Feasibility of fuel cell systems using forest residues

Time of distributed generation has arrived for dealing with fossil fuel reduction, the reduction gas emissions and the sustainable development. This paper presents the characteristics of forest residues utilization in hybrid systems composed of solid oxide fuel cell and gas turbines. The profitability of these systems is evaluated by tools and methods related to the economic analysis, taking into account the main parameters. Various profitability analyses are completed regarding different scenarios. The profitability index is established as function of the radius, the optimum radius and electric power of system are determined for some scenarios where the project is viable.