A cost-benefit analysis of using Rooikrans as biomass feedstock for electricity generation: A case study of the De Hoop nature reserve, South Africa

South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences

 
 
Field Value
 
Title A cost-benefit analysis of using Rooikrans as biomass feedstock for electricity generation: A case study of the De Hoop nature reserve, South Africa
 
Creator Mudavanhu, Shepherd Blignaut, James Nkambule, Nonophile Morokong, Tshepo Vundla, Thulile
 
Description Invasive alien plants (IAPs) like Rooikrans (Acacia Cyclops) have several undesirable effects on both the natural environment and the social, economic and cultural wellness of society in the De Hoop nature reserve of the Western Cape Province. A few of these negative effects are: the change in coastal sediment dynamics, the change in seed dispersal dynamics, and the fact that it is overtaking native plants. However, Rooikrans can also potentially be used as biomass feedstock for electricity generation. Following a system dynamics modelling approach, the feasibility of using woody biomass from Rooikrans was investigated. The RE-model used data obtained from the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) Natural Resource Management (NRM) division, consulted with experts and conducted literature reviews with respect to the subject matter. Three scenarios were tested and the RE-model results showed that all scenarios have a positive cumulative Net Present Values (NPVs), with the exception of the baseline case scenario. This study shows that the production of electricity using Rooikrans woody biomass is a viable and feasible option in comparison with electricity production by diesel generators.
 
Publisher AOSIS Publishing
 
Contributor
Date 2016-12-12
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion —
Format application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/sajems.v19i5.1602
 
Source South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences; Vol 19, No 5 (2016); 788-813 2222-3436 1015-8812
 
Language eng
 
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https://sajems.org/index.php/sajems/article/view/1602/661
 
Rights Copyright (c) 2016 Shepherd Mudavanhu, James Blignaut, Nonophile Nkambule, Tshepo Morokong, Thulile Vundla https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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