Ricerc@Sapienza

This study aims at analyzing the techno-economic feasibility of electric power generation from rice straw
in in Egypt. In particular, we attempt to estimate the energy production and the levelized cost of elec-
tricity (LCOE) at some selected provinces with high potential availability of rice straw. Accordingly, a
proposed configuration of biomass Rankine cycle power plant fed with rice straw is modeled and
simulated using System Advisor Model (SAM). The simulation shows that the average nominal and the
average real LCOE for the proposed power plants are 10.55 and 6.33 ¢/kWh respectively, which is very
competitive, compared with LCOE of other renewable energy technologies in Egypt. Furthermore, a
sensitivity analysis is conducted to investigate the effect of the main technical and economic variables of
the power plant on the energy output and LCOE. The results reveal that
flue gas temperature, rice straw
moisture content and excesses fed air significantly affect the energy output. Furthermore, the results
indicate that LCOE is highly sensitive to feedstock price and discount rate. Policy makers and stake-
holders could use these results for developing strategic capacity plans based on biomass power plants
possibly integrated with other electricity sources and the utility grid.