A Preliminary Techno-Economic Analysis on the Calcium Looping Process with Simultaneous Capture of CO2 and SO2 from a Coal-Based Combustion Power Plant

Life Cycle Economic and Environmental Assessment of Producing Synthetic Jet Fuel Using CO2/Biomass Feedstocks

The aviation industry is responsible for over 2% of global CO2 emissions. Synthetic jet fuels generated from biogenic feedstocks could help reduce life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to petroleum-based fuels. This study assesses three processes for producing synthetic jet fuel via the synthesis of methanol using water and atmospheric CO2 or biomass. A life cycle assessment and cost analysis are conducted to determine GHG emissions, energy demand, land occupation, water depletion, and the cost of producing synthetic jet fuel in Switzerland. The results reveal that the pathway that directly hydrogenates CO2 to methanol exhibits the largest reductions in terms of GHG emission (almost 50%) compared to conventional jet fuel and the lowest production cost (7.86 EUR kgJF-1); however, its production cost is currently around 7 times higher than the petroleum-based counterpart. Electrical energy was found to be crucial in capturing CO2 and converting water into hydrogen, with the sourcing and processing of the feedstocks contributing to 79% of the electric energy demand. Furthermore, significant variations in synthetic jet fuel cost and GHG emissions were shown when the electricity source varies, such as utilizing grid electricity pertaining to different countries with distinct electricity mixes. Thus, upscaling synthetic jet fuels requires energy-efficient supply chains, sufficient feedstock, large amounts of additional (very) low-carbon energy capacity, suitable climate policy, and comprehensive environmental analyses.

Membrane-based carbon capture: Recent progress, challenges, and their role in achieving the sustainable development goals

The rapid growth in the consumption of fossil fuels resulted in climate change and severe health issues. Among the different proposed methods to control climate change, carbon capture technologies are the best choice in the current stage. In this study, the various membrane technologies used for carbon capture and their impact on achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) are discussed. Membrane-based carbon capture processes in pre-combustion and post-combustion, which are known as membrane gas separation (MGS) and membrane contactor (MC), respectively, along with the process of fabrication and the different limitations that hinder their performances are discussed. Additionally, the 17 SDGs, where each representing a crucial topic in the current global task of a sustainable future, that are impacted by membrane-based carbon capture technologies are discussed. Membrane-based carbon capture technologies showed to have mixed impacts on different SDGs, varying in intensity and usefulness. It was found that the membrane-based carbon capture technologies had mostly influenced SDG 7 by enhancement in the zero-emission production, SDG 9 by providing 38-42% cost savings compared to liquid absorption, SDG 3 through reducing pollution and particulate matter emissions by 23%, and SDG 13, with SDG 13 being the most positively influenced by membrane-based carbon capture technologies, as they significantly reduce the CO₂ emissions and have high CO₂ capture yields (80-90%), thus supporting the objectives of SDG 13 in combatting climate change.

Performance and Durability of the Zr-Doped CaO Sorbent under Cyclic Carbonation–Decarbonation at Different Operating Parameters

The effect of cyclic carbonation–decarbonation operating parameters on Zr-doped CaO sorbent CO2 uptake capacity evolution is examined. It is revealed that the capacity steady state value increases with the decrease in the carbonation temperature, CO2 concentration in the gas flow upon carbonation and with the increase in the heating rate from the carbonation to the decarbonation stages. The rise in decarbonation temperature leads to a dramatic decrease in the sorbent performance. It is found that if carbonation occurs at 630 °C in the gas flow containing 15 vol.% CO2 and decarbonation is carried out at 742 °C, the sorbent shows the highest values of the initial and steady state CO2 uptake capacity, namely, 10.7 mmol/g and 9.4 mmol/g, respectively.

Evaluation of Synergies of a Biomass Power Plant and a Biogas Station with a Carbon Capture System

The global carbon emissions from the tertiary sector have increased during the last years, becoming a target sector for carbon capture technologies. This study analyzes the potential application of a carbon capture system (CCS) to the usage of biogas from a livestock waste treatment plant (LWTP) and solid biomass. The proposed BECCS system fulfils the requirement of energy demands of the LWTP and generates electricity. The CCS is sized to consume the biogas produced and the selected operation parameters ensure a high capture efficiency. The BECCS is completed by a Rankine cycle fed by solid biomass and waste heat from the capture process is sized and implemented to produce electricity and steam. The proposed concept handles 1534 kW of solid biomass and 1398 kW of biogas to produce 746.20 kWe and cover the heat demand of a LWTP, 597 kWth. The avoided CO2 emissions sum up to 1620 ton CO2/year. The economic calculations show the limitation of this concept deployment under current prices of electricity and CO2 allowances. Results show the potential feasibility under future scenarios with 5 to 6 payback periods whenever public policies support the use of CCS and EU ETS evolves towards higher prices of carbon allowances.

Techno-Economic Analyses of the CaO/CaCO3 Post-Combustion CO2 Capture From NGCC Power Plants

Calcium looping is a post-combustion technology that enables CO2 capture from the flue gases of industrial processes. While considerable studies have been performed at various levels from fundamental reaction kinetics to the overall plant efficiency, research work on techno-economic analyses of the calcium looping processes is quite limited, particularly for the Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC). Earlier work has shown that theoretically, a high thermal efficiency can be obtained when integrating calcium looping in the NGCC using advanced process configurations and a synthetic CaO sorbent. This paper presents an investigation of calcium looping capture for the NGCC through a techno-economic study. One simple and one advanced calcium looping processes for CO2 capture from NGCC are evaluated. Detailed sizing of non-conventional equipment such as the carbonator/calciner and the solid-solid heat exchanger are performed for cost analyses. The study shows that the CO2 avoided cost is 86–95 €/tCO2, avoided, which is considerably more expensive than the reference amine (MEA) capture system (49 €/tCO2, avoided). The calcium looping processes considered have thus been found not to be competitive with the reference MEA process for CO2 capture from NGCC with the inputs assumed in this work. Significant improvements would be required, for example, in terms of equipment capital cost, plant efficiency and sorbent annual cost in order to be make the calcium looping technology more attractive for capturing CO2 from NGCC plants.