Comparative Studies on Comprehensive Economic Cost of Wood-based Biomass-fired and Coal-fired Cogeneration Plant

This paper established a comprehensive economic cost model involving the environmental cost.The economic and environmental performance of biomass-fired and coal-fired cogeneration plant was compared using this model.The reasons which make the biomass energy less competitive in the market,and the development potential of biomass-fired and coal-fired were analized.It is concluded that the economic cost of biomass energy is still too high,due to the expensive material and imported equipment,which make the biomass energy less competitive in the market,while the environmental benefit is still remarkable.Comprehensive economic cost of biomass was superior to coal-fired cogeneration.The biomass combustion heating is more cost and environmental effective than biomass combustion generation at the present.With the decrease of fossil fuel reserve,investments will spontaneous pour into technology development of biomass energy driven by the market,in order to cut down the cost;and the policy support which including raw material supply,technology research and development and market cultivation will accelerate the technology progress of biomass energy.