Techno economic assessment of biomass gasification for energy transition in ice plants in coastal areas.

The article focuses on a techno-economic analysis of implementing a biomass power generation system (BPGS) using biomass gasification coupled with dual-fuel diesel engines in coastal ice plants producing 5–100 tons of ice per day (TPD) in Tamil Nadu, India. It evaluates three biomass feedstocks—rice husk (RH), coconut shell (CS), and rubber shell (RS)—for producer gas generation, finding that RS offers the highest overall efficiency (15.8%–25.7%), greatest diesel savings (48%–78%), lowest biomass consumption, and the most favorable economic indicators including operating cost, payback period (1.79–5.8 years), net present value (positive above 35 TPD), and life cycle cost. Sensitivity analysis identifies investment cost of the ice plant unit and interest rate as key factors affecting financial feasibility. The study concludes that RS is the most suitable biomass feedstock for sustainable and cost-effective power generation in ice plants, recommending further local biomass resource mapping and pilot projects to support renewable energy adoption in coastal fisheries preservation.