Achieving sustainable emissions in China: Techno-economic analysis of post-combustion carbon capture unit retrofitted to WTE plants

Abstract

China's aims of achieving CO2 emissions peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060 are crucial in guiding international efforts to mitigate climate change. Amine-based solvent technologies for capturing CO2 on a large scale have been implemented as retrofits in various industrial facilities, with a particular focus on coal-fired power plants. Nonetheless, its implementation within the waste-to-energy (WTE) industry is considerably limited and non-existent in China. This work presents a technical and economic evaluation of retrofitting a generic WTE facility in China with a carbon capture system. A rate-based process simulation model of the capture plant was developed in Aspen Plus, and the effect of equipment installation factors on capital cost was evaluated via the enhanced detailed factor (EDF) method. A set of key performance indicators were evaluated. The findings indicate that the energy demand linked to the capture system caused a decrease in efficiency by 13.17%, 14.85%, and 16.56% at 85%, 90%, and 95% capture rates, respectively, and the overall exergy efficiency of the system was reduced by 5.5%, 8.27%, and 10.63%, respectively. The estimated CO2 captured costs range from €56.41/tCO2 to €58.95/tCO2, while CO2 avoided costs range from €153.33/tCO2 to €236.47/tCO2. Retrofitting a CO2 capture unit at WTE facilities has the potential to substantially contribute to achieving the country's emission reduction targets. However, the successful implementation requires a comprehensive policy structure. This work offers some insights into the prospective integration of CO2 capture technology in China's WTE industry.