The potential of the biomass gasification combined cycle (BGCC) approach for efficient and fuel-flexible use of biomass for power generation led the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and The World Bank to consider a pilot demonstration program in Brazil

As part of Phase II the World Bank contracted EPRI to undertake an economic and risk evaluation of the Brazil BIG-GT project. The risk evaluation perfumed by EPRI was conducted in order to assess whether biomass gasification/combined cycle technology will eventually become competitive with other new and evolving electricity supply resources available in northeastern Brazil.

The results of the evaluation are described.

The paper has been prepared under the aegis of a EPRI/World Bank partnership program.