A comprehensive analysis of a power-to-gas energy storage unit utilizing captured carbon dioxide as a raw material in a large-scale power plant

Abstract

The global destructive effects of carbon dioxide emissions and the importance of energy storage for grid stability and peak shaving applications are in deep concern. In this regard, this paper investigates the recycling of carbon dioxide from gas-fired power plant emissions into synthetic natural gas based on a novel power-to-gas process with the aim of chemical energy storage and emission reduction. The hybrid power-to-gas process proposed in this paper integrates the power generated from the gas plant and renewable energies. To make a precise evaluation of system performance, the referenced system is analyzed from technical, economic, and environmental points of view. The process is optimized through the reaction operation conditions and the energy utilization of the process. The results demonstrate that the power-to-gas process achieves a reaction synthetic natural gas production yield of over 97% at the optimal operation conditions. Regarding energy and environmental outlook, the power plant provides 15.4% of the power-to-gas total energy consumption, with the remaining 84.6% supplied from renewable energy resources. From the synthetic natural gas produced, the power-to-gas process provides total annual energy storage of 2.9 × 107 GJ and recycles 1.6 Mton of carbon dioxide for the power plant flues, resulting in a reduction of the plant emissions by around 66%. According to the economic data, with the consideration of the selling price of oxygen, the cost of the synthetic natural gas produced results in 1738 $/ton. The obtained results indicate that the system designed can reduce production costs due to hybrid electricity and offers two unique attributes: energy storage capability and drastic reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.