Techno-economic Study of Solar-assisted Post-combustion Carbon Capture System Integrated with Desalination

Abstract

Solvent-based Post-combustion Carbon Capture (PCC), which can reduce CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants, is one of the most advanced mature Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies at present. Two problems limit its development. One is the output reduction of power plant due to the steam extraction from turbine. The other is a large amount of water consumption for the evaporation of the solution in the absorber and desorber.In this paper we propose an integrated system to reduce the steam extraction from turbine and to produce freshwater by using solar thermal energy. The new system produces more electricity and freshwater during the daytime, and uses the steam extraction to reduce CO2 emissions at night. A techno-economic feasibility study is performed as a case study for a 300 MWe coal-fired power plant assisted by solar desalination. As for the potential impact parameters, the local climatic conditions and CO2 capture rate are discussed. Low-cost collectors and desalting equipment would make the technology more cost-effective.