Within the carbon constrained world, biomass-based power production is expected to constitute one of the candidates for CO2 abatement. However, within the framework of a liberalised energy market, biomass power systems must be competitive from efficiency and cost point of view for their successful commercial breakthrough. Integrated gasification combined cycles (IGCC) based on pressurised biomass gasification, coupled with economical acceptable hot gas clean-up systems, are one of the most promising options. In this study, a technical and economic assessment is carried out: of alternative power plant concepts with the aid of computer simulation tools. Various gas turbine plant sizes are considered ranging from 10 to 70 MWe and their performance is evaluated. Apart from stand-alone power systems, the study is complemented with cases linked with a coal-fired power plant by parallel integration of a gas turbine with the existing steam cycle. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.