Preliminary Technical and Economic Feasibility Study of Binary Power Plant for Chiweta Geothermal Field, Malawi

Mwagomba, Tufwane. Preliminary Technical and Economic Feasibility Study of Binary Power Plant for Chiweta Geothermal Field, Malawi. Reykjavik University, 2015.

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Thesis
Collection:
UNU-GTP Thesis

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  • Sub-type Master's thesis
    Author Mwagomba, Tufwane
    Title Preliminary Technical and Economic Feasibility Study of Binary Power Plant for Chiweta Geothermal Field, Malawi
    Year 2015
    University Reykjavik University
    Department School of Science and Engineering
    Place of Publication Reykjavik
    Publisher United Nations University Geothermal Training Programme
    Pages 70
    Language eng
    Abstract Insufficient electricity generation capacity that is failing to meet the ever increasing electricity demand coupled with low electrification rate and low per capita consumption of electricity in Malawi are some of the reasons causing Malawi to search for alternative sources of energy to complement the current predominantly hydro generation capacity. Having manifestation of geothermal in some parts of the country, geothermal energy is being considered for development in line with having a diverse national energy mix. By virtue of its location in the western branch of the East African Rift System, which is relatively cooler than the eastern branch due to its lower geothermal temperature gradient, developing geothermal in Malawi for electricity generation can focus on utilizing binary technology until such a time when subsurface studies proves otherwise. The field of focus that has high promising geothermal potential in Malawi with the highest geothermal water surface temperature measured so far, is Chiweta geothermal field measuring 79°C. Technical and economic analysis of four binary power plant models has been done using Engineering Equations Solver software as a technical analysis tool and NPV, IRR and Discounted Payback Period as economic analysis tools. Technical and economic performance of all the four models is satisfactory with wet cooled recuperative binary model emerging the best performer in both analyses. However, due to issues of pressure drop in heat exchangers and the fact that the model’s performance is similar to a wet cooled basic binary, it is recommended for Malawi to develop a wet cooled basic binary for its promising Chiweta field which would generate a net power of 10 MW at a total development capital cost of approximately US $49.5 million. The capital cost can be recovered in 17 years at a discount rate of 12% while selling electricity at the prescribed tariff of US $0.105/kWh as informed by Malawi’s Feed-in Tariff policy.
    UNBIS Thesaurus FEASIBILITY STUDIES
    MALAWI
    Keyword Economic feasibility study
    Binary power plant
    Chiweta geothermal field
    Copyright Holder United Nations University Geothermal Training Programme
    Copyright Year 2016
    Copyright type Fair use permitted
    ISBN 9789979683797
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    Created: Wed, 24 Feb 2016, 01:11:21 JST by Malfridur Omarsdottir on behalf of UNU Iceland