Economic and Environmental Analysis of Pellets’ Production in Rio Pardo Watershed, Brazil

ABSTRACT Economic and environmental aspects of residues energetic use in Brazil are extremelly important. In one hand, the country is today a recognized bioenergy producer in a global scenario; on the other, it is still struggling to provide a reliable renewable energy supply to rural communities. Local demand could be supplied through small investments using local forest mill residues as feedstock to produce value-add bio-based energy fuels. Therefore, this work aims at evaluating wood pellets production as an alternative source for supplying regional heat demand for drying grains and tobacco in the Rio Pardo Watershed (RPW), Brazil. It presents techno-economic analysis and risk assessment for a pellet plant supplied by sawmill residues available at the RPW. The results showed the economic feasibility of pellets production in the RPW. The pellets can be a clean, renewable alternative energy source to firewood for supplying farms demand for drying grains and tobacco.

摘要：巴西生物质残余物能源化利用的经济与环境维度至关重要。一方面，该国如今已是全球范围内公认的生物能源生产大国；另一方面，其仍在努力为农村社区提供稳定可靠的可再生能源供给。利用当地林业加工厂残余物作为原料，通过小额投资生产高附加值生物基能源燃料，即可满足本地能源需求。有鉴于此，本研究旨在评估木质颗粒（wood pellets）生产作为替代能源的可行性，以满足巴西里奥帕尔多流域（Rio Pardo Watershed，RPW）内用于谷物与烟草干燥的区域热能需求。本研究针对以RPW境内可获取的锯木厂残余物为原料的颗粒加工厂开展技术经济分析与风险评估。研究结果表明，RPW境内开展木质颗粒生产具备经济可行性。相较于薪柴，木质颗粒可作为清洁可再生的替代能源，满足农场用于谷物与烟草干燥的能源需求。