Renewable Energy Technologies: Cost Analysis Series - Biomass for Power Generation

The total installed costs of biomass power generation technologies varies significantly by technology and country. The total installed costs of stoker boilers was between USD 1 880 and USD 4 260/kW in 2010, while those of circulating fluidised bed boilers were between USD 2 170 and USD 4 500/kW. Anaerobic digester power systems had capital costs between USD 2 570 and USD 6 100/kW. Gasification technologies, including fixed bed and fluidised bed solutions, had total installed capital costs of between USD 2 140 and USD 5 700/kW. Co-firing biomass at low-levels in existing thermal plants typically requires additional investments of USD 400 to USD 600/kW. Using landfill gas for power generation has capital costs of between USD 1 920 and USD 2 440/kW. The cost of CHP plants is significantly higher than for the electricity-only configuration.