The article presents results of thermodynamic analysis using a zero-dimensional mathematical models of a negative CO2 emission power plant. The developed cycle of a negative CO2 emission power plant allows the production of electricity using gasified sewage sludge as a main fuel. The negative emission can be achieved by the use this type of fuel which is already a “zero-emissive” energy source. Together with carbon capture installation, there is a possibility to decrease CO2 emission below the “zero” level. Developed models of a novel gas cycle which use selected codes allow the prediction of basic parameters of thermodynamic cycles such as output power, efficiency, combustion composition, exhaust temperature, etc. The paper presents results of thermodynamic analysis of two novel cycles, called PDF0 and PFD1, by using different thermodynamic codes. A comparison of results obtained by three different codes offered the chance to verify results because the experimental data are currently... [more]

According to EU goals and the Paris Agreement, an urgent need exists for reducing CO2 emissions while still securing energy supply. Thus, the timely deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) is seemingly unavoidable, especially for the cement and steel industries. However, diverse perceptions of CCS among stakeholders such as experts, politicians, and laypeople exist that could hinder the deployment of the technology. Hence, it is worthwhile to recognise these diverse perceptions and their roots. In the studies on risk perceptions, the emphasis has been mostly on the public, as well as factors that influence the public, such as knowledge dissemination and trust. Although these are crucial elements, they are not enough to explain the complexity of risk perceptions. In contrast to the mainstream research, this paper hypothesises that both laypeople and experts are affected by common cultural denominators, therefore, might have similar patterns of risk perceptions. This research sugg... [more]

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) can sequester atmospheric CO2, while producing electricity. The CO2 avoidance cost (CAC) is used to calculate the marginal cost of avoided CO2 emissions for BECCS as compared to other established energy technologies. A comparative analysis using four different reference-case power plants for CAC calculations is performed here to evaluate the CO2 avoidance cost of BECCS implementation. Results from this work demonstrate that BECCS can generate electricity at costs competitive with other neutral emissions technologies, while simultaneously removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Approximately 73% of current coal power plants are approaching retirement by the year 2035 in the U.S. After considering CO2 sequestered from the atmosphere and coal power plant CO2 emissions displaced by BECCS, CO2 emissions can be reduced by 1.4 billion tonnes per year in the U.S. alone at a cost of $88 to $116 per tonne of CO2 removed from the atmosphere, for 10% to... [more]

The achievement of climate neutrality in the European Union by 2050 will not be possible solely through a reduction in fossil fuels and the development of energy generation from renewable sources. Large-scale implementation of various technologies is necessary, including bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), carbon capture and storage (CCS), and carbon capture and utilisation (CCU), as well as industrial electrification, the use of hydrogen, the expansion of electromobility, low-emission agricultural practices, and afforestation. This research is devoted to an analysis of BECCS as a negative emissions technology (NET) and the assessment of its implementation impact upon the possibility of achieving climate neutrality in the EU. The modelling approach utilises tools developed within the LIFE Climate CAKE PL project and includes the MEESA energy model and the d-PLACE CGE economic model. This article identifies the scope of the required investment in generation capacity and t... [more]

This article deals with the major challenge of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in urban areas—installing as many fast charging stations as necessary and using them as efficiently as possible, while considering grid level power limitations. A smart fast charging station with four vehicle access points and an intelligent load management algorithm based on the combined charging system interface is presented. The shortcomings of present implementations of the combined charging system communication protocol are identified and discussed. Practical experiments and simulations of different charging scenarios validate the concept and show that the concept can increase the utilization time and the supplied energy by a factor of 2.4 compared to typical charging station installations.

Capture conditions for CO2 vary substantially between industrial point sources. Depending on CO2 fraction and pressure level, different capture technologies will be required for cost- and energy-efficient decarbonisation. For decarbonisation of shifted synthesis gas from coal gasification, several studies have identified low-temperature CO2 capture by condensation and phase separation as an energy- and cost-efficient option. In the present work, a process design is proposed for low-temperature CO2 capture from an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plant. Steady-state simulations were carried out and the performance of the overall process, as well as major process components, were investigated. For the baseline capture unit layout, delivering high-pressure CO2 at 150 bar, the net specific power requirement was estimated to 273 kJe/kgCO2, and an 85% CO2 capture ratio was obtained. The impact of 12 different process parameters was studied in a sensitivity analysis, the re... [more]

Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration has become a common practice in technology development projects. Rarely, however, the integration (and translation) of knowledge from different disciplines and different societal contexts is reported in detail. In this article, we address this gap and present the inter- and transdisciplinary technology development in the international research project “DigiMon—Digital Monitoring of CO2 Storage Projects” that aims to develop a human-centered monitoring system. Based on interviews, surveys and stakeholder workshops in Norway, Greece, Germany and The Netherlands, we identify characteristics of CO2 storage monitoring systems that reflect the concerns and expectations of publics and stakeholders. We document the translation of social scientific findings into technical expertise for the design of a monitoring system. We discuss how the interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary process has affected the technology development. In outlining ho... [more]

Observation of the greenhouse effect prompts the consideration of every possibility of reducing anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. One of the key methods that has been the subject of much research is Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the main technologies of CO2 capture, separation, and dehydration as well as methods of its transport and methodology of selecting a suitable geological storage site. An installation of dehydration and compression of carbon dioxide captured after the post-combustion was designed at a temperature of 35 °C, a pressure of 1.51 bar, and a mass flow rate of 2.449 million tons/year, assuming that the geological storage site is located at 30 km from the capture place. For the dehydration process, a multistage compression and cooling system were applied, combined with a triethylene glycol (TEG) dehydration unit. The mass flow rate of TEG was selected as 0.5 kg/s. H2O out of the TEG unit was 26.6 ppm. The amount o... [more]

The successful and fast development and deployment of renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction technologies is a continuing and structural challenge. The deployment of these technologies is slowed down and sometimes even stalled due to societal challenges like public resistance, lack of appropriate policy and regulations, unsolid business cases and uncertainty concerning the impact on the environment. In this paper we elaborate on societal aspects that influence technology development and deployment and introduce the societal embeddedness level (SEL) framework. Building upon the technology readiness level (TRL), the SEL framework enables the assessment of the current level of societal embeddedness of energy technologies in order to identify the societal aspects which need to be taken into account to accelerate deployment of energy technologies. The SEL framework takes into account four societal dimensions (impact on the environment, stakeholder involvement, policy and regulations,... [more]

Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) is a set of technologies aimed at capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from point-source emitters to either store permanently or use as a feedstock to produce chemicals and fuels. In this paper, the potential benefits of CCUS integration into the energy supply sector are evaluated from a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) perspective by comparing two different routes for the CO2 captured from a natural gas combined cycle (NGCC). Both the complete storage of the captured CO2 and its partial utilization to produce dimethyl ether are investigated. Moreover, the assessment is performed considering the region-specific features of two of the largest CO2 emitters in Europe, namely Italy and Poland. Results shows that the complete storage of the captured CO2 reduces Global Warming Potential (GWP) by ~89% in Italy and ~97%, in Poland. On the other hand, the partial utilization of CO2 to produce dimethyl ether leads to a decrease of ~58% in Italy and ~6... [more]

Natural gas is an indispensable resource not evenly distributed in the world. The gas supply chain is characterized by large imbalances between supply and demand, where the underground gas storage (UGS) application plays a key role for creating strategic reserves, taking advantage of geological structures. On the contrary, human activities will require clean energy with near-zero greenhouse gas emissions to be environmentally viable. A key element of this strategy is the carbon capture and storage (CCS) application useful for confining CO2 into the geosphere to reduce anthropogenic emissions. The development of appropriate injection methods and long-term monitoring systems for leak detection of the underground storage of natural gas and CO2 is important to prevent negative effects, such as ground deformations and micro seismic events. In this work, a variety of monitoring applications were gathered and critically analyzed for a total of 60 scientific contributions spanning the world. T... [more]

Static immersion tests of potential injection pipe steels 42CrMo4, X20Cr13, X46Cr13, X35CrMo4, and X5CrNiCuNb16-4 at T = 60 °C and ambient pressure, as well as p = 100 bar were performed for 700−8000 h in a CO2-saturated synthetic aquifer environment similar to CCS sites in the Northern German Basin (NGB). Corrosion rates at 100 bar are generally lower than at ambient pressure. The main corrosion products are FeCO3 and FeOOH with surface and local corrosion phenomena directly related to the alloy composition and microstructure. The appropriate heat treatment enhances corrosion resistance. The lifetime reduction of X46Cr13, X5CrNiCuNb16-4, and duplex stainless steel X2CrNiMoN22-5-3 in a CCS environment is demonstrated in the in situ corrosion fatigue CF experiments (axial push-pull and rotation bending load, 60 °C, brine: Stuttgart Aquifer and NGB, flowing CO2: 30 L/h, +/− applied potential). Insulating the test setup is necessary to gain reliable data. S-N plots, micrographic-, phase-,... [more]

Global climate policy commitments are encouraging the development of EU energy policies aimed at paving the way for cleaner energy systems. This article reviews key decarbonization drivers for Italy considering higher environmental targets from recent European Union climate policies. Energy efficiency, the electrification of final consumption, the development of green fuels, increasing the share of renewable energy sources in the electric system, and carbon capture and storage are reviewed. A 2030 scenario is designed to forecast the role of decarbonization drivers in future energy systems and to compare their implementation with that in the current situation. Energy efficiency measures will reduce final energy consumption by 15.6%, as primary energy consumption will decrease by 19.8%. The electrification of final consumption is expected to increase by 6.08%. The use of green fuels is estimated to triple as innovative fuels may go to market at scale to uphold the ambitious decarbonizat... [more]

Mineral carbonation is an increasingly popular method for carbon capture and storage that resembles the natural weathering process of alkaline-earth oxides for carbon dioxide removal into stable carbonates. This study aims to evaluate the potential of reusing Fe-rich mine waste for carbon sequestration by assessing the influence of pH condition, particle size fraction and reaction temperature on the carbonation reaction. A carbonation experiment was performed in a stainless steel reactor at ambient pressure and at a low temperature. The results indicated that the alkaline pH of waste samples was suitable for undergoing the carbonation process. Mineralogical analysis confirmed the presence of essential minerals for carbonation, i.e., magnetite, wollastonite, anorthite and diopside. The chemical composition exhibited the presence of iron and calcium oxides (39.58−62.95%) in wastes, indicating high possibilities for carbon sequestration. Analysis of the carbon uptake capacity revealed tha... [more]

In 2008, the Republic of Korea announced the Low Carbon Green Growth vision as the national growth engine. This Green Growth vision invested in developing state-of-the-art green technologies to minimize greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. Following a change in administration, Korean green technologies were re-categorized into six core technologies for climate change response in 2014, and ten core technologies for carbon-neutrality in 2021. The government proposed the realization of an inclusive green state in the 3rd Five-Year Green Growth Plan announced in 2019. Following the Green New Deal announced in 2020, green technology policies and investments continue, with the declaration of 2050 carbon neutrality. In the past two years, government policies from the 2050 Carbon Neutrality Strategy to the 2050 Carbon-Neutral Scenario consider Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) as an important technology to reduce CO2 and meet carbon-neutral goals. This study examines major green... [more]

A new experimental high-pressure setup for measuring diffusion coefficients in supercritical fluids, based on Taylor dispersion method, and using an FTIR detector to operate up to 25.0 MPa was designed and optimized. Tracer diffusivities, D12, of toluene and benzene in supercritical carbon dioxide were measured in the temperature range of 306.15−320.15 K, and pressure range of 7.5−17 MPa to evaluate the setup and experimental protocol. The effects of flow velocity, volume of the cell, absorbance at different wavenumbers on the diffusion coefficient as well as all parameters respecting the Taylor dispersion method have been analyzed. The obtained diffusion coefficients are in excellent agreement with the available literature data. The dependence of D12 on temperature, pressure, and solvent density were examined. Some correlation models based on the hydrodynamic theory were used to estimate the diffusion coefficients in supercritical carbon dioxide, which is the best agreement obtained f... [more]

This paper presents the modeling and simulation of an industrial-scale chemical looping combustion (CLC) power plant, including all process units (reactors, flue gas treatment units, heat integration, steam cycle, and CO2 compression train). A model of a 525 MWth CLC power plant was built using a rigorous representation of the solid fuel and oxygen carrier. Petcoke was considered the main fuel of interest in this study, and it is compared with other solid fuels. The flue gas compositions obtained with the model show that cleanup units are mandatory to comply with CO2 quality requirements. High levels of flue gas treatment, including 97.1% deNOx and 99.4% deSOx, are needed to achieve typical specifications for captured CO2. This is mainly due to the high level of contaminants in the fuel, but also to the absence of nitrogen in the CLC flue gas, thus resulting in higher concentrations for all substances. The high level of flue gas treatment is thus one of the important challenges for sol... [more]

Example Aspen Plus chemical process simulations used in the book Exergy Tables: A Comprehensive Set of Exergy Values to Streamline Energy Efficiency Analysis, by Lingyan Deng, Thomas A. Adams II, and Truls Gundersen (McGraw-Hill Education, 2023). The examples are:

1. Medium-pressure steam generation using a natural-gas powered boiler
2. Medium-pressure steam generation using a natural-gas powered boiler with an economizer
3. Medium-pressure steam generation using an off-gas powered boiler
4. Postcombustion CO2 capture using diglycolamine (DGA) with CCS

Note, stream conditions may vary slightly from those in the book when simulated with different versions of the software.

Files are Aspen Plus v12.1, but should be openable on any version 12.1 or later.

Investigating the transient behaviour of liquid CO2 decompression is of great importance to ensure the safety of pipeline transportation in carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) decompression model based on the non-equilibrium phase transition and Span−Wagner equation of state (EoS) was developed to study the effects of actual flowing state within the pipeline on the transient behaviour of liquid CO2 decompression. Then, the CFD model was verified by comparing the simulated results to test data of a large-scale “shock tube” with an inner diameter of 146.36 mm. The results showed that the evaporation coefficient had a significant impact on the transition behaviour of CO2 decompression, while the condensation coefficient made no difference. When the evaporation coefficient was 15 s−1, the CFD-predicted results were in good agreement with the test results. Moreover, the effects of flow velocity on transient behaviour of liquid CO2 decompression... [more]

Carbon capture, transport, and storage (CCS) is an essential technology to mitigate global CO2 emissions from power and industry sectors. Despite the increasing recognition and interest in both the scientific community and stakeholders, current CCS deployment is far behind targeted ambitions. A key reason is that CCS is often perceived as too expensive to reduce CO2 emissions. The costs of CCS have however traditionally been looked at from the industrial plant point of view which does not necessarily reflect the end-user’s perspective. This paper addresses the incomplete view by investigating the impact of implementing CCS in industrial facilities on the overall costs and CO2 emissions of end-user products and services. As an example, this work examines the extent to which an increase in costs of raw materials (cement and steel) due to CCS impact the costs of building a bridge. Our results show that although CCS significantly increases the cost of cement and steel, the subsequent incre... [more]

The recognised urgency to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2050, as first presented by the IPCC special report on 1.5 °C Global Warming, has spurred a renewed interest in hydrogen as a companion to electricity for widespread decarbonization of the economy. We present reflections on the estimation of future hydrogen demand, optimization of infrastructure for production, transport and storage, development of viable business cases, and environmental impact evaluations using life cycle assessments. We highlight challenges and opportunities that are common across studies of the business cases for hydrogen in Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Norway. The use of hydrogen in the industry sector is an important driver and could incentivise large-scale hydrogen value chains. In the long-term hydrogen becomes important also for the transport sector. Hydrogen production from natural gas with capture and permanent storage of the produced CO2 (CCS) enables large-sc... [more]

Temporal variations in CO2 stream composition and mass flow rates may occur in a CO2 transport network, as well as further downstream when CO2 streams of different compositions and temporally variable mass flow rates are fed in. To assess the potential impacts of such variations on CO2 transport, injection, and storage, their characteristics must be known. We investigated variation characteristics in a scenario of a regional CO2 emitter cluster of seven fossil-fired power plants and four industrial plants that feed captured CO2 streams into a pipeline network. Variations of CO2 stream composition and mass flow rates in the pipelines were simulated using a network analysis tool. In addition, the potential effects of changes in the energy mix on resulting mass flow rates and CO2 stream compositions were investigated for two energy mix scenarios that consider higher shares of renewable energy sources or a replacement of lignite by hard coal and natural gas. While resulting maximum mass fl... [more]

We conducted a meta-study of CO2 capture processes, examining nearly 100 techno-economic analyses published in the recent open literature. Normally, it is difficult to compare one study to another because each study uses its own set of assumptions, such as plant scale, geography, market parameters, and inconsistent definitions of key metrics such as the cost of CO2 avoided (CCA). In this work, we present normalized versions of these studies using a consistent basis of comparison, such as net power delivered, base year of operation, pipeline CO2 pressure, currency, country of construction, and so on. In so doing, we are able to draw meaningful conclusions and direct comparisons between different classes of CO2 capture technology. The technologies considered include coal and gas-based processes using capture strategies including solvent-based post-combustion carbon capture, gasification-based strategies, membrane-based approaches, oxyfuel combustion, chemical looping combustion, calcium... [more]

This work is a meta-study of CO2 capture processes for coal and natural gas power generation, including technologies such as post-combustion solvent-based carbon capture, the integrated gasification combined cycle process, oxyfuel combustion, membrane-based carbon capture processes, and solid oxide fuel cells. A literature survey of recent techno-economic studies was conducted, compiling relevant data on costs, efficiencies, and other performance metrics. The data were then converted in a consistent fashion to a common standard (such as a consistent net power output, country of construction, currency, base year of operation, and captured CO2 pressure) such that a meaningful and direct comparison of technologies can be made. The processes were compared against a standard status quo power plant without carbon capture to compute metrics such as cost of CO2 emissions avoided to identify the most promising designs and technologies to use for CO2 emissions abatement.