jaue2021-073: Study on Introduction of a Woody Biomass CHP to an Evacuation Center in a Mountainous Area

Abstract

There have been many large-scale earthquakes in Japan. It took a long time for lifelines to be restored in the
disaster areas, so that sanitation deteriorated in evacuation centers. In recent years, Japan has been introducing a
small Combined Heat and Power (CHP) fueled by woody biomass, and the introduction of this system to evacuation
centers will provide heat and electricity in times of disaster and help improve sanitation in evacuation centers. In
this study, we suggest the introduction of a biomass CHP to an evacuation center in a mountainous area in order to
make the energy independent in times of disaster and verified the effectiveness of the system in Kumano City, Mie
Prefecture, both in daily life and in times of disaster. As a result of verifying the effect of the daily system, when
four units with an electrical output of 45 kW and a thermal output of 105 kW were operated in parallel, the initial
investment was recovered and LCCO2 was reduced by more than 90%. It was also found that the operation of a
single biomass CHP unit met the electricity demand of the evacuation center, and the surplus electricity is used to
charge EVs to meet the outlet demand at other evacuation centers in the region. In addition, the heat was sufficient
for evacuees to use the showers in the evacuation center.