Paper details

Title:

Electricity Production from Rice Husk Gasification for Rural Electrification in Ghana: An Economic and Energetic Perspective

Author(s):

Ramamurthi, P.V., Fernandes, M.C., Nielsen, P.S., Nunes, C.P.

Document(s):

Abstract:

Decentralised systems can help accelerate electrification in countries struggling to achieve universal electricity access through centralised grids. Using the case of Ghana, a country where 50% of the rural population is unelectrified, this paper examines the potential of using rice husk gasification mini-grids to electrify the country’s unelectrified rural communities. Economic studies and energy balances of the gasification system were conducted. In major rice growing regions of Ghana, rice husk gasifiers have the potential to electrify 8% of the currently unelectrified communities. Levelised Electricity Costs (LEC) of the gasification units ranged between 20­ 84UScents/kWh, when used for communities ranging between 5000-100 people. Energy balance assessments showed that the total input of fossil fuels required for production of electricity is higher than the output. Hence, it is not energetically attractive to use a dual-fuel gasifier.Single-fuel producer gas systems are recommended from an energetic perspective, as there is a 99% renewable energy input.

Keywords:

energy balance, gasification, rice husks, rural development, decentralised, economical aspects

Topic:

Bioenergy in Integrated Energy Systems

Subtopic:

Bioenergy In Integrated Energy Systems

Event:

23rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

5BO.3.5

Pages:

1658 - 1663

ISBN:

978-88-89407-516

Paper DOI:

10.5071/23rdEUBCE2015-5BO.3.5

Price:

FREE