Jul 20, 2008

Why Choose the Cheapest Upgrade Method?

HuHonua says that they will spend $24 Million dollars to upgrade the existing plant equipment and create electricity from burning biomass via steam power. We know that this method is 20% efficient and that two other biomass plant methods are 2-3 TIMES more efficient (namely, cofiring and gasification). [see the blog post titled US Dept Energy on Biomass Power Systems.] Efficiency is very important because it means that less biomass is needed to produce greater amounts of electricity. Efficiency is also important because it means that less greenhouse gases are produced with higher levels of efficiency.

Does it make good sense to burn more Hamakua trees, burn more truck fuel in transporting those trees, just to create more greenhouse gases and only produce one third the power that could be made with better equipment and a bigger capital investment?

No comments:


Upcoming Meetings

  • HuHonua, 8/13/08
  • Jay Ignacio, Helco 8/14/08
  • Tues 8/5/08 7pm Susan's
  • Mayor Kim Thurs 7/31/2008 1:30 pm
  • Wed 7/16/08 7pm Susan's

About Me

Local environmental activist.