Analysis on straw logistics cost of direct-fired power generation using activity-based costing

The high-cost of straw logistics restricted the extension of direct-fired power generation. To solve the above problem, the straw logistics cost was investigated in some places, including Jiangsu, Henan, Hebei province. Activity-based costing was used to analyze logistics costs of four kinds of straws under the investigated data, such as rice, wheat, corn and cotton straw. Meanwhile, heat values of four kinds of straws were tested and the costs of per unit heat value were calculated respectively, which were 1.40×10-2 yuan/MJ, 1.15×10-2 yuan/MJ, 1.09×10-2 yuan/MJ and 0.96×10-2 yuan/MJ. The experimental results showed that cotton straw was a better fuel with low cost and high heat value. Corn and wheat straw were almost the same. However, wheat straw was relatively better in general and rice straw was the main choice in Southern China because of its advantage in geographical location. It provides a reference for economic technology analysis for biomass power-plant fuel.