Title: Sustainable fuels for thermal power generation for sustainable energy supply in a low-density population cluster

Authors: Izuchukwu Francis Okafor; Nwachukwu Paul Nwachukwu; Ifeanyi Wilfred Okonkwo; Ikenna David Okeke

Addresses: National Centre for Energy Research and Development, African Center of Excellence Sustainable Power and Energy Development, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria ' Technuell Services, 73 Zander Street, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria ' Agriculttural and Bioresources Engineering, African Center of Excellence Sustainable Power and Energy Development, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria ' National Centre for Energy Research and Development, Department of Mechatronic Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

Abstract: Fossil fuels for thermal power generation have been the dominant fuels for energy generation, which are unsustainable and harmful to the environment. This study examined thermal power generation with biomass briquette fuel and solar thermal energy for sustainable power supply in a low-density population cluster. The power supply situation in Nigeria was highlighted. Regenerative Rankine thermal plant with biomass fuel and concentrated solar thermal power (CSTP) plant was examined for improvement in thermal efficiency. Engineering equation solver was used in solving the mathematical formulations generated in this study. It was found that the thermal efficiency of the plant increased with temperature. Potentially, the plant can operate at peak thermal efficiency if the operating parameters are optimized, and can switch to either biomass fuel to handle solar intermittency issues or to solar thermal to conserve biomass fuel, indicating the novelty of hybrid fuel sources for sustainable thermal power generation.

Keywords: solar thermal power; regenerative Rankine; power plant; thermal efficiency; power generation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETP.2025.151046

International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy, 2025 Vol.20 No.3/4, pp.226 - 245

Received: 03 Jan 2024
Accepted: 15 Aug 2024
Published online: 12 Jan 2026 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article