Optimal Design of Stand-Alone Electricity Generation System using Local Plant-based Biomass Feedstock

This paper presents the design of a cost-effective stand-alone electricity generation system with a storage option for Dedelo farming community in the Eastern Cape province in South Africa using plant biomass feedstock. Average load for the community is estimated to be 338.88 kW with a peak load of 1 510 kW and average energy consumption of 8 133 kWh/day, respectively. A plant-based biomass resource assessment of Dedelo was carried out. A cost, technical and environmental analysis was made for each of the proposed case studies. The most cost-effective system was found to be that of the biomass gasifier hybridized with diesel generator and storage with Net Present Cost and Cost of Energy. The system had no capacity shortage, no unmet load and no excess electricity.