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Barriers to Success: A Technical Review on the Limits and Possible Future Roles of Small Scale Gasifiers

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  • Giulio Allesina

    (BEELab-Bio Energy Efficiency Laboratory, Department of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari”, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Vivarelli 10/1, 41125 Modena, Italy)

  • Simone Pedrazzi

    (BEELab-Bio Energy Efficiency Laboratory, Department of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari”, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Vivarelli 10/1, 41125 Modena, Italy)

Abstract

Literature and manuals refer to biomass gasification as one of the most efficient processes for power generation, highlighting features, such as residual biomass use, distributed generation and carbon sequestration, that perfectly incorporate gasification into circular economies and sustainable development goals. Despite these features, small scale applications struggle to succeed as a leading solution for sustainable development. The aim of this review is to investigate the existing technological barriers that limit the spreading of biomass gasification from a socio-technical point of view. The review outlines how existing technologies originated from under feed-in-tariff regimes and highlights where the current design goals strongly differ from what will be needed in the near future. Relevant market-ready small-scale gasification systems are analyzed under this lens, leading to an analysis of the reactor and filtration design. To help understand the economical sustainability of these plants, an analysis of the influence of capital expenditures and operating expenditures on the return of investment is included in the discussion. Finally, a literature review on prototypes and pre-market reactors is used as a basis for spotting the characteristics of the system that will likely resolve issues around fuel flexibility, cost efficiency and load variability.

Suggested Citation

  • Giulio Allesina & Simone Pedrazzi, 2021. "Barriers to Success: A Technical Review on the Limits and Possible Future Roles of Small Scale Gasifiers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-23, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:20:p:6711-:d:657457
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    1. Savelii Kukharets & Algirdas Jasinskas & Gennadii Golub & Olena Sukmaniuk & Taras Hutsol & Krzysztof Mudryk & Jonas Čėsna & Szymon Glowacki & Iryna Horetska, 2023. "The Experimental Study of the Efficiency of the Gasification Process of the Fast-Growing Willow Biomass in a Downdraft Gasifier," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-12, January.
    2. Kenji Koido & Eri Takata & Takashi Yanagida & Hirofumi Kuboyama, 2022. "Techno-Economic Assessment of Heat Supply Systems in Woodchip Drying Bases for Wood Gasification Combined Heat and Power," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Mateusz Kochel & Mateusz Szul & Tomasz Iluk & Jan Najser, 2022. "On the Possibility of Cleaning Producer Gas Laden with Large Quantities of Tars through Using a Simple Fixed-Bed Activated Carbon Adsorption Process," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-19, October.
    4. Zachl, Angelika & Buchmayr, Markus & Gruber, Johann & Anca-Couce, Andrés & Scharler, Robert & Hochenauer, Christoph, 2024. "Experimental-data-based, easy-to-use product gas composition prediction of a commercial open-top gasifier based on commercially used properties of softwood chips," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    5. Zachl, A. & Soria-Verdugo, A. & Buchmayr, M. & Gruber, J. & Anca-Couce, A. & Scharler, R. & Hochenauer, C., 2022. "Stratified downdraft gasification of wood chips with a significant bark content," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PB).

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