Abstract
There are many cases, in which introduction of renewable energy business has to be abandoned because of negative business balance. Independent distributed renewable energy can secure the energy required in case of emergency and can provide local benefits such as employment and local industry. However, such local benefits have not been evaluated quantitatively and have not been considered in business balance. This study developed a business planning model for renewable energy including biomass energy according to regional specific conditions, considering quantitative evaluation of local benefits. The model was applied to a case study, in which a local government manages a district heat supply system using woods, a biogas plant for cow manure and a photovoltaic power generation system. As a result, the local benefits such as energy security in case of emergency, employment and local industry found to be significant, although the monetary value of them depends on kinds of renewable energies. Add of the all local benefits to the business balance showed a positive value in the total balance of an account for the local government.
