Title: Forest waste to energy in the Himalayan region: technical and economic evaluation

Authors: Arvind Singh Bisht; N.S. Thakur

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh – 177005, India ' Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh – 177005, India

Abstract: The Himalayan subtropical pine forests spread all over the Himalayan region. Every year during the summer season, dry leaves (pine needles) fall from the trees and cover the forest area, destroying soil fertility and also cause forest fires. The energy recovery from waste biomass through gasification process is receiving renewed interest. In this present study, pine needle biomass gasification characterisation along with economics of energy generation are carried out. Results indicate that a maximum of 135 kJ/mol of energy is required for the complete gasification of pine needle biomass. The energy released per kg of pine needle gasification is found to be 15.66 MJ/kg. It produces producer gas of calorific value 5.07 MJ/Nm³. This producer gas is used in a 100% producer gas engine generator set for electricity generation. The levellised unit cost of electricity (LUCE) varies between 6.5 INR/kW to 14.84 INR/kW under the different financial and operating conditions.

Keywords: energy; biomass gasification; TGA; pine needle; kinetic investigation; regional bioenergy development; Himalayan region; forest fires; bio-energy; renewable energy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2022.119386

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2022 Vol.21 No.1/2, pp.150 - 174

Received: 02 Dec 2019
Accepted: 14 Oct 2020
Published online: 02 Dec 2021 *

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