A Polygeneration Process Concept for Hybrid Solar and Biomass Power Plant

Preface

The global warming phenomenon, as a significant sustainability issue, is gaining worldwide support for the development of renewable energy technologies. The term ‘polygeneration’ is referred to as “an energy supply system, which delivers more than one form of energy to the final user”, for example, electricity, cooling, and desalination can be delivered from the polygeneration process. The polygeneration process in a hybrid solar thermal power plant can deliver electricity with a lesser impact on the environment compared to a conventional fossil fuel based power generating system. It is the next generation energy production technique with a potential to overcome the intermittence of renewable energy.

In this study, the polygeneration process simultaneously with production of power, vapor absorption refrigeration (VAR) cooling, and multi-effect humidification and dehumidification (MEHD) desalination systems from different heat sources in hybrid solar-biomass (HSB) systems with higher energy efficiencies (energy and exergy), primary energy savings (PES) and payback period, are investigated.

There are several aspects associated with hybrid solar-biomass power generation installations, such as state wise availability of biomass resources and solar direct normal irradiance (DNI), have been analyzed. Month wise solar and biomass heat utilization has also been analyzed for hybrid systems in four regions of India (East: Guwahati, Assam; West: Udaipur, Rajasthan; North: Delhi, ...