Energy, economic and environmental performance evaluation of co-gasification of coal and biomass negative-carbon emission system

Abstract

This study evaluated the energy, economic, and environmental performance of co-gasification coal and biomass negative-carbon emission systems. All coal and all biomass systems were analyzed in detail for performance differences. The effects of the blending ratio and carbon capture rate (CCR) on the system were explored at the technical level. In addition, the impacts of carbon trading and fuel prices were considered at the market level. The results showed that the co-gasification system effectively improved the heat value of syngas and reduced the power generation cost. The efficiency and levelized cost of energy (LCOE) increase with the blending ratio. Compared with the 100 % biomass system, the power generation cost was reduced by 19 % at most. For the certain blending ratio, the energy and economic performance deteriorated as the CCR increased. A higher CCR corresponds to a higher cost of capturing unit CO2. The economic advantage decreased significantly with increasing CCR for the system with lower blending ratio. The LCOE was most sensitive to the carbon trading price at the market level. The LCOE was reduced by $ 1.93 as the carbon trading price increased by $ 1. This study demonstrates the potential and promotion value of negative-carbon emission power generation systems.