Mini-grids from Biomass Residue for Agricultural Circular Economy (MBRACE)

Abstract

In response to Hurricane Maria and inequities of the Puerto Rican power grid, communities in Puerto Rico are looking to transform the energy and agricultural landscape with the uses of biogasification in mini-grids. Excess biomass is a carbon-neutral resource readily available to many vulnerable communities that offers the potential to lower the cost to maintain a stable mini-grid while also increasing community autonomy and sustainability. This research aimed to model a small-scale grid that integrated solar PV and biomass gasification for a large community hospitality center to better understand the economic and technical effects of using biomass as a fuel source. This research also sought to design a gasifier using CAD to increase efficiency and usabilityto allow for future biomass gasification experimentation. HOMER Pro and Helioscope were used to model the microgrid, while Fusion 360 was used to design the CAD model of the prototype hybrid gasifier. The model demonstrated that a PV-biomass gasification installation would help increase community energy resilience and could lower the cost of energy from $0.234/kWh to $0.121/kWhfor the local business. However, future investigation is needed to design a circular supply chain to process and store the excess biomass. The completed design of the new model gasifier will also contribute to future thesis work exploring biomass energy characteristics. This work is part of an ongoing engagement by UofM ́s Sustainability Without Borders organization and thus will continue with the next master’sProject team.