{"title":"Financial Analysis of Feasibility for a Heat Utilization System Using Rice Straw Pellets - Heating Energy Demand and the Collection and Storage Method in Nanporo, Japan","authors":"K. Ishii, T. Furuichi, A. Fujiyama, S. Hariya","volume":95,"journal":"International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering","pagesStart":3494,"pagesEnd":3502,"ISSN":"1307-6892","URL":"https:\/\/publications.waset.org\/pdf\/9999661","abstract":"
Rice straw pellets are a promising fuel as a renewable
\r\nenergy source. Financial analysis is needed to make a utilization
\r\nsystem using rise straw pellets financially feasible, considering all
\r\nregional conditions including stakeholders related to the collection and
\r\nstorage, production, transportation and heat utilization. We conducted
\r\nthe financial analysis of feasibility for a heat utilization system using
\r\nrice straw pellets which has been developed for the first time in
\r\nNanporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Especially, we attempted to clarify the
\r\neffect of factors required for the system to be financial feasibility, such
\r\nas the heating energy demand and collection and storage method of
\r\nrice straw. The financial feasibility was found to improve when
\r\nincreasing the heating energy demand and collecting wheat straw in
\r\nAugust separately from collection of rice straw in November because
\r\nthe costs of storing rice straw and producing pellets were reduced.
\r\nHowever, the system remained financially unfeasible. This study
\r\nproposed a contractor program funded by a subsidy from Nanporo
\r\nlocal government where a contracted company, instead of farmers,
\r\ncollects and transports rice straw in order to ensure the financial
\r\nfeasibility of the system, contributing to job creation in the region.<\/p>\r\n","references":"[1] New Energy Foundation, \u201cJapanese projects for bioethanol production\r\nfrom rice straw,\u201d 2011. http:\/\/www.asiabiomass.jp\/english\/topics\/\r\n1101_02.html.\r\n[2] J.S. Lim, Z.A. Manan, S.R. Wan Alwi, H. Hashim, \u201cA review on\r\nutilization of biomass from rice industry as a source of renewable energy,\u201d\r\nRenewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol.16, pp. 3084-3094,\r\n2012.\r\n[3] K. Ishii, T. Furuichi, S. Watanabe, Y. Tomokawa, \u201cA study of influencing\r\nfactors on quality of rice straw pellets,\u201d The Proceedings of 28th\r\nInternational Conference on Solid Waste Technology and Management,\r\nCD-ROM, 2013.\r\n[4] Nanporo local government, \u201cFeasibility study on effective utilization of\r\nrice straw, rice husk and wheat straw in Nanporo town,\u201d 2009. (in\r\nJapanese)\r\n[5] Hearing investigation to Nanporo local government.","publisher":"World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology","index":"Open Science Index 95, 2014"}