Techno-economic analysis of hydrogen-to-power, ammonia-to-power pathway with biomass-to-power integration

Biopower stands as a pivotal component of renewable energy, enabling stable electricity output and serving as a dispatchable resource. Nevertheless, its techno-economic viability as a long-term energy storage (LTES) solution for grid regulation remains underexplored. To address this, this study proposes utilizing biomass as a sustainable energy carrier and deploying the biomass-to-power (B2P) pathway for LTES. Considering the inherent limitations of B2P, it further puts forward operation strategies that integrate B2P with H2P (hydrogen-to-power) and A2P (ammonia-to-power) pathways. Then, the techno-economic model of six scenarios and long-term operation strategies is designed. The techno-economic performance of each pathway is assessed on monthly and yearly timescales. Results show that A2P achieves the highest average energy (61.23 %) and exergy (60.46 %) efficiencies, stemming from the inherently higher electrical efficiency of the direct ammonia-solid oxide fuel cell. Neither pathway of H2P nor A2P achieves lifecycle profitability. For the hybrid way of A2P with B2P integration, the overall average efficiency and exergy efficiency stand at 52.70 % and 44.30 %, respectively. Notably, the scenario exhibits the most favorable economic performance, achieving profitability in the 6th year with a net present value of 5.63 MUSD, and maintaining a superior positive discounted cash flow throughout the lifecycle. Moreover, it yields the levelized cost of electricity of 0.05–0.11 USD/kWh. Accordingly, the hybrid way of A2P with B2P integration demonstrates advantages both in technical and economic performance. It best balances technical and economic, making it suitable for large-scale deployment, especially in regions with high ammonia demand.