation can be modelled only with a certain degree of
accuracy.
In many applications, the study of solar radiation is very important. Maximum insolation is
obtained when skies are absolutely clear and dry, and relatively less radiation is received when
aerosols are present.

Figure 6-2 Solar geographical information system: an example

6.2 Solar Technologies

The solar energy technologies in general use the sun's energy and light to provide heat, light, hot
water, electricity and cooling for homes, businesses and industries. These technologies include:
• Solar energy:
• PV solar energy conversion
• Solar thermal electricity
• Low-temperature solar energy use
• Passive solar energy use
• Artificial photosynthesis.

6.2.1 PV Systems

PV effects were discovered in 1839 when Edmond Becquerel (1820-1891), aged 19, presented
his paper ‘Memory about the electric effects produced under the influence of the sun’s rays’, at the
Academy of Science in Paris. He experimented with an electrolytic cell in which he immersed two

52
electrodes, and found that the intensity of the current increased when the cell was exposed to
sunlight. He was realised that this effect was a function of the spectrum colour of the incident
radiation.
In 1876, Smith, Adams and Day experimented with junctions of selenium with metal oxides.
However, the idea of exploiting the PV effect did not take off until new, more efficient materials were
developed. The first solar cell application was produced by the Bell Laboratory in 1954, by Person,
Fuller and Chapin. They carried out a planar junction on a silicon monocrystal, manufacturing the
parent of modern PV cells. These three scientists realised the energy potentials of the new device.
Initially, the high cost limited its application to special cases, such as supplying electricity to
satellites. This early period of development was devoted to increasing the cells’ resistance to small
space environmental conditions. Since the mid 1970s, research has focused on terrestrial
applications. The initial target of this work was cost reduction, particularly by reducing the amount of
construction material, which led to the study of new materials. The most promising of these are
gallium (GaAs), carbon sulphur (CdS) and amorphous silicon. If they prove to be durable to the sun’s
radiation over time, then they could become a viable solution for large scale power generation.
A PV cell converts sunlight directly into electricity and its function is to trap as much of the
sunlight falling on it as possible. It achieves this by provoking voltage at cell terminals whenever it is
exposed to light of sufficient intensity.
The cells are made of semiconducting materials similar to those used in computer chips. When
sunlight is absorbed by these materials, the solar energy knocks electrons lost from their atoms,
allowing the electrons to flow through the material to produce electricity. This process of converting
light (photons) into electricity (voltage) is known as the PV effect.
Various types of PV cell have been developed using various semi-conducting materials. Most
commercial cells are made of silicon: either single crystal, polycrystalline or amorphous. Thin layers
or slices of the material a few thousandths of a millimetre in thickness, are processed, placed
behind glass, sealed with a flexible polymer material and assembled into frames to form solar
panels.
Solar cells and their corresponding modules can be divided into two main categories: wafer-type
and thin-film. Wafer-type cells are made from silicon wafers or silicon ribbons. Thin-film cells are
deposited directly onto a substrate (glass, stainless steel, plastic). For flat-plate applications, the
individual cells are connected in series to form a module; a number of these modules can be
mounted in PV arrays that can measure up to several metres. Solar cells for concentrator systems
are mounted in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional optical concentrator.
These flat-plate PV arrays can be mounted at a fixed angle facing south, or on a tracking device
that follows the sun, allowing them to capture the maximum sunlight over the course of a day.
Several connected PV arrays can provide enough power for a household; for large electric utility or
industrial applications, hundreds of arrays can be interconnected to form a single large PV system.
Thin film solar cells use layers of semiconductor materials of a few micrometres in thickness.
Thin film technology has enabled the application of solar cells as roof shingles, roof tiles, building
facades or glazing for skylights or atria. The solar cell version of these items, e.g. shingles, offers the
same protection and durability as ordinary asphalt shingles.
A PV cell consists of a very thin wafer of semi-conductor material, such as silicon, which has been
‘doped’ with other elements, such as phosphorus or boron, on either surface. These doping
elements form impurities within the silicon chemical structure, in essence, providing two thin layers
of dissimilar semi-conducting materials. These consist of:
• an n-type semi-conductor with a trace presence of phosphorus atoms to give an excess of free
electrons with negative electrical charges;
• a p-type semi-conductor with a trace presence of boron atoms to give a deficit of electrons, i.e.
‘holes’ in the silicon structure where electrons are missing. This absence of negatively charged
electrons is equivalent to having a positively charged layer. Because the carriers are created
close to a p-n junction, they are separated and swept away to opposite ends of the wafer and
appear on its surface.
There they can be collected at the external terminals of the cell. This produces an electrical
voltage and a direct electric current (DC) which can be carried outside the cell into the external
circuitry. The DC produced can be stored in batteries and used to run DC appliances, or can be
converted into alternating current (AC) by an inverter to run standard AC appliances.

53
 In order to utilise the electricity from PV cells and modules, a complete system is needed,
including electronic components, support structures and in some cases electricity storage. In fact,
because the sun is an intermittent source of energy, for stand alone plants an energy recovery
system (usually batteries) enables electricity storage and supply, for example, at night or when daily
insolation is insufficient. In the case of other types of PV systems, grid connected ones, the grid acts
as an energy store.

Figure 6-3 Grid connected (left) and stand alone (right) PV plant

The performance of a solar cell is measured in terms of its efficiency in converting sunlight into
electricity. It can be expressed as the ratio of the maximum power obtainable from the cell (Pmax) and
the power incident of the frontal surface. The ideal efficiency of a solar cell is 30%; however, due to
practical losses, the average efficiency of commercial products is around 10%. Only sunlight at a
certain level of energy can be efficiently converted to electricity, and much of it is reflected or
absorbed by the material that forms the cell. Because of this, a typical commercial solar cell has an
efficiency of 15%. The conversion efficiency of commercial single crystal cells can reach 18%, but for
polycrystalline cells is around 14%. Low efficiencies mean that larger arrays are needed, implying
higher costs. The first cells, which are similar to those produced today, were constructed in 1883 by
a New York electrician. They had an efficiency of less than 1%.
The photoelectric conversion process depends on several parameters. First the lighting intensity
influences the number of electrons that can be stimulated, i.e. the intensity of the current. The
photoelectric effect cannot occur under the threshold voltage V0 whatever the radiation intensity,
because it is a function of the frequency ν. As in the case of voltage, ν0 represents the corresponding
threshold value for radiation frequency. The performance of a PV cell decreases as the temperature
rises, as depicted in Figure 6-4.

Figure 6-4 Variations in PV cell characteristic with intensity of solar radiation

54
 Figure 6-5 Variations in PV cell characteristics with temperature

Being linked to the variable sun radiation, In order to quantify the performance of a PV cell, which
is linked to the sun’s radiation we need to take account of the following standards:
• intensity of the radiation: 1,000W/m2;
• temperature of the cell: 25°C;
• solar spectrum: AM1,5
The nominal power produced by a cell is expressed in peak Watts (Wp). Peak power is generated
by the abovementioned standard conditions.
A special application of PV solar cells is designed to operate with concentrated sunlight. These
cells are built into concentrating collectors that utilise a lens that focuses the sunlight onto the
surface. This approach has disadvantages and advantages compared to flat-plate PV arrays. The aim
is to reduce the use of expensive semiconductor PV material while collecting as much sunlight as
possible. But as the lenses must be oriented to the sun, the use of concentrating collectors is limited
to the sunniest parts of countries. Some concentrating collectors are designed to be mounted on
simple tracking devices, but most require sophisticated systems, which further limits their adoption
by electric utilities, industry and large buildings. Table 6-1 presents a comparison among efficiencies
of the main PV technologies.

Record Typical
efficiency efficiency
laboratory commercial
Technology Symbol Characteristics cells flat-plate
modules
(percentage)
(percentage)
Single crystal silicon sc-Si Wafer-type 24 13–15
Multi-crystalline silicon mc-Si Wafer-type 19 12–14
Crystalline silicon films on
f-Si Wafer type 17 (8–11)
ceramics
Crystalline silicon films on glass Thin film 9
Amorphous silicon (including
a-Si Thin film 13 6– 9
silicon-germanium tandems)
Copper-indium/gallium-diselenide CIGS Thin film 18 (8–11)
Cadmium telluride CdTe Thin film 16 (7–10)

55
 Organic cells (including dye-
Thin film 11
sensitised titanium dioxide cells)
Wafer-type
High-efficiency tandem cells III-V 30
and thin film
High-efficiency concentrator cells III-V Wafer-type 33 (tandem)
and thin-film 28 (single)
Table 6-1 PV solar cell technologies and efficiencies of the various module technologies
Source: Green et al. 1999

6.2.2 Solar thermal heat

The shallow water round the edges of a lake is generally warmer than the deep water in the
middle because sunlight can penetrate to heat the bottom of the lake in shallow areas, which, in
turn, heats the water above it. This is nature’s solar water heating. The sun is used in the same way
to heat water for use in buildings and swimming pools. The most common devices are flat-plate
solar-energy collectors with a fixed orientation. Highest efficiency is generally obtained by facing
them south and at an angle to the horizon equal to the latitude plus about 15◦.
Solar collectors fall into two general categories: non-concentrating and concentrating. In the non-
concentrating type, the collector area (i.e. the area that intercepts the solar radiation) is the same as
the absorber area (i.e. the area absorbing the radiation).
In concentrating collectors, the area intercepting the solar radiation is greater, sometimes by
hundreds of times, than the absorber area. Where temperatures below 200◦F are sufficient, such as
for space heating, flat-plate collectors of the non-concentrating type are generally used.

6.2.3 Solar thermal: low temperature systems

There are many flat-plate collector designs, but generally all consist of (1) a flat-plate absorber,
which intercepts and absorbs the solar energy; (2) transparent cover(s) that allows solar energy to
pass through reducing heat loss from the absorber; (3) heat-transport fluid (air or water) flowing
through a pipeline to remove heat from the absorber; and (4) heat insulating backing. The most
common collector is a flat-plate collector.
Systems that use fluids other than water usually heat the water by passing it through a coil of
tubing in a tank of hot fluid.
Solar water heating systems can be active or passive, the former being the most common. Active
systems rely on pumps to move the liquid between the collector and the storage tank; passive
systems rely on gravity and the natural tendency for water to circulate as it heats.
Swimming pool systems are simpler. The pool's filter pump is used to pump the water through a
solar collector, which is usually made of black plastic or rubber. The pool stores the heated water.

6.2.4 Solar thermal: high temperature systems

Many power plants use fossil fuels as the heat source to boil the water. The steam from the
boiling water rotates a large turbine, which activates a generator that produces electricity. However,
a new generation of power plants, with concentrating solar power systems, use the sun as a heat
source. There are three main types of concentrating solar thermal power systems: parabolic-trough,
dish/engine and power tower.
Parabolic-trough systems concentrate the sun's energy through long rectangular, curved (U-
shaped) mirrors. The mirrors are tilted toward the sun, focusing sunlight on a pipe that runs down
the centre of the trough. This heats oil that flows through the pipeline. Because of its parabolic
shape, a trough can focus the sun at 30-100 times its normal intensity (concentration ratio) on the
receiver pipe located along the focal line of the trough, achieving operating temperatures over
400◦C. The hot oil is used to boil the water in a conventional steam generator to produce electricity.

56
 Figure 6-6 Parabolic trough solar system

A dish/engine system uses a mirrored dish (similar to a very large satellite dish). The dish-shaped
surface collects and concentrates the sun's heat onto a receiver, which absorbs the heat and
transfers it to fluid within the engine. The heat causes the fluid to expand against a piston or turbine
to produce mechanical power. The mechanical power is used to run a generator or alternator
(coupled to the engine) to produce electricity. The concentration ratio of the solar dish is much
higher than that of the solar trough, typically over 2,000 oC, with a working fluid temperature of
+750oC.
A power tower system uses a large field of mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto the top of a tower,
where a receiver is located. This heats molten salt flowing through the receiver. The heat from the
salt is used to generate electricity through a conventional steam generator. Molten salt retains heat
efficiently, so it can be stored for several days before being converted into electricity, which allows
electricity to be produced on cloudy days or several hours after sunset. The energy can be as much
as 1,500 times more concentrated than the energy coming from the sun.

Figure 6-7 Power tower solar system

6.2.5 Passive Solar Heating and Daylighting

On hot, sunny summer days, the power of solar heat and light is evident. Many modern buildings
are designed to take advantage of this natural resource through the use of passive solar heating and
daylighting.
In the northern hemisphere, the south side of a building receives the most sunlight. Therefore,
buildings designed for passive solar heating usually have large, south-facing windows. Materials that
absorb and store the sun's heat can be built into the sunlit floors and walls, which heat up during the
day and slowly release heat at night, when it is most needed. This passive solar design feature is
called direct gain.
Other passive solar heating design features include sunspaces and trombe walls. A sunspace
(which is similar to a greenhouse) is built on the south side of a building. As sunlight passes through
the glass or other glazing material, it warms the sunspace. Proper ventilation allows the heat to
circulate into the building. A trombe wall is a very thick, south-facing wall, which is painted black and

57
 made of material that absorbs heat. A pane of glass or plastic glazing, installed a few inches in front
of the wall, helps with heat retention. The wall heats up slowly during the day. Then as it cools during
the night, it releases heat into the building.
Many passive solar heating design features also provide daylighting. Daylighting is simply the use
of natural sunlight to brighten the interior of a building. To lighten north-facing rooms and upper
levels, a clerestory - a row of windows near the peak of the roof - is often used in combination with
open plan interior that allows the light to bounce throughout the building.
Of course, too much solar heating and daylighting can be a problem during the hot months of the
year and many design features have been developed to keep passive solar buildings cool in the
summer, e.g. overhangs that shade windows in the summer, sunspaces that can be closed off from
the rest of the building, and fresh-air ventilation.

6.2.6 Solar Energy Space Heating and Cooling

Commercial, industrial and residential buildings can use the same solar technologies - PV,
passive heating, daylighting, water heating. Non-residential buildings can also exploit other solar
energy technologies that would be impractical for domestic buildings. These include ventilation air
preheating, solar process heating and solar cooling.
Many large buildings need air from ventilation to maintain inside air quality. In cold climates the
air needs to be heated prior to circulation around the building, which consumes large amounts of
energy. Solar ventilation systems preheat the air, saving both energy and money. Such systems
typically use transpired collectors, which consist of thin, black, perforated metal panels mounted on
south-facing walls, which absorb the sun's heat. Air passes through the small perforations in the
panels, and the space behind the panel allows the streams of air from these holes to mix. The
heated air is sucked out from the top of the space into the ventilation system.
Solar process heating systems are designed to provide large quantities of hot water or space
heating for non-residential buildings. A typical system includes solar collectors that work in
combination with a pump, a heat exchanger, and/or one or more large storage tanks. The two main
types of solar collectors - evacuated-tube collectors and parabolic-trough collectors - can operate at
high temperatures with high efficiency. The former type consists of a shallow box containing double-
walled glass tubes and reflectors that heat the fluid in the tubes. The vacuum between the two walls
of the tubes acts as insulation, holding in the heat. In parabolic troughs, which are rectangular, there
are curved (U-shaped) mirrors tilted to focus the sunlight on a tube running down the centre of the
trough to heat the fluid within the tube.
The heat from solar collectors can also be used to cool buildings, based on solar heat being the
energy source. Domestic air conditioners use electricity as the energy source. Solar absorption
coolers work on a similar principle. Solar energy can also be used with evaporative or ‘swamp’
coolers in humid climates, exploiting a process called desiccant cooling.

6.2.7 Artificial photosynthesis

Artificial photosynthesis replicates the natural process of photosynthesis, converting sunlight,

water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and oxygen. Artificial photosynthesis also describes the
splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen using sunlight.

6.3 Maturity
As above described, solar technologies using direct solar radiation are low and high temperature
thermal and PV technologies. Low temperature thermal utilisation of solar energy is a traditional
technology involving very large equipment. In 2005, total installed capacity of solar hot water
systems was 88GWth; growth is forecast at 14% per year. PV technology is a relatively recent
technology (5.4GWe installed worldwide), and high temperature thermal technology (0.4GWe
installed) is currently in the demonstration phase.

58
 Figure 6-8 Installed PV power in the IEA reference States, 2005

Solar energy has huge potential (theoretically about 4mEJ, technically about 2,000EJ, current
exploitation around 0.2EJ). Solar radiation at sea level is no more than 1kW/m2 (mean annual
average 0.1÷0.3kW/m2) and equivalent full power annual operative time is some 1,000h, with
actual maximum PV efficiency of 10-15%. 15 Thus, direct solar energy resources have the greatest
potential, but their use is limited by efficiency and cost barriers. Solar power is a relatively expensive
means of generating electricity and currently is only economic when other cheaper sources of
electricity are not available. However, the costs of manufacturing PV cells and solar panels are
steadily declining due to improved technologies and mass production techniques.

6.3.1 Potential and market developments for PV solar energy

Solar electric energy demand has grown consistently by 20-25% per annum since the mid 1980s,
within a context of rapidly declining costs and prices.
World solar PV market installations reached 1,744MW in 2006, representing growth of 19% over
2005.
Germany's grid connected PV market grew 16% to 960MW in 2006 and now accounts for 55% of
the world market. Japan's market size did not increase in 2006, but Spain and the US showed strong
performance at 200% and 33% growth respectively. World solar cell production reached a
consolidated 2,204MW in 2006, up from 1,656MW in 2005. Japanese PV cell producers lost ground
in 2006, dropping from a 46% to 39% share, to the benefit of Chinese cell manufacturers.

15
The annual net electrical energy produced can be calculated by multiplying mean annual solar radiation by global
efficiency (about 9%, obtained from PV (~ 13%) and the auxiliary (~ 90%) yields), by the active area factor (0.5), e.g.
1,700kWh/m2 x 0,09 x 0,5 ≈ 75kWhe/m2.

59
 Figure 6.9 2006 PV installations by market

Solar radiation is available in any location on the surface of the earth. Maximum irradiance
(power density) of the sunlight on the earth is about 1,000W/m2, irrespective of location. It is
common to describe the solar source in terms of insolation - the energy available per unit of area
and per unit of time (such as kWh per m2 per year). Measured in a horizontal plane, annual
insolation varies over the earth’s surface by a factor of 3 - from roughly 800kWh/m2 per year in
northern Scandinavia and Canada, to a maximum of 2,500kWh/m2 per year in some dry desert
areas. The differences in average monthly insolation for June to December can vary from 25% in
locations close to the equator to 10% in the farthest northern and farthest southern areas; these
levels determine the annual production patterns of solar energy systems. The ratio of diffuse to total
annual insolation can range from 10% in bright sunny areas, to 60% or over more for areas with
moderate climates, such as Western Europe. The actual ratio largely determines the type of solar
energy technology that can be used (non-concentrating or concentrating).
Due to the average power densities of solar radiation 100–300W/sqm and the net conversion
efficiency of solar electric power systems (sunlight to electricity 10–15%), relatively large areas are
required to capture and convert solar energy in volumes that can be used to satisfy energy demand
(especially in industrialised countries). For instance, at 10% plant efficiencies, an area of 3-10km2 is
required to generate an average of 100MW of electricity - 0.9 TW/hours of electricity or 3.2PJ - a
year from a PV (or solar thermal) system. Total average power availability at the earth’s surface in
the form of solar radiation exceeds current total power consumption by a factor of around 1,500.
Average solar power available per person is 3MW, while consumption varies from 100W (least
industrialised countries) to 10kW (US), with an average of 2kW per person. Although these numbers
provide a picture of the absolute boundaries to the possibilities from solar energy, they have little
significance in terms of the technical and economic potentials. Differences in solar energy supply
patterns, energy infrastructure, population density, geographic conditions, etc., indicate that regional
or national analyses of the technical and economic potential of solar energy are more informative.
Global potential would then be based on the sum of these national or regional potentials.
There is no consensus on the economic potential of solar energy, which is dependent on
reductions in the costs of its production. Several studies have assessed the potential application of
solar energy technologies (IIASA and WEC, 1998; WEC, 1994a,b; Johansson et al., 1993a; Shell,
1996; Greenpeace and SEI, 1993).
The results for potential penetration of solar energy in the 21st century vary quite widely (Table
6-2).

60
 Study 2020-2025 2050 2100

WEC, 1994 a,b 16

IIASA and WEC, 1998 2–4 7–14
RIGES, 1993 (solar
17 35
and wind)
Shell, 1996 <10 200
Greenpeace and SEI,
1993 (solar and wind) 90 270 830
Reference: total world 400–600 400–
energy consumption 1,200

Table 6-2 Potential contribution of solar energy technologies to world energy consumption (EJ of
electricity)

The technical potential of PV technology has been studied in some detail in several countries. In
densely populated countries with well-developed infrastructures, the emphasis is on grid-connected
PV systems in the built environment (including infrastructures such as railways and roads). These
systems are small or medium-sized, typically 1kW to 1MW. The electricity is generated physically
close to its consumption. In less densely populated countries there is considerable interest in
‘ground-based’ systems, generally larger than 1MW. The area that would be required to generate
average electrical power equal to current total consumption - assuming 10% plant efficiency and
2,000kWh/m2 per year - is roughly 750 x 750 km2.
In countries or rural areas with weak or incomplete grid infrastructures, small standalone
systems and modular electric systems could be used for electrification of individual houses or
villages.
Solar technologies could also be built in to new buildings in the design phase, with assessment of
possible solutions to establish the optimum. Savings could be made on construction materials if
solar panels were directly installed on the roofs of new buildings. Taking account of the energy they
would produce, and assessing the energy needs of new buildings this would optimise their use for
heating and cooling. These methods would apply in urban or isolated environments and would
greatly decrease the costs of solar energy.
Between 1983 and 1999 PV shipments grew by just over 15% per year. In 1998 around 150MW
of solar cell modules were being produced, rising to 200MW in 1999. In 1998 cumulative production
was around 800MW, some 600MW, of which was in operation in 1998, generating about 0.5TW/h
per year. In 1993-98 operating capacity increased by roughly 30% per year. In 1990-94 the market
share of solar home systems and village power systems was 20% (based on power volume). Grid-
connected systems accounted for 11%, the remainder being used for water pumping,
communication, leisure, consumer products, etc. (EPIA and Altener, 1996). In 1995-98 the relative
importance of grid-connected systems increased to 23% (Maycock, 1998).
Higher PV efficiencies (ideally 30% for a single cell under natural sunlight) can be achieved by
stacking cells with different optical properties in a tandem device, using concentrator cells . The
efficiency of practical solar cells is determined by various loss mechanisms. An overview of the
efficiencies achieved in 1999 for different cells and modules is provided in Table 6-1.
sc-Si, mc-Si, and a-Si are fully commercialised technologies, the first two accounting for 85%, and
the last for 13% of the 1998 commercial market (PVIR, 1999). CIGS and CdTe are emerging
commercial technologies, and f-Si and one form of crystalline silicon film on glass are in the pilot
production phase. Organic cells are still at the laboratory stage; dye-sensitised titanium dioxide cells
are being considered for indoor applications. Concentrator systems use high-efficiency cells.
It is too early to identify winners and losers among the PV technologies under development or in
production. There is some consensus that thin-film technologies offer the best prospects for long-
term low production costs. But crystalline silicon wafer technology offers great potential for cost
reductions through economies of scale and technological improvements, which has triggered major

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 investments in new production capacity. It is not clear when thin films will become dominant in the
PV market.
The conversion efficiency of commercial modules should increase steadily in the next decades
(irrespective of the technology). For the medium term (2010) efficiency is forecast to be 12-20%
(Maycock, 1998), and for the longer term (beyond 2020) possibly 30% or even somewhat more
(EUREC Agency, 1996). However, this is based on an evaluation of what is physically possible, not
what is technologically at low cost. Moreover, it is not expected that such high efficiencies would be
obtainable from simple extrapolation of the currently commercialised technologies. It is unlikely that
modules with the lowest manufacturing cost per Watt would be the most efficient.

6.3.2 Low-temperature solar energy potential and market developments

About 140 million m2 of solar thermal collector area are currently in operation around the world and
the annual newly installed area is more than 10 million m2. The total installed capacity is thus
approaching 100GWth – more than the global wind power electric capacity. China is the world lead
market, with an installed capacity one-third of the world total, almost exclusively evacuated tubular
collectors. Their total surface now exceeds 22millions m2. In the US, Canada and Australia swimming
pool heating is dominant with an installed capacity of 18GWth of unglazed plastic collectors. Europe
and Japan provide about 10GWth and 9GWth respectively with flat-plate and evacuated tube
collectors. Almost all use water as the heat transfer fluid – air collectors represent only 1% of the
global market. In Europe, lead markets are Germany, Greece and Austria. The highest collector
surface area per inhabitant is Cyprus with 582m2, far above Austria 297m2 and the EU average of
33.7m2 (EurObservER, 2005) 16.
World commercial low-temperature heat consumption can be estimated at 50EJ/yr for space
heating and at about 10EJ/yr for hot water production. Low and medium temperature heat (up to
200◦C) can be used as process heat, in total about 40EJ/yr. Almost any low and medium
temperature heat demand can be met at least partially with solar energy. One of the drawbacks to
this application is the mismatch between availability of sunlight and demand for heating, which
requires solar heating systems to include storage.
Solar domestic hot water (SDHW) systems are currently the most important application for low-
temperature solar heat. In 1994 some 7m SDHW systems were installed worldwide. In 1994 the
total installed collector area of SDHW and other solar energy systems was about 22m2 (Morrison,
1999) and in 1998 about 30m2. This can be expressed as installed capacity of around 18,000MW.
The total heat generated by these solar energy systems can be estimated at 50PJ/yr, which is only
0.5% of the potential of 10EJ/yr. In Europe the market expanded after 1994. In 1996 about
700,000m2 were produced, mainly in Germany (330,000m2) and Austria (230,000m2). The
European Solar Industry Federation forecasts annual growth of around 20% (ESIF, 1996). In 1998
sales in Europe were probably of the order of 1,000,000m2. In the US the market has declined - the
amount of collector area sold for SDHW systems decreased from 1.1m in 1984 to around 80,000m2
in 1998 (Morrison, 1999). The US market collapsed in 1986 due to the withdrawal of federal R&D
funding and tax credits. In China production is increasing rapidly. In Japan the market is increasing
after a collapse in 1987 (ESIF, 1996). Growth of 10-25% per year is forecast for the world; the
installed collector area is forecast to be 150,000,000m2 in 2010.
Electric heat pumps are another important technology. These pumps can withdraw heat from a
heat source, raise the temperature and deliver the resultant heat to an application (e.g. space
heating). Tens of millions of appliances that can be operated as heat pumps have been installed,
most of which can also operate as cooling devices (air conditioners). Whether their application
results in net fuel savings depends on the local situation, and aspects such as pump performance,
and the characteristics of the electricity source. We do not have data on which to determine the net
contribution of heat pumps to energy supplies.

6.3.3 High-temperature solar energy potential and market developments

Concentrating solar systems are 27% more efficient than flat plate collectors, due to their
increased captive surface per square metre. This is based on efficiency of the thermodynamic cycle

16
EuroObserver (2005), ‘The present and future use of solar thermal energy as a primary source of energy’ Cédric Philibert,
IEA, Paris, France

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 of roughly 42% multiplied by an average overall efficiency of the collector system of 66%. 17 Also,
owing to the energy recovery system the number of the computable equivalent hours is 4,850.
The potential of concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies is constrained by insolation. They
require minimum direct insolation of about 2,000kWh/m2 per year and, to be competitive, the likely
minimum is 2,500kWh/m2. Their cost is influenced by the cost of land (SEGS plants require some
2ha/MWe), local construction and operation, and other local factors. There is a need for reliable solar
radiation maps to enable accurate assessments to be made for concentrating power system
installations. The most fruitful areas are likely to be arid and tropical regions.

Figure 6-10 World map of potential sites for concentrating solar power
Source: Pharabod and Philibert, 1991
According to the US Department of Energy (DOE, 2002), CSP plants on about 3% of the available
land located within regions of premium solar resources could produce over 1,000TWhe of electricity
per year, almost equalling 1999 consumption in the Western States.
The European Solar Thermal Power Industry Association (ESTIA) in cooperation with Greenpeace
(Aringhof et al., 2003) forecasts world capacity of 21,450MWe of concentrating solar power,
producing 54.6TWhe by 2020. Because CSP uses conventional materials and technologies (glass,
concrete, steel and standard utility-scale turbines), production capacity can be rapidly scaled up by
several hundred MW/year, using the existing industrial infrastructure.
According to IEA (2003), by 2030 some 4,700GWe power capacity will exist worldwide, either as
additional or replacement capacity. The Greenpeace-ESTIA scenario forecasts that by 2040 CSP
plants could reach 630GWe. This could represent significant market share of power investment in
sunny regions, and include exports to neighbouring areas. In a context of high oil, gas and coal prices
and CO2 pricing this is not unrealistic. If the market share of CSP technologies is to expand this will
require progress in techniques for power transport, possibly via superconductivity. Apart from
electricity generation, CSP technologies have a broad range of applications in the provision of direct
heating or cooling for the production of solar fuels.
In 1977 several IEA countries joined forces within an Implementing Agreement known as
SolarPaces, to share the cost and effort involved in demonstrating tower, trough and dish
technologies on the Plataforma Solar de Almería in Spain, where parabolic mirror technology was
first proven.
The capability of solar thermal power plants to generate lowest cost, commercial scale, bulk
electricity, and their ability to dispatch power as needed during peak demand periods, have
motivated several national and local governments to support the large-scale implementation of this
technology, including Spain and the US state of Nevada, which, in 2004, implemented very
favourable regulatory and tariff frameworks for CSP. Twelve other countries have projects in
development, or planned.
In March 2004, in Spain a Royal Decree introduced incentive premiums of €0.18kWh for PV and
CSP up to 50MWe capacity, which attracted immediate commercial investments.
In Nevada, the state renewable portfolio standards initiating the first long term power purchase
agreement of concentrating solar electricity were signed between the public utility companies,
Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific, and the US developer, Solargenix. The construction of a 50MWe

17 ENEA, Solar thermal energy production: guidelines and future programmes of ENEA, 2001.

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 trough plant was expected by end 2005, with 0.3km2 of mirrors and storage of less than one hour, to
guarantee capacity. In June 2004, the governors of seven South-Western US States (New Mexico,
Arizona, Nevada, California, Utah, Texas, Colorado) voted on a resolution calling for the development
of 30GWe of clean energy in the West US by 2015, of which 1GWe would be from CSP technologies.
In November 2004 the US DOE decided to back the plan and to contribute to its financing.
Other examples of installations receiving financial support from the Global Environmental Facility
(GEF) are in Egypt, India, Mexico, Morocco and Algeria, for the construction of large integrated solar
combined-cycle (ISCC) power plants in the range 150-250MWe. Trough fields would contribute
100MWth or more (up to 35MWe). However, none of these projects has progressed from the pilot
stage, in part because of the significant risks involved in investing in innovative technologies by
industries looking for secure markets in industrialised countries (Philibert, 2004).
In February 2004, Algeria became the first North African country to implement national incentive
premiums (feed-in law) for the market introduction of ISCC. In May 2005, the agency New Energy
Algeria (NEAL) published an invitation to tender for SPP 1, a 150 MWe ISCC plant. This is the first in a
series, aimed at global capacity of 500MWe by 2010. NEAL expects to be able to export to Europe
6,000MWe in the medium term, from hybrid solar-gas power plants. It estimates that Algeria should
be able to supply total European needs, and is also planning production of hydrogen.
CSP technologies will become more competitive when plant size increases to 5GWe worldwide.
Current projects are well below this level. Policy directed at solutions to rapidly scale up efforts will
be crucial. Experience suggests the that industrialised countries must be part of this effort and that
domestic policies providing sufficient feed-in tariffs will be required. Obligations to raise the share of
renewable electricity in utilities’ fuel mixes have proven to be effective tools and should be further
developed.

6.4 Reliability and Cost

6.4.1 Implementation of PV Systems

Since the cost of PV electricity is substantially above that for electricity from the grid, PV are
implemented either through market development of commercial high-value applications or
installation of grid-connected systems. Both options are supported by government and international
aid programmes.
The first option involves mainly standalone PV systems and (more recently, but to a lesser extent)
small grid-connected systems for private use. The PV industry has survived by actively developing
niche markets in telecommunication, leisure, lighting, signalling, water-pumping and rural
electrification. The rural market is being actively pursued since an estimated 1bn people in
developing countries do not have access to a grid.
PV can be a viable alternative for supplying small amounts of electricity (less than 1kWh per day)
to end users. More than 300,000 solar home systems (typically 50W) have been installed since
1996, only a small step towards really large-scale use (Böer, 1998). In addition, a large number of
even smaller systems have been sold. This rural market cannot be judged by the total peak power of
the systems (300,000 x 50 Watts = 15MW). Were 2 billion people to own a 100W PV system, this
would contribute less than 1EJ of electricity to the world’s energy consumption. It is the large number
of people and the fact that PV can provide light, radio, television and other important services to
them that is significant. A major barrier to rapid growth and very widespread use is the lack (in most
countries) of properly developed finance schemes and infrastructure for distribution, after-sales
service, etc. Financing is essential because few of those 2 billion people can afford the $400 for a
system. Some can pay a small amount, or a monthly payment of a few dollars. There are two
solutions: full commercial development of very small PV systems to meet basic needs to be sold for
(mainly PV lanterns and other lighting systems in the range of 5-20W) and financing schemes based
on a deposit and monthly fees of $5-20, or a fee-for-service (Böer, 1998). For grid-connected
systems it is important to distinguish between small and medium-sized decentralised systems
(typically 500W to 1MW) integrated in the built environment, and large groundbased, central
systems (typically over 1MW). Decentralised integrated systems have some advantages over central
ground-based ones. Their balance of system costs is generally lower and they have more possibility
for increased competitiveness based on technical and non-technical possibilities. PV market
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development through government programmes in industrialised countries (IEA PVPV, 1998) applies
mainly to systems integrated in the built environment. The aim of these programmes is to boost the
development and application of PV technology as an essential step towards future large-scale use.
They provide market volume to the PV industry to achieve economies of scale and boost experience
in a new sustainable (decentralised) electricity generation. Clearly, this policy-driven market depends
on public support and high expectations for PV as a major electricity source for the future.
A variety of instruments is available for the achievement of self-sustained market: rate based
measures (favourable feed-in tariffs), fiscal measures, investment subsidies, soft loans, building
codes and the removal of barriers related to building design and materials. In addition, the added
value of PV - such as aesthetics in building integration, combining electricity generation and light
transmission, and generating part or all of an individual’s electricity consumption - is used to market
them. Green electricity and green certificates for the use of renewables are expected to be important
for the further development of a self-sustained market for grid-connected systems. They enable the
sale of electricity from PV (or other RES) to environmentally conscious consumers.
Several countries have set targets or formulated programmes for renewable energy technologies,
and especially solar. In countries with a well-developed electricity infrastructure, the long term aim is
to achieve a substantial contribution from solar energy. In developing countries and countries with
less-developed electricity infrastructures, efforts are focused on the large-scale implementation of
smaller stand alone solar PV systems. In these cases the dissemination of solar energy is a tool for
social and economic development and a move towards a distributed energy system based on the
development of local resources.
Decentralised PV systems smooth output fluctuations and provide a better match with loads,
therefore providing a higher capacity value from a utility point of view. This has been verified by
studies undertaken in Japan (Ohtani, 1999), which show that the importance of regional output from
decentralised systems is higher than for output from individual systems. More work is needed to
determine optimum sizes and distribution of PV systems to gain maximum network benefit. However,
short-term fluctuations due to cloud cover could be compensated for within a 10km radius. The
impact on effective capacity over larger areas, including entire interconnected networks, needs to be
assessed. Improved weather forecasting is expected to allow better forecasts of PV output and
hence higher reliability of output for utility planners.
For commercial and industrial customers, the capacity value that can be placed on a PV system is
as important as its energy value, since billing plays a major role in demand. From a utility
perspective, it is difficult to attribute capacity credit to a PV system because of the stochastic nature
of the output and hence the relatively uncertain correlation with peak demand. However, on average,
solar radiation levels are very reliable, so that where air conditioning loads contribute significantly to
peak demand a positive correlation would be expected with PV output. The value of PV could
therefore be higher for utilities in areas with a summer peaking load.
From the customer’s perspective, the effective load carrying capacity of PV could be especially
high for commercial customers, with typically good matching between peak PV output and daytime
air conditioning load. This correlation is not as high for residential customers in countries where
peak loads are typically later in the day, but may be high for some European residential customers
with daytime peak loads.
Utilities are generally keen to take advantage of the positive image of utility, reliability and the
public interest in environmentally friendly energy sources in their development of PV business.
Customers’ perceptions, combined with the greater ability of large utilities compared with
independent operators, to offer a variety of financial packages based on their former monopoly
positions, provides utilities with a competitive advantage in the market. Utilities have explored
business opportunities in stand-alone PV systems, rooftop PV and green power products. Some
utilities are specialising in provision of renewable energy projects as a service to other utilities, to
cater for green power markets or mandatory renewable energy targets. Green power provides
utilities with an opportunity to market a premium product, rather than just a commodity.
Corporate positioning and image are important strategic factors for many utilities involved in
competitive markets. An involvement in PV is being used by some utilities to demonstrate a
commitment to the environment and as a sign that the organisation is dynamic and innovative. This
is demonstrated by the large number of PV images now used in the advertising and marketing
materials of utilities operating in competitive markets. In a fully competitive market customers can
compare utility programmes and seek justification for the claims made. The initial introduction of
retail competition in the US has seen a significant level of customer interest in green products. Even
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 in countries such as Australia, where full retail competition has yet to be introduced, almost all
electricity retailers now offer green products. Although PV is not the cheapest technology for utilities,
most still include PV in their portfolios because even systems as small as 1kWp can be installed in
high visibility locations, close to customers, and provide a high technology, green image.

6.4.2 Implementation issues for low temperature solar systems

In many countries incentive programmes help to stimulate the further development and
application of low-temperature solar energy systems, improving their performance and reducing
economic and other barriers. In countries where government stimulation is lacking, it is often the
economic attractiveness of the system or environmental conscience that motivates people to install
these systems. In many cases energy companies, especially utilities, have stimulated the use of
solar thermal energy. Motivated by environmental action programmes, demand-side management
programmes, or a desire to diversify and serve new markets, these companies have taken over a
significant part of the effort to get solar water systems to the market. They support these projects by
active marketing, by financial contributions, or by offering the possibility to rent or lease a system
(IEA Caddet, 1998).
Low-temperature solar thermal technologies can contribute many EJ to annual demand for heat.
Current levels are about 50PJ per year (excluding heat pumps and passive solar energy use).
World-wide, about 7m solar hot water mainly SDHW systems, have been installed. In many
regions their dissemination strongly depends on government policy, mainly because of the relatively
high heat-production costs ($0.03–0.20/kWh). However, they can compete with electric hot water
systems. The costs of installed solar hot water systems in moderate climate zones may be reduced
25%-50% by further technology developments and/or mass production and installation.
Active solar systems for space heating with seasonal storage are mainly in the demonstration phase.
Passive solar energy use has become an attractive option for heating and cooling buildings, following
the development of new materials and powerful simulation tools. Electric heat pumps for space heating
are especially attractive in countries where electricity is produced by hydropower or wind energy. In
other countries net contribution to the energy supply is achieved only from pumps with high
performance factors.
Solar drying of agricultural crops could be a viable technological and economic option that needs
to be marketed. Solar cooking has a significant beneficial impact. Many hundreds of thousands of
solar cooking devices have been sold, but they have limitations and can only supplement
conventional fuel consumption.

6.4.3 Implementation issues for high temperature solar systems

High temperature thermal technologies, due to thermal energy storage, could reach 5,000
equivalent full power annual operative time (currently 2,000) and efficiencies equal to those of
thermoelectric power plants. Development to increase reliability and reduce costs is required.

6.4.4 PV Systems Costs

The investment costs for PV installations range from €4,000-20,000/kW (up to six times higher
than conventional thermoelectric power plants), with energy costs of €0.25-0.65/kWh. For low and
high temperature thermal technologies the investment costs are lower (but always higher than for
conventional thermal power plants). Increased yields and reduced costs are expected for PV
technologies. PV systems have very low social and environmental impact and PV technologies are
already competitive for ‘poor’ thermal uses and in low scale off grid applications. The US DOE (2004)
recently calculated investment payback for PV systems to be four years, based on 12% conversion
efficiency (standard conditions) and 1,700kWh/m2 per year of available sunlight energy (Figure
6-11). In a 10 year development projection based on 14% efficiency, payback would be only 2 years.

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 Figure 6-11 Energy payback for rooftop PV systems

Assuming a 30-year system life, PV systems would provide a net gain of 26-29 years of pollution
and GHG free electricity generation.
Based on a ‘well to wheel’ approach that encompasses the manufacturing process (Figure 6-12),
PV systems will become more competitive against fossil fuels (including costs of mining,
transportation, refining and construction).

Figure 6-12 Overall clean energy payoff

Assuming a two year pay back of investment in developed countries, it is the 28 remaining years
of operation assumed that would enable a PV system to meet half of an average household’s
electricity use and would eliminate half a ton of sulphur dioxide and one-third of a ton of nitrogen
oxide pollution. The reduced carbon dioxide emissions would offset the running of two cars for those
28 years.

6.4.5 Low temperature solar thermal costs

In regions with high solar irradiation, the use of SDHW systems could result in solar heat
production costs ranging from $0.03-0.12/kWh. In regions with relatively low solar irradiation, costs
could range from $0.08-0.25/kWh. In many areas these costs will be competitive with electricity
prices, but not fossil fuel prices. Further cost reductions will be required. One way to achieve these
would be the introduction of complete prefabricated systems or kits, allowing no possibility for
changes to the system design, thus simplifying installation and reducing hardware and installation
costs. Another approach, currently being tried in Northern Europe, is the development of solar
thermal energy markets on a large scale, to reduce production, installation and overhead costs. In
the Netherlands, large projects have been shown to reduce the installed system price by 30-40%
relative to the price of individually marketed systems. Cost reductions will also be achieved by further
development of the technology (including integration of collector and storage units). As a result, solar
heat production costs could reduce by 40-50% (TNO, 1992).

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 SDHW systems are commonly produced from metals (aluminium, copper, steel), glass and
insulation materials. In most designs the systems can be separated into the constituent materials;
all metals and glass can be recycled. The energy payback time for a SDHW system is now generally
less than one year (van der Leun, 1994).

6.4.6 High temperature solar thermal costs

Trough plants. For most 30 MWe plants, investment costs are about $3.9/W, while subsidised
electricity cost have gone from $0.24/kWh for SEGS-1 to $0.12/kWh for SEGS-VIII and IX (80MWe).
However, the solar only power cost of these plants would be higher, close to $0.16/kWh.
Dishes and towers. Capital costs are currently estimated at over $10/W, but might fall drastically
with mass production.
In general terms parabolic trough technology has demonstrated a reduction in the cost of
electricity of 15% with every doubling of total installed capacity. A similar cost reductions trend has
been demonstrated for other power technologies (DOE, 2002).

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7. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

7.1 The Geothermal Resource

The word geothermal is derived from the Greek geo (earth) and therme (heat), thus, geothermal
energy is generally defined as heat stored within the earth. Heat originates from the earth’s molten
interior and from the decay of radioactive materials. It exists in larger quantities than theoretical
solar energy (annual solar irradiation). In fact total geothermal theoretical potential is more than
100,000 times higher than the world energy consumption and its total technical potential (about
5,000EJ) is higher than world energy consumption (about 45EJ); actual use is about 2EJ. Similar to
other renewable resources (solar energy, wind energy), geothermal energy is widely dispersed. Thus,
it is the technological ability to use geothermal energy, not its availability that will determine its role.
The earth has four main layers, each of different composition, function and temperature (Figure
7-1).

Figure 7-1 Earth’s layers and relative temperatures

The crust is the outermost layer of the earth, and is the land that forms the continents and ocean
floors. It can be 3-8km thick under the oceans and 25-55km thick on the continents.
The heat of the earth dissipates towards the earth’s surface by about 3◦C for every 100m of
depth, a temperature difference too small to generate huge local power. The earth's crust is broken
into pieces called plates. Magma, which is molten rock at high temperature, comes to the earth's
surface at the edges of these plates with the result that geothermal energy is generally greater in
areas where tectonic plates collide and generate volcanic activity. Figure 7-2 depicts where plate
boundaries and geothermal power plants are located. The Pacific Ring (the ‘Ring of Fire’) is a prime
location for harnessing geothermal activity because it is an area where tectonic processes are
occurring continuously.

Figure 7-2 Plate boundaries and geothermal power plants

Although most reservoirs of geothermal are deep underground with no signs of their existence
above ground, geothermal energy sometimes finds its way to the surface in the form of volcanoes
and fumaroles (holes allowing the release of volcanic gases), hot springs and geysers (see Figure
7-3).

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 Figure 7-3 Geothermal phenomena

When magma comes close to the surface it heats the ground water trapped in porous rock or the
water that runs along fractured rock surfaces and faults. These hydrothermal resources consist of
water (hydro) and heat (thermal) and can reach high temperatures (300°C), which can be used for
many applications. Naturally occurring large areas of hydrothermal resources are called geothermal
reservoirs which can consist of:

• hydrothermal: hot water or steam at moderate depths (0.1-4.5km);

• geopressed: hot-water aquifers containing dissolved methane under high pressure, at 3-6km
depth;
• hot dry rock: abnormally hot geologic formations containing little or no water;
• magma: molten rock at temperatures of 700-1,200°C.

Only hydrothermal resources are used on a commercial scale for electricity generation and as a
direct heat source.
In addition to the four sources of geothermal energy described above there is stable ground or
water temperatures near the earth's surface which can be exploited. These sources provide relatively
constant temperatures drawn from the earth's interior, which can be used as a source or sink of heat
for heating and cooling. This energy source is available everywhere.
Because some RES require favourable weather conditions for the generation of power, they are
limited in their ability to meet large-scale power needs. Geothermal has the potential to be a reliable
source of electricity with significantly lower levels of emissions than fossil fuel sources and no
problems of radioactive waste disposal. Geothermal relies on a readily-available, constant source of
heat for power generation, and is therefore considered a baseload resource that operates most
efficiently at a relatively constant level of generation and is not limited by changes in weather
patterns or other factors. The availability factor is measured as the number of hours that a power
plant is available to produce power, divided by the total hours in a particular time period, usually a
year. The availability factor of geothermal, based on decades of observations by plant operators, is
95%. This means that geothermal electric-power plants are available for generation 95% of any given
time period. While the availability factor measures a plant’s potential, the capacity factor is a
measure of the amount of real time during which a facility is used. A geothermal plant has a high
capacity factor ranging from 89-97%, depending on the type of geothermal system.

7.2 Geothermal Technologies

Geothermal steam and hot springs have been used for centuries for bathing and heating, but it
was only in the 20th century that geothermal power was used to generate electricity. The first
geothermal power plant came on stream in 1904, at the Larderello dry steam field in Italy, where
natural steam erupted from the earth. The Geysers dry steam reservoir in northern California is the
largest known dry steam field in the world and has been producing electricity since 1960.
Geothermal technologies can be categorised according to their use:
• direct use and district heating systems;
• electricity generation;

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 • geothermal heat pumps for domestic heating
Direct use of hot water is the most ancient use, and hot springs are still used, especially by those
that believe that the hot, mineral-rich waters have healing power. The next most common direct use
of geothermal energy is for heating buildings through district heating systems. Hot water occurring
near the earth's surface can be piped directly into buildings for heating purposes. District heating
systems in Reykjavik (Iceland) provide heat for 95% of the buildings in the town. Examples of other
direct uses include heating glasshouses for growing crops, and for drying wood, fruit, vegetables, etc.
Geothermal power plants require high temperature (150-400°C) hydrothermal resources from
dry steam wells or hot water wells. These sources are tapped by drilling wells and piping the steam
or hot water to the surface. Geothermal wells are between 1km and 3 km deep. There a five basic
types of geothermal power plants (three are commercialised, one is in the demonstration phase)
depending on temperature, depth, and quality of the water and steam in the area. Figure 7-4 depicts
the set-up of a geothermal site.

Figure 7-4 Geothermal power plants

Dry steam power plants: These are the oldest types of geothermal power plants and are still in
use today. They can be exploited in areas where there is a good supply of steam that is not mixed
with water. These plants are the simplest and most economic geothermal plants. They emit small
amounts of excess steam and gases. They use steam, typically above 235°C, piped directly from a
geothermal reservoir, which turns the turbines that power the generators. No separation is necessary
because the wells produce only steam. The geothermal plants at Geysers are dry steam plants.
Flash steam plants: Most geothermal power plants are flash plants. Flash steam power plants
use hot water above 182°C from geothermal reservoirs. The high pressure underground keeps the
water liquid, even though it is well above the boiling point of water at sea level. As the water is
pumped from the reservoir to the power plant, the drop in pressure causes the water to convert, or
‘flash’, into steam, which powers the turbines. Geothermal steam is separated in a surface vessel
(steam separator) and delivered to the turbines, which power the generators. Any water not flashed
into steam is injected back into the reservoir for reuse. Flash steam plants also emit small amounts
of gases and steam.
Binary power plants: Recent advances in geothermal technology have enabled the economic
production of electricity from geothermal resources at 107°C-190° C. The hot water from a
geothermal reservoir is passed through a heat exchanger which transfers heat to a separate pipe
containing fluid with a much lower boiling point, usually Iso-butane or Iso-pentane, which is
vaporised to power the turbine. The advantages of binary-cycle power plants is their lower cost,
increased efficiency, lack of emissions and ability to use lower temperature reservoirs which are
more frequent. Most geothermal power plants planned for construction are binary cycle.
Flash/Binary Combined Cycle: This type of plant exploits the advantages of flash and binary
technology. The flash steam is converted to electricity with a backpressure steam turbine, and the
low-pressure steam exiting the backpressure turbine is condensed in a binary system.
Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) or hot-dry-rock systems, involve pumping water into hot
rocks in the earth. This type of geothermal system would seem to have many advantages in that it
can be used anywhere, not just in tectonically active regions. However, it requires deeper drilling (at
least 10km); drilling to this depth and more is routine in the oil industry (Exxon announced an 11km
bore hole at the Chayvo field). The technological challenges are to drill wider bores and to break rock
in bigger volumes. Some estimates report that there was enough energy in hard rocks 10km below

71
 the American continent to satisfy current world demand for 30,000 years. The steam could be used
feed existing coal, oil or nuclear fired steam power plants.
Geothermal heat pumps take advantage of the relatively constant temperature of the earth's
interior, using it as a source and sink of heat for both heating and cooling. Although above ground
temperatures vary from day to day and season to season, temperatures in the upper 3m of the
earth's surface hold nearly constant at 10-15°C. In most areas, winter soil temperatures are usually
warmer than the air temperatures and summer soil temperatures are cooler than air temperatures.
When cooling is required, heat is extracted from a space and dissipated into the earth; when heating
is required, heat is extracted from the earth and pumped into the relevant space. Geothermal heat
pumps can be used anywhere. Geothermal heat pumps are the most energy-efficient,
environmentally clean, and cost-effective systems for temperature control. Although, most homes
still use traditional furnaces and air conditioners, geothermal heat pumps are becoming more
popular.

7.3 Maturity
Geothermal power supplies 0.416% of the world's energy. According to a ENEL report (2005),
geothermal supplies 8,900MW to 24 countries worldwide (including the US, the Philippines, Italy,
Mexico, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Iceland, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Kenya, China,
Turkey, Russia, Portugal and Guatemala). The Canadian government (which records some 30,000
earth-heat installations for providing space heating to residential and commercial buildings in
Canada) has a test geothermal-electrical site where a 100MW facility could be developed.
Geothermal energy satisfies the electricity needs of some 60m people in the world. Since 2000,
geothermal generation in France, Russia and Kenya has tripled and three more countries (Austria,
Germany and Papua New Guinea) have begun to use geothermal power. Countries as diverse as the
Philippines, Iceland and El Salvador generate an average of 25% of their electricity from geothermal
sources, and geothermal satisfies 30% of Tibet’s energy needs. In addition, geothermal heating is
used to heat 87% of homes in Iceland. The US continues to produce more geothermal electricity than
any other country, accounting for 32% of the world total. According to the International Geothermal
Association (IGA), the Philippines ranks second to the US for production of geothermal energy. At end
2003, the US had a capacity of 2.2m kW of geothermal power, the Philippines 1.93m kW and Italy
0.79m kW.
In 2005, 72 countries reported exploiting geothermal energy for direct use, providing over
16,000MW. Geothermal energy is used directly for a variety of purposes, including space heating,
snow melting, aquaculture, glasshouse growing, etc.

7.4 Reliability and Costs

The capital costs of geothermal include the cost of land, drilling of exploratory and steam field
wells and physical plant, including buildings and power-generating turbines. Geothermal plants are
relatively capital-intensive, with low variable costs and no fuel costs. The capital cost for geothermal
power plants ranges from $1,150-$3,000 per installed kW, depending on the resource temperature
and chemistry, and the technology employed. New technology developments could decrease these
costs. Plant lifetimes are typically 30-45 years. Financing is often structured such that the capital
costs are repaid in the first 15 years. Costs then fall by 50-70% for the remaining 15-30 years of
operation, which covers operation and maintenance. Table 7-1 below shows the capital costs for
geothermal plants; Table 7-1 Geothermal power direct capital costs (US$1999 /KW installed
capacity)

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 Table 7-2 presents conventional baseload power direct capital costs, for comparison.

Plant Size Cost High-Quality Resource Medium-Quality Resource

Exploration $400–$800 $400–$1,000

Small plants (<5 MW) Steam field $100–$200 $300–$600

Power plant $1,100–$1,300 $1,100–$1,400
Total $1,600–$2300 $1,800–$3,000
Exploration $250–$400 $250–$600

Medium plants (5–30 MW) MW) Steam field $200–$500 $400–$700

Power plant $850–$1,200 $950–$1,200
Total $1,300–$2,100 $1,600–$2,500
Exploration $100–$400 $100–$400

Large plants (>30 MW) Steam field $300–$450 $400–$700

Power plant $750–$1,100 $850–$1,100
Total $1,150–$1,750 $1,350–$2,200

Table 7-1 Geothermal power direct capital costs (US$1999 /KW installed capacity)

Capital Cost
Resource
($US1999/kW)
Geothermal $1,150–$3,000
Hydropower 18 $735–$4,778
Coal 19 $1,070–$1,410
Nuclear 20 $1,500–$4,000

Table 7-2 Conventional baseload power direct capital costs

Geothermal power plant operating and maintenance costs range from $0.015-$0.045/kWh,
depending on running time. Geothermal plants typically run 90% of the time. They can be run up for
up to 98%, but this increases maintenance costs. High running times occur when according to
contractual agreements the price of power is high. Higher-prices justify long plant running times
because the higher maintenance costs incurred can be recovered. Table 7.3 presents geothermal
operating and maintenance (O&M) costs by plant size. Large plants tend to have lower O&M costs
due to economies of scale.

Cost Component Small Plants (<5 MW) Medium Plants (5–30 MW) Large Plants (>30 MW)
Steam field 0.35–0.7 0.25–0.35 0.15–0.25
Power plants 0.45–0.7 0.35–0.45 0.25–0.45
Total 0.8–1.4 0.6–0.8 0.4–0.7
Table 7-3 Geothermal O&M costs by plant size (US cents/kWh) 21

18 Hydro Research Foundation. According to this source, hydropower averages $2000/kW.

http://www.hydrofoundation.org/r
19 US Department of Energy: Clean Coal (Data in $US1998/kW). http://www.fossil.energy.gov
20 Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER). http://www.ieer.org/ensec/no-5/table.html
21 The World Bank Group: Geothermal Energy 1999 data,
http://www.worldbank.org/html/fpd/energy/geothermal/assessment.htm

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 Table 7-4 shows that an operating cost of ¢0.4-1.4/kWh is within the range of the O&M costs for
conventional power plants.

Resource O&M Cost (cents/kWh)

Geothermal 0.4–1.4
Hydropower 22 0.7
Coal 23 0.46
Nuclear 24 1.9

Table 7-4 O&M Cost comparison by baseload power source (US cents)

Table 7-5 provides estimates of the new jobs from renewable energy development based on
existing and planned projects in California, and market forecasts by project developers and
equipment manufacturers. Natural gas is included in the table because the bulk of new non-
renewable generation is expected to rely on natural gas. The information in the table indicates that
geothermal and landfill methane energy generation yields significantly more jobs per MW of installed
capacity than natural gas plants.

Construction
O&M Employment Employment for Factor Increase over
Power Source Employment
(jobs/MW) 500 MW Capacity Natural Gas
(jobs/MW)
Wind 2.6 0.3 5,635 2.3
Geothermal 4.0 1.7 27,050 11.0
Solar PV 7.1 0.1 5,370 2.2
Solar thermal 5.7 0.2 6,155 2.5
Landfill gas 3.7 2.3 36,055 14.7
Natural gas 1.0 0.1 2,460 1.0
Table 7-5 Employment rates by energy technology

The environmental impact of geothermal energy depends on how it is being used. Direct use and
heating applications have almost no negative impact on the environment. Geothermal power plants
do not burn fuel to generate electricity, so their emission levels are very low. They release only 1-3%
of the carbon dioxide emissions of a fossil fuel plant. Geothermal plants use scrubber systems to
clean the air of the naturally occurring hydrogen sulphide in steam and hot water. Geothermal plants
emit 97% less acid rain-producing sulphur compounds than fossil fuel plants. The exhausted steam
and water from geothermal reservoirs is injected back into the earth.

22 Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory: Hydropower Program 1996 data.
23 Energy Information Administration/ Electric Power Annual 1999 Volume II Table 13: Average Operating Expense for
Major US Investor-Owned Electric Utilities 1995-1999, 1999 data
24 Energy Information Administration/ Electric Power Annual 1999 Volume II Table 13: Average Operating Expense for
Major US Investor-Owned Electric Utilities 1995-1999, 1999 data

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8. BIOMASS AND WASTE

8.1 Overview
Electricity and heat generation from biomass and waste is seen as having potential in the near and
medium terms, to mitigate GHG emissions by substituting for fossil fuels.

In Europe there are several activities and programmes aimed at biomass-to-energy and waste-to-
energy technologies development at both European and national levels. Every country in Europe has bio-
energy in its energy and climate and agricultural policies, since the production of biomass crops and the
use of RES is linked to agricultural activities. Bio-energy provides multiple benefits since it is closely
linked to forestry, food processing, paper and pulp production, building materials, and the energy sector
generally. However, the realisation of bio-energy projects is difficult due to long term fuel availability,
fuel price variations and reliability of the technology.

Below we provide a description of renewable fuels and an analysis of the conversion technologies
and industrial processes involved in electricity and heat generation.

8.2 Renewable Fuels

Renewable fuels include:

• BIOMASS, which is a source of solar energy stored by plants resulting from the process of
photosynthesis, in which carbon dioxide is captured and converted into cellulose, hemi-
cellulose and lignin; biomass is an organic-non-fossil material of biological origin, which can be
used as fuel for electricity and heat generation;

• MUNICIPAL WASTE, i.e. waste produced by the domestic, commercial and public services sectors,
which is incinerated in special installations for electricity and/or heat generation, or landfilled. It
includes Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), which is the residual waste from domestic and
commercial activities, and ), which is fuel produced by shredding and selecting MSW. RDF
consists largely of the organic components of MSW, such as plastics, paper and other bio-
degradable material.

ƒ Waste is a major problem in every developed country; its growth is a sign of

inefficiencies and the depletion of the earth’s resources. While waste cannot
be eliminated, its environmental impact can be reduced by reducing its growth
where possible, and by exploiting it for the production of energy.

• ANIMAL MANURE, i.e. poultry litter and pig and cattle faeces, which can be incinerated to produce
heat and electricity.

The term biomass covers materials of biological origin and municipal waste and animal excrement
as in the following definition:

‘Biomass’ means non-fossilised and biodegradable organic material originating from plants,
animals and micro-organisms. This shall also include products, by-products, residues and
waste from agriculture, forestry and related industries as well as non fossilised and
biodegradable organic fractions of industrial and municipal wastes. Biomass also includes

75
 gases and liquids recovered from decomposition of non-fossilised and biodegradable
organic material. When burned for energy purposes, biomass is referred to as biomass fuel.

From a technical point of view, there are important differences between biomass, MSW, RDF and
animal manures, related, in particular, to their physical state, their heating value, their moisture content,
their chemical composition, and the harmful compounds they contain. Typical compositions and
chemical-physical characteristics of biomass, MSW, RDF and animal manures are reported in Table 8.1.

These differences require different technologies, because each type of biomass and waste requires
specific treatments and processes for efficient and reliable energy conversion and recovery.

ANIMAL
BIOMASS MSW RDF
MANURE

MJ/ 12% ÷ 12% ÷ 17% ÷

LHW 9% ÷ 12%
kg 16% 18% 25%
15% ÷ 20% ÷ 15% ÷ 25% ÷
MOISTURE CONTENT
40% 30% 20% 35%
ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION
40% ÷ 40% ÷ 45% ÷ 25% ÷
CARBON CONTENT
50% 50% 55% 35%
HYDROGEN CONTENT 4% ÷ 7% 5% ÷ 8% 5% ÷ 10% 4% ÷ 8%
30% ÷ 25% ÷ 25% ÷ 20% ÷
OXYGEN CONTENT
35% 35% 30% 30%
SULPHUR CONTENT < 0.3% < 0.6% < 0.3% < 0.5%
15% ÷
ASH CONTENT < 1% < 20% < 15%
20%
Cl, Pb, Hg, Cl, Pb, Hg, Cl, P, K,
HARMFUL COMPOUNDS -
Cr, etc. Cr, etc. Na, Cu, etc.
Pb – Lead; Hg – Mercury; Cu – Copper; Cl-Chloride; Cr-Cromium; K-Potasium; Na-Sodium

Table 8.1 – Composition and chemical-physical characteristics of biomass, MSW, RDF and animal
manures

8.3 Conversion Technologies

Biomass-to-energy and the waste-to-energy processes, aimed at exploiting renewable fuel for
electricity and heat generation, are based on the conversion of the chemical energy contained in the
solid renewable fuels in hot fumes or in combustible gases. The hot fumes can be used to feed steam
boilers (Rankin-Hirn cycle). The combustible gases produced can be used to generate electricity:

¾ in a combined cycle, based on gas (Brayton cycle) and steam turbines (Rankin-Hirn cycle).
This process has some limitations in terms of lower heating value of the produced
combustible gas stream to assure reliable and efficient operation of gas turbine generation
set; and particulate content and the condensable compounds content in the gas stream, to
assure reliable operation of the gas compressor;

76
 ¾ in a gas engine, where again it is necessary to control the heating value and particulate and
condensable compounds contents in the gas stream; however, the exploitation of
combustible gas in a gas engine is less critical with respect to use in a gas turbine
generating set;

¾ in a combustion chamber, for the production of hot fumes to be used for steam generation
(Rankin-Hirn cycle); this process has some limitations in terms of fume temperatures – the
combined effects of high temperature and aggressive compounds can cause damage to
the equipment.

The technologies for conversion of solid renewable fuels into gaseous fuels or into flue gas at high
temperature, are based on a large variety of thermo-chemical and microbial processes.

8.4 Thermo-chemical Processes: Generalities

Thermo-chemical processes for renewable fuels conversion include traditional processes such as
combustion, and innovative processes such as gasification and pyrolysis. In general, the thermo-
chemical conversion of a solid renewable fuel in a combustible gas stream involves a number of steps:

1. thermal decomposition of solid fuel particles into gas, tar and char; the tar (condensable
vapours) is a mixture of water and heavy hydrocarbons, which condense at atmospheric
temperature; the char is the solid residue from the process consisting of fixed carbon and
heavy ash, originally contained in the solid renewable fuel;

2. thermal cracking of tar to gas;

3. gasification, oxidation or partial oxidation of combustible gas, vapours and char depending
on the quantity and nature of the gasification/oxidation agent used.

A schematic presentation of the thermo-chemical processes described above is shown in Figure -1.

Figure 8-1 Schematic presentation of thermo-chemical processes

77
 The product composition for a thermo-chemical conversion process depends on:

• the gasification/oxidation agent:

ƒ if an inert gas is used, pyrolysis occurs and thermal decomposition and

thermal cracking take place; in this case, the process products are a
combustible gas stream, tar and char;

ƒ if steam, oxygen or air with sub-stoichiometric amounts are used,

gasification occurs; the process products are a combustible gas stream
and inert ashes;

ƒ if oxygen or air with over-stoichiometric amounts are used, combustion

occurs; the process products are hot fumes and inert ashes;

• the maximum temperature process;

• the heating rate of solid fuel particles;

• the time residence in the reactor;

• the reactor design.

8.5 Microbial Processes: Generalities

The most important microbial process in applied to renewable fuel exploitation is anaerobic
digestion (AD), which leads to the conversion of bio-fuel in a relatively high-methane-content bio-gas of
medium energy value.

8.6 Combustion Technology

8.6.1 Combustion Process
Combustion is an exothermic process in which the renewable fuel is oxidised through the combined
effects of high temperature and an oxidant, typically air, with over-stoichiometric amounts. The
combustion process includes several complex reactions, most of which occur simultaneously, and is
usually considered to consist of four stages. For combustion of a single particle of wood, subjected to a
specific heating rate (related to the power released from the combustion of other wood particles), the
four stages are:

1. when the temperature of the particle increases to 200°C, condensable vapours and gases,
some of which are combustible, are released from the particle’s surface; this phase is
endothermic;

2. when the temperature rises to the range 200°C-350°C, volatilisation occurs and the majority
of condensable vapours and gases are released from the particle’s surface; the rate of
volatilisation is directly related to the surface area and hence to the fuel particle size; this
phase is endothermic;

78
 3. when the temperature of the particle increases to the range 350-500°C, the vapours and the
gases released are subject to heterogeneous secondary reactions, cracking and combustion;
the cracking reactions are endothermic and the combustion reactions are exothermic;

4. when the temperature rises above 500°C, only fixed carbon and ash remain in the particle and
the carbon reacts with oxygen

The products of the combustion process are inert ash and hot fumes, containing principally CO2, H2O
and N2 (carbon dioxide, water and nitrogen), which are typically used to generate steam (electricity
generation based on the Rankin-Hirn cycle). The temperature of the fumes, usually 850-1,000°C, has to
be strictly controlled and limited to a maximum value, which depends on the type of renewable fuel
being burned, If this is biomass, the fume temperature can be up to 1,000°C, if it is MSW, RDF or
animal manure, the fume temperature is usually limited to 850°C because the combined effects of high
temperature and chlorine could damage the boiler’s heat exchange surfaces.

8.6.2 Combustion Reactors

Many combustion reactor configurations have been developed and deployed over time in a bid to
achieve high conversion efficiency; high fuel flexibility; low environmental emissions; and high
resistance to the aggressive compounds contained in renewable fuel, such as chloride and alkaline
metals. Basic combustion reactors include a pile burning furnace, a stoker fired furnace or a fluidised
bed furnace.

A description of these reactors can be found in Sections 8.6.2.1, 8.6.2.2 and 8.6.2.3.

In addition, Table 8-2 presents a comparison of combustion reactor technologies.

8.6.2.1 Pile burning furnace

In a pile burning reactor, the biomass is loaded to form piles, and burned, with air fed beneath and
above the piles. The advantages of the pile burning furnace are fuel flexibility, since pile reactors can
cope with a large variety of fuel, and simple reactor design. The disadvantages are their low conversion
efficiency of fuel chemical energy in hot fumes and low efficiency of the steam cycle due to low fume
temperature and relatively poor combustion control. The pile furnace concept has not been widely
adopted for electricity and heat generation for industrial use.

8.6.2.2 Stoker fired furnace

The principal components of the stoker fired furnace are the feed system and the grate. The biomass
feed system puts a layer of fuel on the grate. This fuel layer is relatively thin and more evenly
distributed than in a pile burner. There are three types of stoker fired furnaces. The first is the stoker
fired furnace with a stationary grate in which the fuel is combusted as it slides down to the grate. This
type is not widely used by industry, owing to the difficulty of controlling the combustion process and the
risk of fuel avalanching The second type is the stoker fired furnace with a travelling grate, in which the
fuel is fed into one side of the grate and burns as the grate transports it to the ash removal system. This
type of furnace is largely deployed for renewable fuel treatment because of its better combustion

79
control, high conversion efficiency and low maintenance requirements. Two schemes of stoker fired
furnaces with travelling grates are shown in Figure 8-2 and Figure 8-3;

Figure 8-2 Scheme of a stoker fired furnace with travelling grate (1)

Figure 8-3 Scheme of a stoker fired furnace with travelling grate (2)

Third, there is the stoker fired furnace with a vibrating grate, in which the fuel is fed across the whole
grate, which vibrates to spread the fuel evenly. This type is depicted in Figure 8-4.

80
 Figure 8-4 Scheme of a stoker fired furnace with vibrating grate

8.6.2.3 Fluidised bed furnace

In a fluidised bed furnace, small particles of fuel are fed in and the speed of the combustion air flow is
so high that the fuel becomes a boiling mass. Fluidised bed reactors usually have relatively high
conversion efficiency and are relatively flexible in terms of fuel quality. There are two main types of
fluidised bed furnaces. The bubbling fluidised bed (BFB) furnace in which small particles of biomass
remain in suspension in the reactor in the flow of air and gas, and the circulating fluidised bed (CFB)
furnace, in which small particles of biomass are carried away from the reactor by the gas stream and re-
circulated from the bottom of the reactor after separation in a cyclone.

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 Table 8-2 – Synthetic evaluation of the different combustion reactor technologies
Pil Stoker fired Fluidized bed
e Statio Travell Movin Bubbli Circula
burner nary grate ing grate g grate ng ting
CONSTRUCTION CRITERIA
Design simplicity +
Design volume compacts + +
Erection speed
Modest capital cost at
+ + -
small scales
OPERATION RELATED CRITERIA
Combustion control + -
Load response rate -- +
Turn down ratio
Steam data insensitive for
-
fuel variation
Uninterrupted operation
-
capacity
Modest start-up / shot
down time
Reliability -
Operation convenience -
Maintenance friendly - +
Operating experience ++ ++ ++ + 0 0
FUEL RELATED CRITERIA
Fuel moisture design
++ + + ++ + +
flexibility
Fuel size design flexibility ++ + + + ++ +
Fuel moisture switching
++ - - 0 0
flexibility
Fuel size switching
++ - - + 0
flexibility
fossil fuel co-firing
+
capability
fuel fouling resistance - - -
boiler tube erosion
-
resistance
explosion safety
EFFICIENCY RELATER CRITERIA
carbon burnout efficiency - + + ++
Modest excess air
+ +
requirement
Modest fan capacity
- --
requirement
EMISSION RELATED CRITERIA
Avoidance thermal NOx
- 0 + ++ ++
creation
Acid gas absorption + ++
-- worst
- inappropriate
0 not sufficient experience
+ appropriate
++ optimum

82
8.7 Electricity and Heat Generation
The key components and the most important systems in a power plant based on the combustion
process for electricity and heat generation (a combined heat and power –CHP- plant) from agricultural
and animal biomass and waste are:

¾ the fuel pre-treatment system, designed according to the requirements for fuel quality required
for reliable and efficient operation of furnace and boiler;

¾ the fuel feed system;

¾ the renewable fuel conversion in hot fumes furnace – there are several types of these as
described in Section 0;

¾ the boiler, where the heat is recovered from the hot fumes for steam production;

¾ the steam turbine generating set, where part of the steam’s thermal energy is converted into
electricity;

¾ the heat recovery system for cogeneration;

¾ the exhaust fume cleaning system, based on environmental regulation.

A scheme for a CHP plant, fed with biomass and equipped with a moving grate furnace, is shown in
Figure 8-. The fuel is loaded to the furnace, which is equipped with a moving grate. Downstream of the
furnace is a water tube steam boiler. The flue gas passes through the flue gas cleaning unit, which
includes a cyclone and an electrostatic precipitator.

Before biomass combustion takes place, pre-treatment occurs to reduce the moisture content and
remove inert materials (glass, metals, etc.). In general, a pre-treatment system involves mixing, sizing,
densification and/or drying of the biomass.

The pressurized and high temperature steam (typical steam temperature and pressure of 400°C
and 40 bars, respectively) is fed to the turbine where it expands up to the low pressure created by the
condenser.

Special equipment is required for exhaust fume cleaning where MSW, RDF and animal manures are
being incinerated (see Figure 8-).

The net electricity efficiency of a CHP plant is:

• 20-25% when forestry or agricultural biomass is used as fuel;

• 15-20% when MSW, RDF or animal wastes are used as fuel.

The difference in net electricity efficiencies is due to:

• limitations on the hot fume temperature (<850°C) for waste and animal manure incineration;

• limitations on steam temperature and steam pressure (<400°C and <40 bar).

83
 These limitations are necessary to prevent furnace and boiler damage from chlorine and alkaline
metals.

An important aspect of the Rankine-Hirn steam cycle is related to steam enthalpy (pressure and
temperature). High pressure and high temperature values, which imply high cycle efficiency, require the
adoption of specific and expensive materials to avoid damage to the heat exchange surfaces. Steam
systems, therefore, are affected by considerable economies of scale, which limit the efficiency of
biomass-to-energy and waste-to-energy plants.

Installation costs for a CHP plant based on combustion technologies depend on the fuel burned:

• for forestry biomass, installation costs are €1,000-€2,000/kWe;

• for MSW, RDF or animal manures, installation costs are €1,500-€3,000/kWe;.

which is due to the lower electricity efficiency of the power plant treating the waste; the expensive
materials needed for furnace and boiler construction; and the requirement for exhaust fume cleaning
system equipment.

The costs of electricity produced in a CHP plant based on combustion conversion varies between
€cents2.8-10/kWhe.

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UP-DATE ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF BIOMASS AND WASTE FOR ELECTRICITY AND HEAT GENERATION

Figure 8-5 Scheme of CHP plant based on biomass combustion

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UP-DATE ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF BIOMASS AND WASTE FOR ELECTRICITY AND HEAT GENERATION

Figure 8-6 Scheme of CHP plant based on waste combustion

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 UP-DATE ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF BIOMASS AND WASTE FOR ELECTRICITY AND HEAT

9 INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

Innovative technologies, such as pyrolysis and gasification, are widely used for biomass-to-energy
and waste-to-energy industrial processes because of their advantages over the combustion process.
These advantages include:

• higher electrical efficiency: the application of gasification and pyrolysis processes enables the
conversion of solid fuel into a combustible gas, which can be used in a combined cycle, with the
obvious advantage of increased cycle efficiency;

• lower installation costs: the installation costs of power plants, based on gasification and
pyrolysis processes, are lower than those of a combustion power plant because the gas
cleaning systems are smaller and there is no need for expensive materials to reduce the risks
of boiler damage.

9.1 Pyrolysis Technology

9.1.1 Pyrolysis Process
Pyrolysis is an endothermic process that occurs in an inert environment (in the absence of oxygen)
and consists of thermal degradation of solid fuel for the production of:

• PYROGAS, which is a combustible gas principally consisting of hydrogen, carbon monoxide,

carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, ethylene and unsaturated hydrocarbons;

• CHAR,which is a combustible powder that is nearly pure carbon with some inert material in the
feedstock;

• TAR,which is a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons composed of complex organic substances such

as ketones and saturated hydrocarbons.

For a specific renewable solid fuel, pyrogas yield and the pyrogas heating value (depending on
pyrogas chemical composition), tar yield and tar heating value, char yield and char heating value
depend on the temperature of the pyrolysis process and the length of time the fuel is in the pyrolyser.
Pyrolysis can be a slow or fast process.

9.1.1.1 Slow Pyrolysis

Slow pyrolysis takes place at temperatures of 450-600°C and requires a residence time in the pyrolysis
reactor of about 1 hour. Slow pyrolysis is used for the production of pyrogas that can be used in a
combined power plant (gas turbine + steam turbine). The pyrogas has to be treated before electricity
generation to prevent compressor damage. This treatment consists of pyrogas cooling and tar
separation.

Many recent industrial applications, for electric energy production from forestry biomass and waste,
use slow pyrolysis as the conversion process.

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 UP-DATE ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF BIOMASS AND WASTE FOR ELECTRICITY AND HEAT

9.1.1.2 Fast Pyrolysis

Fast pyrolysis takes place at temperatures in the range 500-800°C and requires a residence time in
the pyrolysis reactor of only a few minutes. Fast pyrolysis is used for the production of a combustible
liquid (tar) that can be used for electricity and heat generation and in the transport and automotive
sector. When the tar is used for electricity generation, it is burned in a furnace for steam production. It
can also be fed to a diesel engine, in which case pre-treatment consisting of cracking and separation is
required to convert the combustible liquid into bio-diesel.

9.2 Pyrolysis Reactor

The typical pyrolysis reactor is a rotary kiln. A scheme of a rotary kiln is shown in Figure 9-1. The
rotary kiln pyrolyser consists of two wall drums: the external drum is static and thermally insulated, and
the internal drum is rotating and maintained in the absence of oxygen. The renewable fuel is fed into the
internal drum, in which the temperature is 400-600°C, which causes thermal degradation of the solid
particles and the production of pyrogas, tar and char. The heat is provided by hot fumes introduced in
the annulus between the two drums, to heat the internal rotating drum.

Pyrogas and tar are dispelled from the top of the pyrolyser and the solid residue is discharged at the
bottom of the reactor.

Biomass

Pyrogas + Tar

Char
Heat of pyrolysis

Figure 9-1 – Scheme of a rotary kiln for pyrolysis process

9.3 Electricity and Heat Generation

Pyrolysis is an interesting process for generation of electricity and heat because of the high
electricity efficiency of the power plants based on a combined cycle (Integrated Pyrolysis Combined
Cycle – IPCC). The key components and systems in an IPCC plant are:

• the fuel pre-treatment system, designed according to the requirements on fuel quality
demanded at the pyrolyser;

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 UP-DATE ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF BIOMASS AND WASTE FOR ELECTRICITY AND HEAT

• the fuel feed system;

• the pyrolysis reactor, where renewable fuel conversion into pyrogas, tar and char takes place;

• the combustion chamber for char and tar burning;

• the pyrogas cleaning system for separating pyrogas from tar and particulate; the cleaning
process is required to reduce compressor damage;

• the gas turbine generating set;

• the boiler for steam production;

• the steam turbine generating set;

• the heat recovery system for cogeneration;

• the exhaust fume cleaning system.

An IPCC plant scheme is shown in Figure 9-2.

The renewable fuel is fed to the pyrolyser where it is converted into pyrogas, tar and char. The gas
phase (mixture of pyrogas, tar and volatile ash), leaving the pyrolyser, is treated in the cleaning system,
resulting in pyrogas with low tar and particulate content. The cleaning system can include cyclones,
cracking reactors, wet scrubbers, bag filters and electrostatic filters. The cleaned pyrogas is burned in
the turbo-gas for power generation.

The char discharged from the pyrolyser and the tar recovered from the pyrogas cleaning system are
burned in a combustion chamber; the hot combustion fumes are fed to the pyrolyser to supply the heat
for pyrolysis.

Both the fumes leaving the pyrolyser and those leaving the gas turbine are sent to a boiler where
steam is produced that can be used in the steam turbine generating set.

Special equipment is required for the pyrogas and exhaust fume cleaning systems if MSW, RDF and
animal manures are pyrolysed.

The electric efficiency of a IPCC plant is in the range 30-35%.

The scale of an IPCC plant based on pyrolysis conversion, with gas and steam turbines for electricity
generation, varies from 100kWe to 110MWe. IPCC installation costs are €3,500-5,000/kWe depending
on the scale of the plant and the fuel composition. The cost of electricity produced in a IPCC plant varies
between €3.8-7.8/kWhe.

The pyrolysis process is used in IPCC and in power plants that use gas engines for power generation.
For the latter, the requirements on pyrogas cleaning are less strict, but the electricity efficiency
decreases to around 25%. Installation costs for power plants based on pyrolysis technology, but using
gas engines for electricity generation, are €2,000-4,000/kWe.

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 UP-DATE ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF BIOMASS AND WASTE FOR ELECTRICITY AND HEAT

BIOMASS

GAS TREATMENT BIOMASS

EXHAUSTS TREATMENT

GAS TURBINE

STEAM TURBINE

Figure 9-2 Scheme of an IPCC plant

9.4 Gasification Technology

9.4.1 Gasification Process
The gasification process consists of thermo-chemical conversion of a solid material into a
combustible gas (syngas) through the combined effects of high temperature and a gasification agent.
The syngas contains CO2, CO, H2, CH4, H2O, traces of higher hydrocarbons, inert gases present in the
gasification agent, and various contaminants such as small char particles, ash and tar. The gasification
process and the gasifier reactors vary. The gasification agent can be air, oxygen or steam; the choice of
gasification agent is strictly related to the means of supplying gasification heat which can be:

direct gasification, which occurs when the heat required to maintain the endothermic reaction
(pyrolysis and cracking) is provided by the partial combustion of the products of pyrolysis and
cracking; direct gasification requires an oxidant, such as air or pure oxygen, as the gasification
agent; the reactions that occur during direct gasification are both exothermic and endothermic;

indirect gasification, which occurs when the heat necessary for biomass gasification is supplied
from an external source through a heat exchanger or an indirect process, since the reactions that
occur during indirect gasification, between the gasification agent and pyrolysis/cracking products,
are prevalently endothermic; indirect gasification requires steam or hydrogen as the gasification
agent.

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 UP-DATE ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF BIOMASS AND WASTE FOR ELECTRICITY AND HEAT

Industrial gasifier reactors for power generation are generally direct gasifiers with air, or air enriched
with oxygen, or pure oxygen as the gasification agent,

The adoption of indirect gasification and direct gasification with pure oxygen leads to the production of a
syngas with higher heating value; however, indirect gasification and direct gasification with pure oxygen
are less well developed and deployed than direct gasification processes with air.

The choice of process also depends on gasifier pressure and the gasification reactor design, the most
common gasifiers include:

ƒ fixed bed reactors, with updraft and downdraft configuration; used for small-
scale gasification with capacities of less than 100kW up to a few MW;

ƒ fluidised bed reactors, including BFB gasifier and CFB gasifier, used for large-
scale gasification, with capacity over several tens of MW.

Table 9-1 presents the fuel requirements and operating conditions for different gasifier designs.

A key characteristic of the gasifier is the capacity to produce a syngas with low tar content. A high tar
content causes a lot of problems in energy recovery systems due to corrosion. Typically, a gasification
system comprises three elements:

• the gasifier, to produce the combustible syngas;

• the gas cleaning system, to remove the polluting and aggressive compounds from the
combustible syngas;

• the electricity and heat generation system.

Gasifier design Downdraft Updraft Fluid bed

Particle size [mm] 20 - 100 5 - 100 <1
Moisture content < 20% < 50% < 40%
Ash content < 5% < 15% < 20%
Morphology uniform almost uniform Uniform
Bulk density [kg/m3] > 500 > 400 > 100
Ash melting point [°C] > 1250 > 1000 > 1000
Sensitivity to load fluctuation sensitive not sensitive not sensitive
Operating temperature [°C] 700 - 1200 700 - 900 < 900
Tars content in syngas low high moderate
Ash content in syngas high moderate high
Process control easy very easy Moderate
Scale [MWth] <5 < 20 10 – 100
Hot gas efficiency 85% – 90% 90% - 95% 85% - 90%
Cold gas efficiency 65% - 75% 40% - 60% 50% - 60%
Syngas exit temperature [°C] 700 200 - 400 850
Tars in syngas [g/Nm3] 0.015 – 0.5 30 - 150 < 10
Gas utilization gas engine / combustion gas engine / combustion gas engine / gas turbine
/ combustion

Table 9-1 Fuel requirements and operating conditions vs gasifier design

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 UP-DATE ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF BIOMASS AND WASTE FOR ELECTRICITY AND HEAT

9.4.2 Gasification Reactors

9.4.2.1 Fixed Bed Gasifiers
Fixed bed (updraft or downdraft) gasifiers are used for small-scale gasification for capacities of less
than a 100kWth up to a few MWth. Small fixed-bed gasifiers coupled to gas engines, with an electrical
efficiency around 25%, are available on the market.

Fixed bed gasifiers are most suited to forestry and agricultural biomass gasification in small-scale
cogeneration plants. If MSW, RDF and animal manures are used, the gasifier will need to incorporate
special equipment to treat the syngas in order to eliminate aggressive and polluting compounds, such
as chlorine and NOx. The development and wider industrial application of fixed-bed, small-scale gasifiers
is limited by:

• stable fuel composition and chemical-physical characteristics;

• operating problems related to the gasifier and the cleaning systems;

• high installation costs, related especially to the gas cleaning systems.

Standardised (pre-packaged) gasification systems represent a breakthrough for small-scale

electricity production from biomass.

9.4.2.2 The Updraft Gasifier

A fixed bed updraft gasifier scheme is depicted in Figure 9-3. In the updraft reactor the solid
renewable fuel is loaded from the top and moves downwards, while air intake is from the bottom. The
fuel moves counter-currently to the syngas flow and passes through the drying, pyrolysis, reduction and
oxidation zones. The syngas leaves the gasifier at the top. Due to the configuration of the reactor, with
means that the tar produced in the pyrolysis zone is carried upwards, the syngas has high tar content.

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 UP-DATE ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF BIOMASS AND WASTE FOR ELECTRICITY AND HEAT

Figure 9-3 Scheme of an updraft gasifier

The advantages of updraft gasifiers are their:

• simplicity of operation and control;

• high char burnout;

• high internal heat exchange due to the counter-current flow between fuel and syngas and to the
relatively low exit temperature of the syngas;

• capability to treat feedstock with high moisture content (up to 60% by weight), because, owing
to the internal heat exchange (the fuel is dried on the top of the gasifier) and high ash content;

• the capability to process relatively small sized fuel particles and to cope with size variations in
the fuel feedstock

The disadvantage of updraft gasifiers is the high tar content of the syngas stream, which means that
if the syngas gas is used in gas engines, special and expensive cleaning systems (thermal and/or
catalytic tar crackers, etc.) are required.

9.4.2.3 The Downdraft Gasifier

Figure 10 depicts a scheme for a fixed bed downdraft gasifier. In a downdraft reactor, biomass is fed
in from the top and the air is fed in from the sides, above the grate. The syngas leaves the reactor at the
bottom, under the grate, so the fuel and the gas move in the same direction. As in the updraft gasifier,
the drying, pyrolysis, reduction and oxidation zones are distinguishable. The introduction of air in the
oxidation zone helps to achieve low tar content (< 100 mg/Nm3) in the syngas stream. In the downdraft
configuration, tar is led to an effective thermal-cracking process. However, the internal heat exchange is
not as efficient as in the updraft gasifier.

Downdraft gasifiers are used for electricity generation with production capacity in the range 80-
500kWe.

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 UP-DATE ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF BIOMASS AND WASTE FOR ELECTRICITY AND HEAT

Biomass

Figure 9-4 Scheme of a downdraft gasifier

The major advantage of downdraft gasifiers is the production of syngas with low tar content, which is
suitable for gas engine applications. The disadvantages of downdraft gasifiers are:

• limited scaling-up, due to unstable operation;

• high ash and dust particle content in the syngas, which requires treatment; this is due to the
fact that the syngas has to pass the reduction zone where small ash particles are entrained in
the gas stream;

• low gasification efficiency, due to the fact that the syngas moves concurrently with the fuel and
leaves the reactor at a relative high temperature;

• strict requirements on fuel quality: moisture content must be less than 25% and particles have
to be uniform and in the size range 4-10 cm

9.4.2.4 Fluidised Bed Gasifiers

Fluidisation is the process where a fixed bed of fine solids, typically a mixture of fuel particles and
silica sand, is transformed into a liquid-like state by means of the upward gasification agent.

Fluidised bed gasifiers have been developed for large-scale biomass gasification to overcome the
problems and the operating constraints of fixed bed gasifiers, related to:

• the critical treatment of fuel with high ash content;

• the bridging and channelling effect into the reactor;

• the creation of a hot spot in the reactor;

• the limitation on scaling up;

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 UP-DATE ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF BIOMASS AND WASTE FOR ELECTRICITY AND HEAT

• the plugging problem associated with small particles treatment.

Due to the high level of mixing in the fluid bed, the different zones - drying, pyrolysis, oxidation,
reduction – cannot be clearly distinguished.

The major advantages of fluidised bed gasifiers with respect to fixed bed gasifiers are:

• compact design, related to high heat exchange and reaction rates, due to intensive mixing in
the bed;

• uniform bed temperature with no hot spots;

• fuel quality flexibility (moisture and ash content);

• ability to deal with fluff and fine grain fuel;

• low ash melting due to the low reaction temperature.

The major disadvantages of fluidised bed gasifiers with respect to fixed bed gasifiers are:

• high tar and dust content in the syngas;

• high content of alkaline metals in the vapour state in syngas;

• incomplete carbon burnout;

• complex operation

Fluidised bed gasifiers can be used for forestry and agricultural biomass, and for RDF. These types of
gasifiers are typically for large scale use (over several tens of MWth capacity), combined with gas
turbine and steam turbine generating sets. If the gasifier is loaded with RDF, special equipment is
needed to treat the syngas in order to eliminate aggressive and polluting compounds, such as chlorine
and NOx. They can be BFB or CFB.

9.4.2.5 BFB Gasifiers

Figure 11 shows a typical BFB gasifier. In a BFB reactor, expansion of the fluidised bed, maintained
in suspension under the effect of the upward flowing gasification, occurs in the lower part of the gasifier;
sand and fuel particles are not released from the reactor.

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 UP-DATE ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF BIOMASS AND WASTE FOR ELECTRICITY AND HEAT

Syngas

Figure 9-5 Scheme of a BFB gasifier

9.4.2.6 CFB Gasifier

Figure 9-5 depict a typical CFB gasifier. In a CFB reactor, the expanded bed occupies the entire
reactor and a fraction of the sand and fuel particles is carried out of the reactor with the syngas and
separated out in a cyclone to be recycled in the reactor.

Figure 9-6 Scheme of a CFB gasifier

In CFB gasifiers, fuel particle conversion and char burnout are higher than in BFB gasifiers, which
reduce reactor unit costs.

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9.5 Electricity and heat generation

The process of gasification for electricity and heat generation from renewable fuels is well diffused
due to the high electrical efficiency and relative simplicity of operation and control of components.
There are two types of power plants based on this process. The first is integrated gasification
combined cycle (IGCC) which has high electricity efficiency (see Figure 9-7). Its key components are:

ƒ the fuel pre-treatment system, designed according to the fuel composition

requirements;

ƒ the fuel feed system;

ƒ the gasification reactor, where renewable fuel conversion in syngas occurs,

usually a fluidised bed gasification reactor;

ƒ the syngas cleaning system for separating tar and particulate from the syngas
to limit compressor damage;

ƒ the gas turbine generating set;

ƒ the boiler for steam production;

ƒ the steam turbine generating set;

ƒ the heat recovery system for cogeneration;

ƒ the exhaust fume cleaning system.

The renewable fuel is loaded to the gasifier where it is converted into syngas and inert ash. The
gas phase (mixture of syngas, tar and volatile ash) leaves the gasifier and is treated in the cleaning
system to produce a syngas with low tar and particulate content. The cleaning system can include
cyclones, cracking reactors, wet scrubbers, bag filters and electrostatic filters. The cleaned syngas
is passed into the gas turbine generating set for electricity generation. The inert ash discharged
from the gasifier is stored. The fumes leaving the gas turbine are fed to a boiler for steam
production, to be used in the steam turbine generating set. If RDF is used special fume cleaning
system equipment is required.

The second type of power plant is the integrated gasification gas engine (IGGE) power plant, which
has simple operation and control of components (see Figure 9-8). The key components of an IGGE
power plant are:

ƒ the fuel pre-treatment system;

ƒ the fuel feed system;

ƒ the gasification reactor, where renewable fuel conversion in syngas occurs.

Usually fixed bed reactors are used in IGGE power plants;

ƒ the syngas cleaning system, for separating tar and particulate from syngas;
the syngas cleaning process in IGGE power plants is less critical than in IGCC
plants since the syngas quality requirements are less strict;

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 UP-DATE ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF BIOMASS AND WASTE FOR ELECTRICITY AND HEAT

ƒ the gas engine;

ƒ the heat recovery system for cogeneration;

ƒ the exhaust fume cleaning system.

The renewable fuel is loaded to the gasifier where it is converted into syngas and inert ash.
The gas phase (mixture of syngas, tar and volatile ash) leaving the gasifier is treated in the
cleaning system to produce a syngas with a low tar and particulate content. The cleaning
system can include cyclones, cracking reactors, wet scrubbers, bag filters and electrostatic
filters. The cleaned syngas is used in the gas engine for electricity generation. The inert ash
discharged from the gasifier is stored.

The net electrical efficiency of gasifier power plants is:

• 30-40% in large-scale combined power plants with fluidised bed gasifiers;

• 25-30% in small-scale power plants with fixed bed gasifiers and gas engines.

Gasification power plant installation costs depend on the type of renewable fuel, on plant size,
gasification reactor design, and the process adopted for electricity generation:

• €1,500-2,500/kWe for a large-scale power plant (usually a combination of fluidised bed

gasifier and combined cycle for power generation) which uses biomass fuel;

• €2,500-3,000/kWe for a large-scale power plant (usually a combination of fluidised bed

gasifier and combined cycle for power generation) which uses RDF fuel;

• €2,000-4,000/kWe for a small-scale power plant (usually a combination of fixed bed gasifier
and gas engine for power generation) which uses forestry biomass;

• €3,500-4,500/kWe for a small-scale power plant (usually a combination of fixed bed gasifier
and gas engine for power generation) which uses RDF fuel.

Installation costs vary according to whether:

• special materials are needed for gasifier construction (e.g. for RDF);

• special equipment is needed to remove aggressive compounds from syngas, to prevent

damage;

• special equipment is needed to remove polluting compounds from the exhaust fumes.

The cost of the electricity produced in a gasification power plant varies between €cents4.4-
8.4/kWhe.

98
Figure 9-7 Scheme of a IGCC power plant

99
Figure 9-8 Scheme of a IGGE power plant

100
10. ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

Anaerobic digestion is a well-established process for the conversion of organic material into biogas
and is widely used to treat MSW and animal manures. The anaerobic digestion process takes place in
the absence of oxygen and consists of the natural breakdown of organic matter by bacteria in an
ambient environment, which provides the ideal conditions for the bacteria to ferment the organic
feedstock and produce biogas. Anaerobic digestion processes vary depending on the type of bacteria.
Mesophilic anaerobic digestion uses mesophile bacteria and occurs at 37-41°C; thermophilic anaerobic
digestion uses thermophile bacteria and occurs at 50-52°C. A complete anaerobic digestion process
involves four stages:

1. hydrolysis, in which complex organic molecules are broken down into simple sugars, amino
acids and fatty acids with the addition of hydroxyl groups;

2. acideogenesis, in which the molecules from hydrolysis are broken down into simpler molecules,
i.e., volatile fatty acids;

3. acetogenesis, in which the simple molecules from acidogenesis are further digested to produce
carbon dioxide, hydrogen and acetic acid;

4. methanogenesis, in which carbon dioxide and water are produced.

These stages are depicted in Figure 10-1.

Figure 10-1 Schematic presentation of the anaerobic digestion process

The products of the anaerobic digestion process are a biogas, which is a mixture of methane, carbon
dioxide, small amounts of hydrogen and occasional traces of hydrogen sulphide and undigested fibre,

101
and various water-soluble substances. Biogas is exploited for electricity generation using an engine,
steam turbine or gas microturbine. The biogas must be treated to remove condensable vapours and
particulates before it can be fed to an engine. Figure 10-2 depicts a power plant scheme for the
generation of electricity using a gas engine and biogas

There are several criticalities in the use of gas turbines for generating electricity based on the high
costs of biogas cleaning systems. Anaerobic digestion based on gas turbines is not commercially viable
for industry.

Figure 10-2 Scheme of a power plant based on anaerobic digestion and a gas engine.

The installation costs for a power plant based on anaerobic digestion is in the range €9,000-
15,000/kWe. The cost of electricity produced from a anaerobic digestion power plant varies between €
cents23-80/kWhe.

102
APPENDIX 1

Synthetic evaluation of different biomass-to-energy and waste-to-energy technologies

COMBUSTION PROCESS GASIFICATION PROCESS
PYROLYSIS ANAEROBIC
PILE BURNING STOKER FLUIDIZED BED PROCESS FIXED DIGESTION
FLUIDISED BED
FURNACE FURNACE FURNACE BED
Not
BIOMASS + ++ ++ ++ ++ +
Applicable
RENEWABLE

Not
MSW + - + - - +
FUELS

Applicable
Not
RDF ++ + ++ + + -
Applicable
ANIMAL Not
+ - + + - ++
MANURES Applicable

STEAM Not Commercial Commercial Commercial Commercial Commercial Commercial

GENERATING SET

TURBINE developed Technology Technology Technology Technology Technology Technology

GAS
TURBINE + Not Not Not Industrial Industrial Industrial
-
STEAM developed Applicable Applicable Prototype Prototype Prototype
TURBINE
Commerc
GAS Not Not Not Commercial Commercial Commercial
ial
ENGINE developed Applicable Applicable Technology Technology Technology
Technology

- inappropriate
+ appropriate
++ optimum

103
APPENDIX 2

Synthetic evaluation of conversion processes availability for renewable fuels conversion

COMBUSTION PROCESS GASIFICATION PROCESS
ANAEROBIC
FLUIDISED PYROLYSIS FLUIDISED
STOKER STOKER DIGESTION
BED PROCESS BED
FURNACE FURNACE PROCESS
FURNACE FURNACE
Biomass
MWS Biomass MSW
Biomass Biomass
STEAM TURBINE RDF MSW Biomass Animal
RDF RDF
Animal RDF Manures
Manures
Biomass MSW
GAS TURBINE + Biomass
- - MSW - Animal
STEAM TURBINE RDF
RDF Manures
Biomass MSW
Biomass
GAS ENGINE - - MSW Biomass Animal
RDF
RDF Manures

104
APPENDIX 3

Synthetic evaluation of installation costs and energy cost related to biomass-to-energy and waste to
energy technologies

INSTALLATION COST [€/KWE]

ENERGY COST
MSW / RDF / [C€/KWH]
BIOMASS
ANIMAL MANURES

COMBUSTION 1000 ÷ 2000 1500 ÷ 3000 2.8 ÷ 10

TECHNOLOGIES

GASIFICATION 1500 ÷ 4000 2500 ÷ 4500 4.4 ÷ 8.4

PYROLYSIS 2000 ÷ 4500 3.8 ÷ 7.8

ANAEROBIC DIGESTION 9000 ÷ 15000 23 ÷ 80

105
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