[Gasification] wood gasifiers

[Tom Miles]

Mr. Krishnaswamy,

This exchange illustrates the major challenge that we've had with
considering small scale gasification for commercial use in North America.
Our fuel, labor and capital costs are all high relative to the value of the
heat and electricity that we produce. US $0.10/kWh is a good price. In some
areas utility incentives for small generator net metering can push that up
to about $0.14/kWh. But we still need to meet a target cost of about
$3,000/kW for the capital plant.

Recent demonstration gasifiers have been going in for $5,000-$11,000/kW.
Costs have come "down" to $250,000/50 kW, or about $5,000/kW but they need
to come down further to be economic. Still there are several groups that are
working to develop commercial systems. 

Is Energreen Power Ltd. ready to export the IISc system to North America? If
so there are projects that could probably get demonstration funding to
bridge to more favorable economics. These are in the 25kWe-300 kWe range.
I'm sure there are companies the would be interested.

Of particular interest is the promise of the IISc technology for using
chipped, and sawdust-like fuels. I understand that the tar burning feature
of the open core reburn technology may offer more fuel flexibility than a
typical downdraft. 
See
http://cgpl.iisc.ernet.in/site/Portals/0/Technologies/Gasification%20Technol
ogy.pdf 
We have a lot of mulch like wood waste available from portable chippers.
What is the smallest size of fuel that can be gasified in the IISc systems
as provide by Energreen Power?

Kind regards,

Tom Miles