Feasibility analysis of wood-biomass energy generation for the off-grid community of Brochet in North-west Manitoba, Canada.
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Date
2014-08-25
Authors
Rahman, Rezaur
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Abstract
The feasibility of wood based energy plants in the off-grid Brochet community in Manitoba were analyzed by survey, interviews and document review in this research. Four areas were explored to assess the suitability of biomass energy generation, namely: the community’s perspective, resource assessment, technology availability, and cost attractiveness.
Harvesting sufficient woody biomass from local wild fire burnt areas, in particular, as well as local green forests could be an appropriate and feasible option. A heat only plant is considered to be the best choice for biomass plant establishment in Brochet, followed by combined heat and power plants. A cost analysis showed that a biomass plant at Brochet is more economical than the current planned investment in the diesel power facility. The lack of resolve about who wants to run and pay for the operation and the uncertainty of the reliability of biomass technologies are two large barriers to biomass energy generation in the community. Overall, biomass energy generation options are promising to eliminate or reduce the use of fossil fuel in Brochet.
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Off-grid communities, wood-biomass energy, boreal forest