Comprehensive techno-economic assessment of biomass power generation for sustainable solution of Pakistan's energy crisis

As global energy demands escalate and fossil fuel reserves dwindle, the need for reliable alternative energy sources becomes critical. While solar and wind energy offer environmental benefits, their intermittency poses challenges for grid stability and long-term energy planning. Biomass power generation emerges as a dependable, weather-independent renewable option. This study assesses the technical and economic viability of biomass energy in Pakistan using a combined approach involving literature review and laboratory analysis. Proximate and ultimate analyses were conducted on various biomass types, including agricultural residues, wood, and organic waste, to determine moisture content, calorific value, and ash composition. Results show that Pakistan's biomass resources have the potential to generate up to 609,964 GWh per year, which is more than four times the country's current annual electricity consumption. Electricity from biomass was found to cost PKR 14.79/kWh (0.051 $/kWh), substantially lower than the PKR 37/kWh (0.132 $/kWh) from conventional sources, with a payback period of around one year. The study also explores fuel enhancement through flue gas drying and pelletization, enabling the production of high-quality fuel pellets with moisture content reduced to as low as 4 %. Blending high and low-calorific value biomass further improves combustion efficiency and energy output. Thermodynamic modeling, including enthalpy calculations, supports the integration of biomass into conventional power cycles such as the Rankine cycle. Additionally, replacing coal with biomass could reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 143,148 metric tons annually. These findings confirm that biomass power plants are a technically feasible, economically sound, and environmentally sustainable solution for Pakistan's growing energy needs.