Capture Process Research Articles

Modelling of CO<sub>2</sub> Removal and Capturing Process Using Different Solvents for Al-Halfaya Oil Field to Reduce the Total Emissions

Since there currently are no financially feasible sources of renewable electricity and since they are readily available and inexpensive, such as coal, fossil fuels; that will remain the primary energy source for decades. Consequently, it is imperative to create technologies that allow for the continued use of fossil fuels whilst reducing the amount of CO<sub>2</sub> released into the environment. In order to lower atmospheric emissions, CO<sub>2</sub> should be captured from sources of emissions. Increased oil recovery, ocean or subsurface storage, or perhaps both, might be accomplished using the recovered CO<sub>2</sub>. Extracting high-purity CO<sub>2</sub> from flue gas, which is present in low concentrations (about 15 percent), is the most difficult step in the CO<sub>2</sub> capture process. The process of a selected separation approach will then be thoroughly examined by modeling it utilizing the Aspen Plus program while employing three solvents, including MEA, DEA, and NH3. Additionally, based on the simulation results provided by Aspen Plus, the present research intends to assess the environmental and economic implications of every solvent in order to choose the solvent with the minimum environmental impact and the best economic performance. Also, look at how the final CO<sub>2</sub> removal efficacy is affected by the pressure and temperature of the chosen solvents and absorber. According to the findings, DEA solvent outperformed NH3 and MEA in terms of CO<sub>2</sub> extraction effectiveness. Additionally, employing NH3 as a chemical solvent does not affect temperature or pressure, but using MEA and DEA negatively influences CO<sub>2</sub> extraction efficiency when the temperature is raised. However, when utilizing DEA and MEA as chemical solvents, the pressure of the solvent enhances the rate of CO<sub>2</sub> collecting.

Low-temperature desorption in thermomorphic solvents for CO2 capture: Systems with N-methylcyclohexylamine and N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine

The significant energy consumption associated with the carbon capture process has long posed a substantial obstacle to the extensive industrial utilization of amine solutions. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate a low-energy-consumption carbon capture solvent. This study meticulously examined thermomorphic absorbents composed of N-methylcyclohexylamine(MCA) and N,N-Dimethylcyclohexylamine(DMCA), delving into its absorption and desorption performances. Initially, focusing on absorption efficiency, we tested six varying concentration ratios of absorbents for CO2 absorption, scrutinizing their absorption rate and capacity. The analysis revealed that the rapid saturation of the absorbent stemmed from its limited absorption capacity. Notably, the MCA:DMCA=1 M:1 M ratio exhibited outstanding absorption capability, at 0.7015 mol CO2/mol amine, surpassing the absorption capacity of 30 wt% Monoethanolamine by a factor of 1.525. Subsequent desorption trials on MCA:DMCA=1 M:1 M at temperatures of 333 K, 348 K, and 363 K indicated successful desorption at 333 K, achieving an efficiency of 82.77 %, which rose with increasing temperature. Lastly, the estimated energy consumption for the latent heat and evaporation heat of this absorbent was approximately 0.342GJ/t CO2, marking a ∼61.1 % decrease compared to liquid-liquid phase change absorbents. These findings underscore the industrial promise of thermomorphic absorbents as a viable option for carbon capture applications.

Catalytic behavior of aluminum-modified SAPO-34 catalysts for reducing the energy penalty of CO2-rich amine solutions regeneration

The goal of this research is to develop a potential strategy to significantly decrease the heat duty for the amine-based CO2 capture process. Here, a variety of Al2O3-modified SAPO-34 composite catalysts with varying Al2O3 contents are synthesized and utilized to catalytically facilitate the CO2 desorption process. The catalytic CO2 desorption characteristics of various catalysts, Al-SAPO-34, SAPO-34, and γ-Al2O3 are investigated in a CO2-loaded 5 M monoethanolamine (MEA) solution. The results indicate that all catalysts accelerate CO2 desorption, while the Al-SAPO-34 catalysts work better than the parent Al2O3 and SAPO-34 catalysts. Especially, the 15 % Al-SAPO-34 increases the CO2 desorption rate by 78.4 % and reduces the relative energy requirement by 37 % at a desorption time of 1440 s. The catalysts are characterized by different methods and their structure–activity relationship is analyzed. The increased acid sites and mesoporous surface area of the Al-SAPO-34 catalyst may be responsible for its greater catalytic activity. The intermediates of the catalytic CO2 desorption process are identified by FT-IR and NMR, and then a possible catalytic regeneration mechanism is put forward. Additionally, the cyclic stability of the Al-SAPO-34 catalyst for cyclic CO2 absorption–desorption is evaluated. This work demonstrates that the Al-SAPO-34 exhibits greater catalytic CO2 desorption performance, and outstanding stability, and has the opportunity to become an attractive industrial catalyst for the amine-based CO2 capture process.

A hydrate-based post-combustion capture system integrated with cold energy: Thermodynamic analysis, process modeling and energy optimization

Carbon capture is a crucial part of global warming mitigation. Carbon capture via clathrate hydrate is an attractive approach due to its high capture capacity, high carbon dioxide purity, water-based benign process, ease of recycling, and robustness to contaminants. In this work, we propose a two-stage hydrate-based carbon dioxide separation system integrated with cold energy for carbon capture from flue gases. A thermodynamic cycle consisting of two sub-cycles was constructed to simulate the process. Operating conditions were optimized within the range of 274.15–282.15 K and 0.1–28.04 MPa, resulting in the lowest electricity consumption of 2.22 MJ/kg CO2 with 95.24 mol% CO2 purity and 65.97 % CO2 recovery. A higher CO2 recovery rate can be achieved by recycling the residual gas of Sub-cycle 2. Gas compression to the high operating pressure (16.01 MPa) is the major contributor to electricity consumption. By incorporating 100 % expansion work recovery from the high-pressure gases, the electricity consumption can be reduced to 0.43 MJ/kg CO2 (i.e., 0.119 kWh/kg CO2). A more realistic scenario assuming 80 % compression/pumping efficiency and 90 % expansion work recovery gives an electricity consumption of 1.16 MJ/kg CO2 (i.e., 0.322 kWh/kg CO2), representing an energy penalty of 33.1 % for a coal-fired power plant. Future direction for further improvement could be a paradigm shift to hydrate process with thermodynamic promoters, which can potentially reduce the operation pressure by over 90 % and thus cut down the energy consumption dramatically. This work established a framework to simulate the hydrate-based carbon capture process, evaluated its minimum energy consumption and examined how operating conditions affect the separation performance. The results could offer valuable guidelines for the design and optimization of real hydrate-based carbon capture systems.

Performance assessment of novel catalytic spouted-bed vapor jet flow heat exchanger in amine-based carbon capture process

This study introduced a spouted bed and jet flow catalytic heat exchanger (SBJ-EX). This novel non-agitated technology can potentially integrate with a conventional desorption column to enhance heat transfer and CO2 desorption performance in amine-based post-combustion carbon capture systems. As its first research in the carbon capture field, this work experimentally evaluated key factors including overall heat transfer coefficient, logarithmic mean temperature difference, temperature distribution along the reactor, and cyclic loading under varied parameters such as inlet temperature of the heating oil, inlet solvent temperature, rich CO2 loadings, and mass of catalysts to simulate real-world operating conditions using benchmark MEA solvent and solid acid catalyst HZSM-5. Compared to conventional plate heat exchangers, the SBJ-EX demonstrated over a 70 % enhancement in heat transfer performance due to its effective overall heat transfer coefficient. It also exhibited impressive CO2 desorption performance even at lower temperatures with sufficient catalysts. Unlike agitated-type heat exchangers, the SBJ-EX could minimize catalyst attrition and offer more excellent stability. In contrast to fixed-bed catalyst desorbed columns, this equipment offered a more compact design for quicker and simpler catalyst replacement to reduce downtime for operators significantly. The SBJ-EX can also function as an optional backup or add-on unit to provide operators with flexibility. This work further discussed advantages and challenges of the SBJ-EX operation. This work enriched the future research outlook for this technology, and contributed a commercially viable approach to catalysts in carbon capture processes.

Dispersion Behavior of a Droplet Impacting a Single Fiber.

The high-gravity reactor, known for its excellent mass transfer capability, plays a crucial role in the carbon capture process. The wire mesh packing serves as the core structure for enhancing mass transfer performance. Understanding the underlying dispersion mechanism requires a thorough exploration of the dynamics of droplet impact on a single fiber. This work aimed to numerically study the process of a droplet impacting a single fiber by applying the volume of fluid method. The effects of initial velocity (u0), initial diameter (D0), impact eccentric distance (e), and impact angle (θ) on the deformation evolution and dispersion characteristics of a droplet impacting a single fiber were systematically studied. Central or vertical impacts can be categorized into four main stages: splitting, merging, stretching, and breaking. Meanwhile, asynchronous breaking, sliding splitting, and oblique stages were observed during eccentric and nonvertical impacts. Subsequently, dimensionless time (t*) and the rate of increase of the gas-liquid interfacial area (η) were introduced to quantitatively analyze the dispersion characteristics postimpact. Increasing the initial velocity, reducing the droplet diameter, minimizing the impact eccentric distance, and maximizing the impact angle all contribute to enhanced dispersion performance. A correlation for the maximum increase rate of the gas-liquid interfacial area of the droplet was proposed, with errors less than ±15%. Finally, the deformation mechanism of droplet impact on a fiber was summarized by analyzing the influences of differential pressure inside and outside the liquid film, as well as gas vortices.

Solid Electrolytes for Low-Temperature Carbon Dioxide Valorization: A Review.

One of the most promising approaches to address the global challenge of climate change is electrochemical carbon capture and utilization. Solid electrolytes can play a crucial role in establishing a chemical-free pathway for the electrochemical capture of CO2. Furthermore, they can be applied in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reactions (CO2RR) to increase carbon utilization, produce high-purity liquid chemicals, and advance hybrid electro-biosystems. This review article begins by covering the fundamentals and processes of electrochemical CO2 capture, emphasizing the advantages of utilizing solid electrolytes. Additionally, it highlights recent advancements in the use of the solid polymer electrolyte or solid electrolyte layer for the CO2RR with multiple functions. The review also explores avenues for future research to fully harness the potential of solid electrolytes, including the integration of CO2 capture and the CO2RR and performance assessment under realistic conditions. Finally, this review discusses future opportunities and challenges, aiming to contribute to the establishment of a green and sustainable society through electrochemical CO2 valorization.

Demonstration of CO2 Capture Process Monitoring and Solvent Degradation Detection by Chemometrics at the Technology Centre Mongstad CO2 Capture Plant: Part II

Demonstration of CO₂ Capture Process Monitoring and Solvent Degradation Detection by Chemometrics at the Technology Centre Mongstad CO₂ Capture Plant: Part II

Charge-symmetric and -asymmetric fragmentation dynamics of argon dimers in slow Ar8+–Ar2 collisions

We present an experimental study of multiple-electron capture-induced fragmentation dynamics of Ar2m+ (4 ≤m≤ 7) dimer ions in 4 keV/u Ar8+–Ar2 collisions. The fragment recoil ion pairs and the charge-changing projectiles are coincidentally measured using a double coincidence technique. The branching ratios between the different charge-sharing fragmentation channels show an inherent enhancement of the asymmetric channels. The kinetic energy release (KER) distributions for the associated electron capture process show a shift in the mean KER values toward the higher side with increasing capture stabilization. The interplay between the different projectile autoionization processes sheds light on the energy depositions to the system during collisions. The Coulomb potential energy curves give a physical insight into the role of the projectile final states in the dimer fragmentation dynamics. The dimer-axis orientation-dependent cross sections for the asymmetric fragmentation channels reveal a forward–backward asymmetry that arises from the geometry of the collision system. Our findings thus give insight into the impact parameter-controlled fragmentation dynamics of multiply charged Ar2m+ dimer ions in highly charged ion–dimer slow collisions.

Exploring photoexcitation effects on Cs3Bi2Br9 perovskite single crystal properties

Lead-free halide perovskite single crystals (SCs) offer a compelling alternative for optoelectronic devices due to their superior intrinsic properties. Despite advancements in excellent perovskite SCs, analyzing defects remains crucial. This two-fold approach can both enhance device performance and provide insights into the interactions between light-induced carriers and these defects within the material. This work investigates defects in Cs3Bi2Br9 perovskite SCs using photoexcitation. Photocurrent and photocapacitance measurements are employed to analyze these light-induced defects and their influence on the material's properties. The examination of Cs3Bi2Br9 SCs properties alongside a gold electrode involves evaluating both bulk and interfacial defect densities. This assessment is carried out by analyzing the capacitive behavior in response to different wavelengths λR, λG, and λB (λR = 652.54 nm, λG = 539.06 nm, and λB = 413.28 nm). The temporary reaction to light of individual crystals indicates the presence of carrier capture and subsequent recombination processes. The analysis of the response to light under different situations offers insights into potential defect origins within SCs of Cs3Bi2Br9. This extensive optoelectronic investigation unveils a critical connection between light illumination conditions, carrier transport properties, and overall system efficiency. A comprehensive comprehension of light-triggered defects in perovskites could aid in identifying the source of electrical inefficiency and in the creation of exceptionally effective optoelectronic systems.

Removal of Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen Sulfide from Natural Gas Using a Hybrid Solvent of Monoethanolamine and N-Methyl 2-Pyrrolidone.

The main goal of traditional methods for sweetening natural gas (NG) is to remove hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and significantly lower carbon dioxide (CO2). However, when NG processes are integrated into the carbon capture and storage (CCS) framework, there is potential for synergy between these two technologies. A steady-state model utilizing a hybrid solvent consisting of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and monoethanolamine (MEA) has been developed to successfully anticipate the CO2 and H2S capture process from NG. The model was tested against important variables affecting process performance. This article specifically explores the impact of operational parameters such as lean amine temperature, absorber pressure, and amine flow rate on the concentrations of CO2 and H2S in the sweet gas and reboiler duty. The result shows that hybrid solvents (MEA + NMP) perform better in removing acid gases and reducing reboiler duty than conventional chemical solvent MEA. The primary purpose is to meet product requirements while consuming the least energy possible, which is in line with any process plant's efficiency goals.

Cooperation of regulatory RNA and the RNA degradosome in transcript surveillance.

The ompD transcript, encoding an outer membrane porin in Salmonella, harbors a controlling element in its coding region that base-pairs imperfectly with a 'seed' region of the small regulatory RNA (sRNA) MicC. When tagged with the sRNA, the ompD mRNA is cleaved downstream of the pairing site by the conserved endoribonuclease RNase E, leading to transcript destruction. We observe that the sRNA-induced cleavage site is accessible to RNase E in vitro upon recruitment of ompD into the 30S translation pre-initiation complex (PIC) in the presence of the degradosome components. Evaluation of substrate accessibility suggests that the paused 30S PIC presents the mRNA for targeted recognition and degradation. Ribonuclease activity on PIC-bound ompD is critically dependent on the recruitment of RNase E into the multi-enzyme RNA degradosome, and our data suggest a process of substrate capture and handover to catalytic sites within the degradosome, in which sequential steps of seed matching and duplex remodelling contribute to cleavage efficiency. Our findings support a putative mechanism of surveillance at translation that potentially terminates gene expression efficiently and rapidly in response to signals provided by regulatory RNA.

Re-analysis of temperature dependent neutron capture rates and stellar β-decay rates of 95-98Mo

The neutron capture rates and temperature dependent stellar beta decay rates of Mo isotopes are investigated within the framework of the statistical code TALYS v1.96 and the proton neutron quasi particle random phase approximation (pn-QRPA) model. The Maxwellian average cross-section (MACS) and neutron capture rates for the Mo(n,γ) Mo radiative capture process are analyzed within the framework of the statistical code TALYS v1.96 based on the phenomenological nuclear level density model and gamma strength functions. The present model-based computations for the MACS are comparable to the existing measured data. The sensitivity of stellar weak interaction rates to various densities and temperatures is investigated within the framework of the pn-QRPA model. Particular attention is paid to the impact of thermally filled excited states in the decaying nuclei ( Mo) on electron emission and positron capture rates. Furthermore, we compare the neutron capture rates and stellar beta decay rates. It is found that neutron capture rates are higher than stellar beta decay rates at both lower and higher temperatures.

Impact of Sub-Ambient Temperature on Aging Rate and Gas Separation Properties of Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity.

Aging in polymers of intrinsic microporosity has slowed exploitation due to a decay in performance over time since densification makes them unsuitable for industrial applications. This work aimed to study the impact of the operation and storage temperature on the gas separation properties and aging rates of PIM-1 self-standing films. The permeability, diffusivity, and solubility of the tested membranes were monitored through permeation tests for pure carbon dioxide and nitrogen at a maximum upstream pressure of 1.3 bar for temperatures ranging from -20 °C to 25 °C. This study found significant benefits in the operation of glassy polymeric membranes at low temperatures, resulting in a favourable trade-off in separation performance and a reduction in the aging rate by three orders of magnitude. This brings new opportunities for the industrial application of PIMs in innovative carbon capture processes.

Barium stars as tracers of s -process nucleosynthesis in AGB stars III. Systematic deviations from the AGB models

Barium (Ba) stars help to verify asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star nucleosynthesis models since they experienced pollution from an AGB binary companion and thus their spectra carry the signatures of the slow neutron capture process ($s$ process). For a large number (180) of Ba stars, we searched for AGB stellar models that match the observed abundance patterns. We aim to uncover any systematic deviations of the sample abundances from the predictions of the nucleosynthesis models. We employed three machine learning algorithms as classifiers: a Random Forest method, developed for this work, and the two classifiers used in our previous study. Compared to that work, we also expanded our observational sample with 11 Ba stars available in the supersolar metallicity range. We studied the statistical behaviour of the different $s$-process elements in the observational sample to investigate if the AGB models systematically under- or overpredict the abundances observed in the Ba stars and show the results in the form of violin plots of the residuals between spectroscopic abundances and model predictions. We inspected the correlations between the observed Fe/H the $s$-process elemental abundances, and the residuals. We employed the Zr/Fe and Nb/Fe abundances as a thermometer to constrain the operational temperature that rules the production of these elements in the sample stars, assuming a steady-state $s$ process. We also investigated the mass distribution of the identified polluter AGB stars and the behaviour of the delta parameter, which describes the fraction of accreted AGB material relative to the Ba star envelope. We find a significant trend in the residuals that implies an underproduction of the elements just after the first $s$-process peak (Nb, Mo, and Ru) in the models relative to the observations. This may originate from a neutron-capture process (e.g. the intermediate neutron-capture process, $i$ process) not yet included in the AGB models of metallicity from solar to roughly 1/5 solar, corresponding to the range of the Ba stars. Correlations are found between the residuals of these peculiar elements, suggesting a common origin for the deviations from the models. In addition, there is a weak metallicity dependence of the residuals of these elements. The $s$-process temperatures derived with the Zr/Fe Nb/Fe thermometer have an unrealistic value for the majority of our stars. The most likely explanation is that at least a fraction of these elements are not produced in a steady-state $s$ process, and instead may be due to processes not included in the AGB models. The mass distribution of the identified models confirms that our sample of Ba stars was polluted by low-mass AGB stars (< 4 Most of the matching AGB models require low accreted mass, but a few systems with high accreted mass are needed to explain the observations.

Optimization of a combined gas turbine and steam Rankine cycle utilizing the chemical looping combustion (CLC) reactor for CO2 capture and Storage: Towards enhanced efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness

In recent years, CO2 released by fossil fuel power plants, through the process of capture and storage, has been tried to be separated from other combustion products and directed to the underground to prevent it from entering the environment. While various methods exist for this purpose, they are typically expensive and consume a significant amount of power. In this research, a proposed solution to study and optimize the capture and storage process involves a combined cycle power plant with two gas turbines and four steam turbines, equipped with a carbon dioxide capture and storage system using the chemical looping combustion (CLC) method. The storage of released CO2 is facilitated by four compressors operating in four stages. To begin, the developed model is validated in terms of energy, exergy, and economic factors. Subsequently, the system is optimized using an NSGA genetic algorithm, with two objective functions: exergy efficiency and total cost rate. Sensitivity analysis is conducted to define the decision variables. The results demonstrate that the optimization process has led to a 4.37 % increase in the system’s power output, from 379.75 MW to 396.37 MW. Moreover, the optimization has improved both the exergy and energy efficiency values, with these parameters rising from 51.97 % and 54.23 % to 54.24 % and 56.61 %, respectively. Furthermore, the total cost rate has slightly decreased from 46,267 to 46,020 $/hr as a result of system optimization.

Electron capture and excitation in intermediate-energy He2+–H(1s,2s) collisions

Abstract The semiclassical non-perturbative atomic orbital close-coupling approach has been employed to study the electron capture and excitation processes in He2+-H(1s) and He2+-H(2s) collision systems. In order to ensure the accuracy of our calculated cross sections, a large number of high excited states and pseudostates are included in the expansion basis sets which centered on target and projectile, respectively. The total and partial charge transfer and excitation cross sections are obtained for a wide-energy domain ranging from 1 to 200 keV/amu. The present calculations are also compared with the results from other theoretical methods. These cross section data is useful for the investigation of astrophysics and laboratory plasma.

Magnetic nanoparticle‐induced sorbent regeneration for direct air capture

AbstractDirect air capture (DAC) is a promising technology for decarbonization through the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere. In many DAC processes, the regeneration energy used to restore the capture capacity of sorbents accounts for a significant fraction of the energy required by the whole process. Here we report an effective and scalable sorbent regeneration method for liquid DAC solvents based on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) heating with AC magnetic fields. MNPs can be directly heated to provide uniform and rapid volumetric heating, as we demonstrate by promoting the release of captured CO2 from an aqueous solution of potassium sarcosinate. Our results showed that 90% of the solvent can be regenerated within 7.5 min of heating through proposed technique. The MNPs and solvent are found to be stable during the regeneration process and the MNPs showed long‐term stability in the CO2‐saturated solvent. Cyclic experiments showed that the nanoparticles can be reused for multiple cycles without performance deterioration. The process is operated in a noncontact mode through electromagnetic waves, making it an adoptable approach for existing carbon capture systems. The MNPs heating provides an effective regeneration strategy for liquid solvents used in carbon capture processes, in particular for DAC.

Theoretical Study of Electron Capture, Excitation, and Ionization Processes in H+−H(2l) Collisions

The processes of single-electron charge exchange, excitation, and ionization during proton impact on H(2l) are investigated. We employ two different theoretical methods that are suitable for different collision energy regions: the full quantum-mechanical molecular orbital close-coupling method for energies from 0.001 to 1 keV u−1 and the two-center atomic orbital close-coupling (TC-AOCC) method for energies between 0.3 and 100 keV u−1. For charge exchange and excitation processes, the total and nl-resolved cross sections to the final reaction channels of H (nl, n = 1–4) have been obtained over a broad energy region. Moreover, the ionization cross sections in the TC-AOCC calculation are also reported for both H(2s) and H(2p) initial target states. The present results are all compared with those from other sources when available. It is found that the magnitude and energy behavior of nl-resolved excitation cross sections for H+–H(2p) collisions are significantly distinct from those of the H(2s) initial state in the entire energy range considered, particularly in the low-energy region. The energy behaviors of the nl-resolved charge exchange cross sections from the H(2p) initial state are similar to those from the H(2s) initial state, but their magnitudes are larger. The present accurate cross-section data are anticipated to provide insight into the research of astrophysics and controlled fusion plasmas.

Energetic, Exergetic, and Techno-Economic Analysis of A Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Utilization Process via Integrated Torrefaction–CLC–Methanation

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) or utilization (BECCU) allows net zero or negative carbon emissions and can be a breakthrough technology for climate change mitigation. This work consists of an energetic, exergetic, and economic analysis of an integrated process based on chemical looping combustion of solar-torrefied agro-industrial residues, followed by methanation of the concentrated CO2 stream with green H2. Four agro-industrial residues and four Italian site locations are considered. Depending on the considered biomass, the integrated plant processes about 18–93 kg h−1 of raw biomass and produces 55–70 t y−1 of synthetic methane. Global exergetic efficiencies ranged within 45–60% and 67–77% when neglecting and considering, respectively, the valorization of torgas. Sugar beet pulp and grape marc required a non-negligible input exergy flow for the torrefaction, due to the high moisture content of the raw biomasses. However, for these biomasses, the water released during drying/torrefaction and CO2 methanation could be recycled to the electrolyzer to eliminate external water consumption, thus allowing for a more sustainable use of water resources. For olive stones and hemp hurd, this water recycling brings, instead, a reduction of approximately 65% in water needs. A round-trip electric efficiency of 28% was estimated assuming an electric conversion efficiency of 40%. According to the economic analysis, the total plant costs ranged within 3–5 M€ depending on the biomass and site location considered. The levelized cost of methane (LCOM) ranged within 4.3–8.9 € kgCH4−1 but, if implementing strategies to avoid the use of a large temporary H2 storage vessel, can be decreased to 2.6–5.3 € kgCH4−1. Lower values are obtained when considering hemp hurd and grape marc as raw biomasses, and when locating the PV field in the south of Italy. Even in the best scenario, values of LCOM are out of the market if compared to current natural gas prices, but they might become competitive with the introduction of a carbon tax or through government incentives for the purchase of the PV field and/or electrolyzer.