The Research on Cost Optimization Solutions for Biomass Energy Production was conducted by Susdev Energy of Susdev Group, a leading company in the field of sustainable development and renewable energy. This study focuses on optimizing the costs of biomass energy production, a crucial renewable energy source that is being developed to mitigate the impact of climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Biomass energy is the energy generated from biological materials such as plants, agricultural waste, wood, and organic waste. This conversion process usually includes thermochemical, biochemical, or mechanical methods. Biomass energy not only helps reduce CO2 emissions but also provides a stable and sustainable energy source. Thermochemical conversion methods such as pyrolysis, biomass combustion, and biomass gasification all offer high efficiency. Additionally, biochemical methods like fermentation for biogas, ethanol, and biodiesel production are also widely researched and applied.

The cost of biomass energy production is influenced by several important factors. Feedstock accounts for about 40-60% of the total production cost of biomass energy. The selection of feedstock must balance cost, conversion efficiency, and stable supply. For instance, plants, agricultural waste, and wood generally have lower costs but require efficient collection and transportation systems to optimize costs. Advanced technology helps increase conversion efficiency and reduce operational costs. Improvements in pyrolysis, biomass combustion, and biomass gasification technology all play a crucial role in increasing efficiency and reducing costs. For example, biomass gasification technology can convert up to 90% of the energy from feedstock into useful energy. Large-scale production often brings higher economic efficiency due to cost savings in production per unit of energy. Large-scale operations also allow for the optimization of collection and transportation processes, minimizing waste. Additionally, government support policies such as subsidies, tax reductions, and investment incentive programs can reduce initial investment and operational costs. For example, subsidy programs for installing renewable energy equipment can significantly lower the initial cost for biomass energy projects.

The cost of producing energy from biomass in Vietnam is 0.07 USD/kWh, while the cost of production from coal is 0.05 USD/kWh, from solar energy is 0.09 USD/kWh, and from wind energy is 0.08 USD/kWh. In Thailand, the cost of producing biomass energy is 0.06 USD/kWh, coal is 0.04 USD/kWh, solar energy is 0.08 USD/kWh, and wind energy is 0.07 USD/kWh. In China, the cost of producing biomass energy is 0.05 USD/kWh, coal is 0.03 USD/kWh, solar energy is 0.07 USD/kWh, and wind energy is 0.06 USD/kWh. In Japan, the cost of producing biomass energy is 0.08 USD/kWh, coal is 0.06 USD/kWh, solar energy is 0.10 USD/kWh, and wind energy is 0.09 USD/kWh. These figures indicate that the cost of producing biomass energy is competitive with other renewable energy sources and may even be lower than the cost of production from coal in some cases.

There are several solutions that can be applied to optimize the cost of biomass energy production. Increasing technology efficiency is one of the crucial solutions. Investing in research and development of biomass conversion technology to enhance efficiency and reduce production costs is necessary. Developing an efficient supply chain is also an important factor. Building effective and cost-efficient networks for collecting, transporting, and processing feedstock helps reduce costs. Government policies and financial support from financial institutions can help ease the burden of initial investment and operational costs. International cooperation is also a key solution, helping to enhance experience exchange and the application of advanced technologies in practice.

The research conducted by Susdev Energy indicates that optimizing the cost of biomass energy production does not only rely on technological improvements but also requires a comprehensive strategy from supportive policies to supply chain management. With specific solutions and close cooperation among stakeholders, biomass energy will become a sustainable and efficient energy source in the future. The opinions and figures mentioned above are only a part of Susdev Energy’s extensive research. It is hoped that this analysis provides an overview and contributes to promoting the development of biomass energy in Vietnam and the Asian region.