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⚡ Tool #35 • Thermodynamics & CAPEX

Greenhouse Biomass CHP & Waste Heat ROI Simulator

Model capital expenditure, fuel cost delta, biogenic CO₂ fertilization value, cross-sector municipal heat sales, and simple payback periods for high-wire Venlo biomass installations.

🎛️ Engineering & Cost Parameters

Greenhouse Growing Area (m²) 30,000 m²
Annual Heat Demand (kWh/m²/yr) 350 kWh/m²
Baseline Fossil Gas Price (€/kWh) €0.085 / kWh
Wood Chip Delivered Cost (€/tonne) €130 / t
Decarbonization Grant / Subsidy (%) 35%
Avoided Commercial CO₂ Price (€/t) €140 / t
Surplus Heat Exported to Grid (%) 15%

📈 Financial Returns & Decarbonization

3.7 Years
Estimated Simple Payback Period
Total Annual Energy Demand 10,500 MWh/yr
Baseline Fossil Gas Annual Cost €892,500
Biomass Wood Chip Fuel Cost €464,773
Annual Net Fuel Cost Savings €427,727
Biogenic CO₂ Canopy Dosing Value €176,400
Municipal District Heat Export Revenue €70,875
Total Annual Operating Benefit €675,002 / yr
Avoided Fossil CO₂ Emissions 2,121 tCO₂/yr
Gross CAPEX (Boiler, SCR, Buffers) €3,800,000
Net CAPEX (After Grants/Subsidies) €2,470,000
10-Year Net Present Value (NPV @ 6%) €2,498,061

🔬 Biophysical & Thermodynamic Assumptions

  • Wood Chip Lower Heating Value (LHV): Calculated at 3.20 kWh/kg assuming standard W35 moisture content (35% moisture according to EN ISO 17225-4).
  • Boiler Efficiency: 88% overall thermal conversion efficiency incorporating secondary condensing flue gas economizers.
  • Fossil Emission Factor: 0.202 kg CO₂/kWh for natural gas combustion (German Umweltbundesamt standard).
  • Biogenic CO₂ Recovery: Assumes catalytic SCR DeNOx purification recovering 120 kg clean CO₂ per megawatt-hour of biomass consumed, delivering daylight canopy dosing (800–1,000 ppm).
  • Heat Export Tariff: Wholesale industrial heat delivery tariff benchmarked at €0.045/kWh for municipal district networks and airport thermal grids.