Technology Status - NET Nowak Energie & Technologie AG

Table 33
Cost Reduction Opportunities for Biopower (%)
5
BIOPOWER
R&D Economy of scale I Economy of scale II Economy of scale III
(components size) (manufacturing (plant size)
volume)
Biopower Up to 10 Up to 5 Up to 5 Up to 5
Source: NET Ltd., Switzerland. Percentages are within a decade based on expected technology learning and
market growth.
Table 34
Cost Figures for Biopower
Current investment costs ● Low investment costs: 500
in USD per kW ● High investment costs: 4,000
Expected investment costs ● Low investment costs: 400
in USD per kW in 2010 ● High investment costs: 3,000
Current generation costs ● Low cost generation: 2-3
in USD cents per kWh ● High cost generation: 10-15
Expected Generation costs ● Low cost generation: 2
in USD cents per kWh in 2010 ● High cost generation: 8-10
Source: NET Ltd., Switzerland.
Table 35
Key Factors for Biopower
Factor Fact
Variable influencing energy output ● Biomass growth (fuel)
Limiting factors ● Area availability
● Material availability
Capacity installed in 2002 in GW ● 37 GW
Potential in 2010 in GW ● 55 GW
Future potential beyond term year given ● High
Rule of thumb for conversion ratio* ● 1 kW --> 5,400 kWh per year
(installed power to electric output) ● 1 kg of biomass --> 1.6 kWh
* Assumptions: U.S. data with 60 million tons of biomass per year converted into 37 billion kWh of electricity with
7 GW installed capacity.
Source: NET Ltd. Switzerland
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