Analysis of wind, photovoltaic and biomass renewables when produced energy is the same

Abstract

Capacity factor, investment, kWh cost and land productivity referred to energy produced are compared for cane biomass, wind and photovoltaic energies. Loan reimbursement and its cost are calculated for 10 and 25 years extension periods. Wind and photovoltaic investment referred to exported kW is almost twice that for biomass, something discussed insufficientlybefore. Biomass produces almost twice the energy others renewables produce with the same amount of invested money. KWh cost, including 10 years loan and its interest rate reimbursement are very similar for biomass and photovoltaic, a bit lower than 10 ¢USD. When the loan is reimbursedin 25 years, photovoltaic and wind kWh costs are 40 - 30 % lower, respectively, than forbiomass. Photovoltaic area productivity is 20 times higher than for biomass energy, because of thelow conversion efficiency of solar radiation into biomass. Photovoltaic and wind energies are not “dispatchables” as biomass is, because the power they provide fluctuates.