The biopower model is a performance- and cost-modeling tool for assessing the biomass power resource of a location. SAM can model biopower plants that use crop and wood residues as a feedstock. It can also model a supplementary coal feedstock for a co-fired plant, or completely coal-fed power plant for comparison with a biopower option. You can also specify custom feedstocks.

You specify the basic mass and energy balances for the plant's combustor and steam turbine.

SAM generates performance metrics such as heat rate, thermal efficiency, and capacity factor. It also generates financial metrics such as the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), net present value (NPV), and payback period.

Dedicated biomass power facilities are generally on the order of 1 – 60 MW, but SAM can evaluate plants of any size.

For a technical description of the biopower model, see Jorgenson, J.; Gilman, P.; Dobos, A. (2011). Technical Manual for the SAM Biomass Power Generation Model. 40 pp.; NREL Report No. TP-6A20-52688. http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy11osti/52688.pdf