IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v256y2026ipbs0960148125016155.html

Enhancing geothermal power generation: A biomass-boosted multi-generation scheme with absorption refrigeration cycles and water heating; A comprehensive exergy and techno-economic analysis

Author

Listed:
  • An, Xiaoyuan
  • Wu, Zhimin
  • Jin, Chuan
  • Wu, Linwei
  • Shen, Feipeng
  • Ju, Guiyang
  • Wang, Yuxuan
  • Zhao, Jiaqi
  • Wang, Zhengyang

Abstract

The exploitation of geothermal reservoirs is rapidly expanding due to their high ranking among renewable energy sources, offering superior reliability and efficiency. This trend creates an opportunity to explore innovative configurations with enhanced performance. Accordingly, this study investigates a novel multigeneration system powered by a geothermal power plant, supplemented by heat from biomass combustion. The proposed system integrates a geothermal unit with both customized double-effect and single-effect absorption refrigeration cycles, along with a domestic water heating unit. A comprehensive analysis is performed using thermodynamic and economic analyses, including exergy and techno-economic assessments. Furthermore, a multi-objective optimization is conducted, considering net present value and fixed capital investment as key performance criteria. The results reveal that increasing the superheated temperature of the geofluid from 250 °C to 350 °C reduces the fixed capital investment from $5.19 million to $4.51 million, but also leads to a decline in net present value from $5.5 million to $3.268 million, which is suboptimal. Under optimal conditions, the system achieves an exergy efficiency of 24.88 %, requires a $4.807 million capital investment, offers a payback period of 4.92 years, and generates a net present value of $4.265 million.

Suggested Citation

  • An, Xiaoyuan & Wu, Zhimin & Jin, Chuan & Wu, Linwei & Shen, Feipeng & Ju, Guiyang & Wang, Yuxuan & Zhao, Jiaqi & Wang, Zhengyang, 2026. "Enhancing geothermal power generation: A biomass-boosted multi-generation scheme with absorption refrigeration cycles and water heating; A comprehensive exergy and techno-economic analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:256:y:2026:i:pb:s0960148125016155
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123951
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148125016155
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2025.123951?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tafavogh, Mahyar & Zahedi, Alireza, 2021. "Design and production of a novel encapsulated nano phase change materials to improve thermal efficiency of a quintuple renewable geothermal/hydro/biomass/solar/wind hybrid system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 358-378.
    2. Dou, Zhenhai & Zou, Yunhe & Mohebbi, Amir, 2024. "Design and multi-aspect analysis of a geothermal and biomass dual-source power, cooling, heating, and hybrid freshwater production system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    3. Liu, Jian & Hsu, Chou-Yi & Ahmad, Sayed Fayaz & Alotaibi, Majed A. & Allahham, Mahmoud Izzat & Qin, Muxing, 2025. "Design and energy, exergy, thermoeconomic, and exergo-environmental (4E) analyses of a novel hybrid geothermal/biogas-powered green multi-generation system using a post-combustion CO2 capture unit," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PD).
    4. Nemati Mofarrah, Ali & Jalalvand, Meysam & Abdolmaleki, Abbas, 2023. "Design, multi-aspect analyses, and multi-objective optimization of a biomass/geothermal-based cogeneration of power and freshwater," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    5. Kanoglu, Mehmet & Bolatturk, Ali, 2008. "Performance and parametric investigation of a binary geothermal power plant by exergy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2366-2374.
    6. Lv, Xuefei & Lv, Ying & Zhu, Yiping, 2023. "Multi-variable study and MOPSO-based multi-objective optimization of a novel cogeneration plant using biomass fuel and geothermal energy: A complementary hybrid design," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    7. Salari, Ali & Shakibi, Hamid & Alimohammadi, Mahdieh & Naghdbishi, Ali & Goodarzi, Shadi, 2023. "A machine learning approach to optimize the performance of a combined solar chimney-photovoltaic thermal power plant," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 717-737.
    8. Farzad Hamrang & S. M. Seyed Mahmoudi & Marc A. Rosen, 2021. "A Novel Electricity and Freshwater Production System: Performance Analysis from Reliability and Exergoeconomic Viewpoints with Multi-Objective Optimization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-30, June.
    9. Hashemian, Nasim & Noorpoor, Alireza, 2022. "A geothermal-biomass powered multi-generation plant with freshwater and hydrogen generation options: Thermo-economic-environmental appraisals and multi-criteria optimization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 254-266.
    10. Eshaghi, Soroush & Hamrang, Farzad, 2021. "An innovative techno-economic analysis for the selection of an integrated ejector system in the flare gas recovery of a refinery plant," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    11. Chen, Heng & Wang, Yihan & Li, Jiarui & Xu, Gang & Lei, Jing & Liu, Tong, 2022. "Thermodynamic analysis and economic assessment of an improved geothermal power system integrated with a biomass-fired cogeneration plant," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    12. Yari, Mortaza & Mehr, Ali Saberi & Mahmoudi, Seyed Mohammad Seyed & Santarelli, Massimo, 2016. "A comparative study of two SOFC based cogeneration systems fed by municipal solid waste by means of either the gasifier or digester," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 586-602.
    13. Ahmadi, Samareh & Ghaebi, Hadi & Shokri, Afshar, 2019. "A comprehensive thermodynamic analysis of a novel CHP system based on SOFC and APC cycles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    14. Yu, Jie & Hu, Jianqiang & Yan, Pengyang & Ashraf Talesh, Seyed Saman, 2023. "Optimizing sustainable energy solutions: A comprehensive analysis of geothermal-powered compressed air energy storage system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lin, Shuoyan & Wu, Zhixin & Xin, Jiayue & Fang, Zhongzheng, 2024. "Design and economic analysis of an innovative multi-generation system in different Countries with diverse economic contexts," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    2. Lv, Xuefei & Lv, Ying & Zhu, Yiping, 2023. "Multi-variable study and MOPSO-based multi-objective optimization of a novel cogeneration plant using biomass fuel and geothermal energy: A complementary hybrid design," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    3. Dou, Zhenhai & Zou, Yunhe & Mohebbi, Amir, 2024. "Design and multi-aspect analysis of a geothermal and biomass dual-source power, cooling, heating, and hybrid freshwater production system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    4. Zhu, Chaoyang & Wang, Mengxia & Guo, Mengxing & Deng, Jinxin & Du, Qipei & Wei, Wei & Zhang, Yunxiang & Mohebbi, Amir, 2024. "An innovative process design and multi-criteria study/optimization of a biomass digestion-supercritical carbon dioxide scenario toward boosting a geothermal-driven cogeneration system for power and heat," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    5. Zheng, Shanshan & Hai, Qing & Zhou, Xiao & Stanford, Russell J., 2024. "A novel multi-generation system for sustainable power, heating, cooling, freshwater, and methane production: Thermodynamic, economic, and environmental analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    6. Teng, Su & Hamrang, Farzad & Ashraf Talesh, Seyed Saman, 2021. "Economic performance assessment of a novel combined power generation cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    7. Meng, Yue & Wu, Haoyue & Zheng, Yuhang & Wang, Kunpeng & Duan, Yinying, 2022. "Comparative analysis and multi-objective optimization of hydrogen liquefaction process using either organic Rankine or absorption power cycles driven by dual-source biomass fuel and geothermal energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    8. Zhang, Mingming & Timoshin, Anton & Al-Ammar, Essam A. & Sillanpaa, Mika & Zhang, Guiju, 2023. "Power, cooling, freshwater, and hydrogen production system from a new integrated system working with the zeotropic mixture, using a flash-binary geothermal system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PD).
    9. Chen, Heng & Alzahrani, Huda A. & Amin, Mohammed A. & Sun, Minghui, 2023. "Towards sustainable development through the design, multi-aspect analyses, and multi-objective optimization of a novel solar-based multi-generation system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    10. Liu, Fei & Yang, Changjin & Li, Biao & Silang, Yangji & Zhu, Yuhui & Farkoush, Saeid Gholami, 2022. "Thermodynamic and economic sensitivity analyses of a geothermal-based trigeneration system; performance enhancement through determining the best zeotropic working fluid," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    11. Yan, Xinyu & Yao, Kaihua & Han, Yuxiang & Hou, Jiangjin & Mao, Xiling & Li, Mengwei, 2025. "Proposal of a hybrid biomass/geothermal driven multigeneration system for methanol, power, and hydrogen production: A thermodynamic and economic assessment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    12. Gao, Jinling & Wang, Ziwei & Li, Xuetao & Zhou, Xiao, 2024. "Investigation of a novel scheme utilizing solar and geothermal energies, generating power and ammonia: Exergoeconomic and exergoenvironmental analyses and cuckoo search optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    13. Wang, Qing & Li, Meng & Wang, Zhenxia, 2025. "Efficient power generation through combined modified organic flash and dual-pressure organic rankine cycles: A comprehensive analysis from thermodynamic, exergoeconomic, and exergoenvironmental perspectives," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    14. Chen, Ying & Liu, Yuxuan & Nam, Eun-Young & Zhang, Yang & Dahlak, Aida, 2023. "Exergoeconomic and exergoenvironmental analysis and optimization of an integrated double-flash-binary geothermal system and dual-pressure ORC using zeotropic mixtures; multi-objective optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    15. Zhao, Lu & Hai, Qing & Mei, Junlun, 2024. "An integrated approach to green power, cooling, and freshwater production from geothermal and solar energy sources; case study of Jiangsu, China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    16. Li, Ruiheng & Xu, Dong & Tian, Hao & Zhu, Yiping, 2023. "Multi-objective study and optimization of a solar-boosted geothermal flash cycle integrated into an innovative combined power and desalinated water production process: Application of a case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    17. Soleymani, Elahe & Ghavami Gargari, Saeed & Ghaebi, Hadi, 2021. "Thermodynamic and thermoeconomic analysis of a novel power and hydrogen cogeneration cycle based on solid SOFC," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 495-518.
    18. Nemati Mofarrah, Ali & Jalalvand, Meysam & Abdolmaleki, Abbas, 2023. "Design, multi-aspect analyses, and multi-objective optimization of a biomass/geothermal-based cogeneration of power and freshwater," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    19. Cao, Yan & Dhahad, Hayder A. & Hussen, Hasanen M. & Anqi, Ali E. & Farouk, Naeim & Issakhov, Alibek, 2022. "Development and tri-objective optimization of a novel biomass to power and hydrogen plant: A comparison of fueling with biomass gasification or biomass digestion," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PC).
    20. Bai, Hao & Luo, ShiHao & Zhao, Xijie & Zhao, Gen & Gao, Yang, 2022. "Comprehensive assessment of a green cogeneration system based on compressed air energy storage (CAES) and zeotropic mixtures," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PA).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:256:y:2026:i:pb:s0960148125016155. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.