Carbon Capture And Storage Cost Research Articles

Thermodynamic stability and component heterogeneity of CO2/N2 mixed hydrates: Implications for hydrate-based CO2 capture and sequestration

Injecting CO2/N2 into marine sediments to form gas hydrates for CO2 storage is an emerging Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology, holds the potential to significantly reduce the costs of CCS while simultaneously enhancing environmental persistence. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive investigation into the critical parameters and stability evaluations of CO2/N2 mixed hydrates (Mix-H) formation. This study delves into the impact of gas-liquid ratios, pressure–temperature gradients, and hydrate formation degree on the phase equilibrium, formation kinetics, and thermodynamic stability of Mix-H. Experimental findings elucidate the excess water significantly enhances CO2 dissolution, increasing the thermodynamic barrier for Mix-H formation. Consequently, this leads to weakened kinetics and reduced total CO2 composition within the Mix-H (54.2%–96.4%). Raman spectroscopy confirmed varying heterogeneous compositions and thermodynamic stability of hydrate crystals within the bulk Mix-H. The heterogeneity is quantitatively assessed using a novel test – stepwise depressurization, which revealed increased heterogeneity with decreasing initial pressure–temperature as well as increasing gas-liquid ratios and hydrate formation degree. The heterogeneity of Mix-H significantly impacts the CO2 capture efficiency and long–term stability of CO2 sequestration under environmental disturbances. The results also pave the way for evaluating the performance of mixed hydrate applications in hydrate–based chemical engineering and CCS technology.

The moderating effect of emission reduction policies on CCS mitigation efficiency

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a critical decarbonization technology for achieving net-zero emissions. High energy costs currently hinder the application of CCS, whereas carbon emission reduction measures directly alter the energy price and influence the cost and emission reduction potential of CCS. However, few studies have focused on the potential impacts and underlying mechanisms of emission reduction policies on CCS. In this study, we construct a computable general equilibrium model with CCS technology to assess the moderating effect of mitigation policies on CCS, and identify feasible policy portfolios to enhance CCS mitigation efficiency. Taking China as a typical case, the results show that, first, energy efficiency improvement and renewable energy policy contribute to mitigating the negative economic impacts of CCS abatement, and terminal electrification policy can enhance the emission reduction of CCS, whereas none of the three measures can achieve a win-win situation in terms of economic and emission impacts. Second, the moderating effect of mitigation policies on CCS exhibits heterogeneity among CCS deploying industries. Promoting terminal electrification is optimal for the coal power industry to improve CCS mitigation efficiency, while renewable energy development has a larger positive effect on the steel, cement, and chemical industries. Third, the combination of a high-intensity renewable energy policy with low-intensity energy efficiency improvements and terminal electrification policy is optimal for overall mitigation efficiency.

A preliminary assessment of CO2 capture, transport, and storage network for China's steel sector

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has emerged as a promising way for achieving deep decarbonization of China's steel sector. Large-scale CCS deployment necessitates a comprehensive source-sink matching analysis to offer early engineering guidance. To address this issue, this study conducted a source-sink matching analysis of China's steel sector, assessing CO2 sources, CO2 storage capacities and costs, and CO2 pipeline layouts under three capture targets. The findings reveal an obvious spatial mismatch between CO2 sources and potential CO2 sinks for China's steel sector. CO2 sources are mainly situated in eastern China, while main CO2 storage sites are located in western China. The average unit costs of CCS under low (30%), medium (60%), and full capture (90%) targets are 83, 91, and 118 $/t CO2, respectively. In particular, as capture target increases, the CO2 transportation cost will supersede the capture cost and dominate the average CCS unit cost, owing to the construction of longer pipelines. This study recommends prioritizing CCS demonstration with steel plants in regions having suitable CO2 storage basins nearby. Moreover, future investigations should concentrate on on-site experiments of CO2 storage basins and the technology development of offshore carbon storage in China.

The Case for Carbon Capture and Storage Technologies

In this paper, we use the literature to help us better understand carbon capture costs and how these estimates fare against those of avoided costs, focusing on bioenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS), carbon capture and storage (CCS), as well as direct air capture technologies. We approach these questions from a meta-analysis perspective. The analysis uses meta-analysis tools while applying them to numerical rather than statistical studies. Our analysis shows that avoided costs are, on average, 17.4% higher than capture costs and that the carbon intensity of the feedstock matters: the estimates for coal-based electricity generation capture costs are statistically smaller than those for natural gas or air. From a policy perspective, the literature suggests that the costs of CCS are like the 45Q subsidy of USD 50 per metric ton of carbon captured.

Simulation-based assessment of the potential of offshore blue hydrogen production with high CO2 capture rates with optimised heat recovery

Hydrogen is a versatile component and is acknowledged to play an important role in the energy transition. However, hydrogen is predominantly produced from fossil fuels, with natural gas being the most used source. The steam-methane reforming (SMR) is the process used to produce hydrogen from natural gas. Although this process can produce hydrogen relatively cheaply, it is carbon-intensive. If carbon capture and storage (CCS) is applied to the SMR process, clean hydrogen (in this case, labelled as blue hydrogen) is produced. Nevertheless, CCS will add costs to the production process. Despite the capture costs, transport and storage contribute to the overall costs of CCS. Hydrogen could be produced offshore close to a storage site to minimise the overall costs of CCS. This work investigates the production of blue hydrogen with high capture rates (98, 99 and 99.5%). Heat recovery is optimised to provide the required energy for the SMR and capture processes. The cost estimation shows that it is possible to produce blue hydrogen at costs around 2.7 $/kgH2 and a carbon footprint below 0.2 kgCO2/kgH2.

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR ENSURING ENERGY SECURITY OF UKRAINE AND THE WORLD

The article examines the preconditions for the aggravation of the energy danger for Ukraine and the world as a whole, in particular in the context of the strengthening of the economic crisis and war in Ukraine. The issue of compliance by energy organizations with the International Climate Paris Agreement and the achievement of the Global Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 were studied. The component indicators of the global index of energy innovations were analyzed. The main global energy indicators and their results in 2021 compared to 2020 were monitored. The paper also estimates domestic electricity consumption in the world by country in 2021, as well as trends in the growth of global energy consumption in general and by continent in 2021 compared to 2020. The result of such trends was that the consequences of sanitary measures and the economic crisis of 2020 was felt mainly in the sphere of services, transport and carbon-intensive electricity production. The authors considered the key changes in the field of energy in the world in 2021 compared to 2020 and the dynamics of CO2 emissions related to energy in the G20 countries in recent years and based on this justified the forecast of European gas prices and the price of Brent oil to 2026 year. The main characteristics of countries with a high index of global energy innovation were considered. It was found that, for example, the Norwegian government had developed a strategy for carbon capture and storage (CCS), which aimed to identify measures to promote technology development and reduce the costs of CCS. It was found that the main goal of the EU regarding the share of renewable energy sources is 32% of the final energy consumption by 2030. This target was not distributed among the Member States, but the share of renewable energy sources in the Member States should be at least the same as in 2020. In the article, the authors examined the stages of state regulation of the innovation policy of the energy sector of Ukraine and substantiated the place of the energy sector in the national innovation policy of Ukraine. Formation of innovation policy in the energy sector of Ukraine requires definition of the concept and strategic plans of its innovative development. In particular, it was found that one of these priority areas should be renewable energy (wind, solar, etc.). The result of the authors’ scientific research is that the innovative system of the energy sector is a fairly developed network intellectual structure that connects research and design organizations belonging to different sectors of the economy. Using the potential of the positive influence of a number of important global factors should be the basis of the transformation of innovative management of energy industry organizations in Ukraine.

Carbon capture and storage: net zero contribution and cost estimation approaches

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) are a combination of necessary and promising technologies that can help reduce CO2 emissions, which are not used on a large scale due to the high cost of solutions. This article aims to review and analyze carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in terms of their net zero contribution and cost estimates. The study identified a wide range of cost estimation methods that can be applied to CCS projects and revealed such issues as a lack of standardization, limited data, and cost data variability. Still, several common trends were found, including the classification of CCS adopters into low-cost and high-cost industries, cost estimation by CCS step (capture, transportation, storage) and industry (power generation, other sectors), and calculation of relative indices to make comparisons with other decarbonization options. The results of the study can serve as a foundation for developing approaches to estimating the costs of CCS in Russia, which are necessary for planning government support measures and involving businesses in the implementation of these initiatives.

Is Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Really So Expensive? An Analysis of Cascading Costs and CO2 Emissions Reduction of Industrial CCS Implementation on the Construction of a Bridge.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an essential technology to mitigate global CO2 emissions from power and industry sectors. Despite the increasing recognition of its importance to achieve the net-zero target, current CCS deployment is far behind targeted ambitions. A key reason is that CCS is often perceived as too expensive. The costs of CCS have however traditionally been looked at from the industrial plant perspective, which does not necessarily reflect the end user's one. This paper addresses the incomplete view by investigating the impact of implementing CCS in industrial facilities on the overall costs and CO2 emissions of end-user products and services. As an example, we examine the extent to which an increase in costs of raw materials (cement and steel) due to CCS impacts the costs of building a bridge. Results show that although CCS significantly increases cement and steel costs, the subsequent increment in the overall bridge construction cost remains marginal (∼1%). This 1% cost increase, however, enables a deep reduction in CO2 emissions (∼51%) associated with the bridge construction. Although more research is needed in this area, this work is the first step to a better understanding of the real cost and benefits of CCS.

Multi-lateral horizontal well with dual-tubing system to improve CO2 storage security and reduce CCS cost

This paper proposes a multi-lateral horizontal well with a dual-tubing (MLHW-DT) system to improve CO2 storage security and reduce the cost of carbon capture and storage (CCS) at a saline aquifer. In CCS, the production and re-injection of brine are efficient methods of relieving overpressure and improving the CO2 storage security simultaneously. In our previous study, a horizontal well with a dual-tubing (HW-DT) system operating on an onshore platform reduced CCS cost. In this study, the proposed MLHW-DT system is designed to implement the concept of the re-injection of produced brine to improve CO2 storage security while supplementing the shortcomings of the conventional brine production system by reducing CCS cost. When we vary the vertical-horizontal permeability ratio and dip angle of a saline aquifer, the CO2 storage security of the MLHW-DT system is improved compared with that of the overall HW-DT system because the re-injected brine induces the CO2 plume migration in the lateral direction. Furthermore, the CCS cost of the MLHW-DT system is reduced by 69.4% compared with that of the conventional brine production system if the MLHW is operated on an onshore platform. Based on these results, the MLHW-DT is a safe and economical operation system for a CCS project.

Perspective for China's carbon capture and storage under the Paris agreement climate pledges

Enhancing the warm-limiting targets to from below 2 °C to 1.5 °C is of great significance for climate change mitigation, during which the carbon capture and storage (CCS) of China is playing an important role. By framing a multi-model analysis to compare IAMs, this study aims to explore how China can contribute to the global 1.5 °C target, consistent with achieving its carbon neutrality goal. Our multi-model assessment shows that the enhanced targets will advance the reach time of China's carbon peak and neutrality. Under a relatively smooth emission path curve with CCS, China's carbon emissions will decrease sharply by the end of this century. It is estimated that China's negative carbon emissions will contribute nearly one-fifth of the global negative emissions in 2100, with its CCS-captured emissions accounting for 14%. In the energy system, fossil- and biomass-CCS will develop rapidly, with the proportion of biomass with CCS dramatically increasing to 29% and 17% under the 1.5 °C and 2 °C scenarios, respectively. There will be a relatively large gap between the capital and final use costs of CCS, which may weaken the technical advantage when competing with renewables during the life cycle. While the overall control of the energy consumption in the later period will rely more on the proportional adjustment and the coordination between biomass with CCS and clean energy.

Carbon Capture and Storage: History and the Road Ahead

The large-scale deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) is becoming increasingly urgent in the global path toward net zero emissions; however, global CCS deployment is significantly lagging behind its expected contribution to greenhouse gas emission reduction. Reviewing and learning from the examples and history of successful CCS practices in advanced countries will help other countries, including China, to promote and deploy CCS projects using scientific methods. This paper shows that the establishment of major science and technology CCS infrastructures in advanced countries has become the main source of CCS technological innovation, cost reduction, risk reduction, commercial promotion, and talent training in the development and demonstration of key CCS technologies. Sound development of CCS requires a transition from pilot-scale science and technology infrastructures to large-scale commercial infrastructures, in addition to incentive policies; otherwise, it will be difficult to overcome the technical barriers between small-scale demonstrations and the implementation of million-tonne-scale CCS and ten-million-tonne-scale CCS hubs. Geological CO 2 storage is the ultimate goal of CCS projects and the driving force of CO 2 capture. Further improving the accuracy of technologies for the measurement, monitoring, and verification (MMV) of CO 2 storage capacity, emission reduction, and safety remains a problem for geological storage. CO 2 storage in saline aquifers can better couple multiple carbon emission sources and is currently a priority direction for development. Reducing the energy consumption of low-concentration CO 2 capture and the depletion of chemical absorbents and improving the operational efficiency and stability of post-combustion CO 2 capture systems have become the key constraints to large-scale CCS deployment. Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is also important in order for countries to maximize fossil fuel extraction instead of importing oil from less environmentally friendly oil-producing countries.

Economic impacts of carbon capture and storage on the steel industry–A hybrid energy system model incorporating technological change

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cannot be mitigated using other reduction options. However, the high cost of CCS raises doubts about its economic feasibility. This study analyzes CCS cost reduction and its macroeconomic effects and shows that CCS can be economically feasible in the long term. This study incorporates technology learning into a hybrid energy system model and investigates its impact on the economic feasibility of CCS in the Korean steel industry. The hybrid model integrates a bottom-up energy system model and a computable general equilibrium model and overcomes the limitations of employing independent models in exploring technology learning. According to the model, in 2050, the CCS unit cost decreases by 64% when the learning rate is 20%. Due to this cost reduction, the steel industry’s additional capital and labor costs resulting from CCS adoption decrease by 60%. Moreover, although CCS adoption and diffusion reduce steel production, 60% of this production loss can be mitigated by CCS cost reduction. The cost reduction also helps to reduce the GDP loss resulting from CCS adoption by 0.3 %p.

Integration of supply chain management of hybrid biomass power plant with carbon capture and storage operation

Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) is thought to be one of the most important technologies to realize the deep carbon emission reduction. An integrated model that combines biomass inventory management and carbon capture and storage (CCS) construction is built to analyze the operation management of BECCS plants. Biomass supply level and structure, operation costs, warehousing scale, and application restrictions are considered in the inventory management. The operation costs, learning effects, investment path, and capture efficiency of CCS are considered in the process of CCS construction. These two processes are integrated to maximize the total profit for biomass power plants under inter-temporal conditions. Jiangsu Province is selected for numerical simulation. The results show that the supply level of biomass has a great influence on the results, and the corresponding CCS technology needs to fully consider this factor for expansion. In addition, under strict carbon emission constraints, to avoid the high cost of CCS, policymakers are more inclined to achieve emission reduction targets by reducing power generation levels. Therefore, appropriate policy subsidies are needed to ensure the development of BECCS at this time.

‘Clean’ hydrogen? – Comparing the emissions and costs of fossil fuel versus renewable electricity based hydrogen

Hydrogen produced using fossil fuel feedstocks causes greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, even when carbon capture and storage (CCS) is used. By contrast, hydrogen produced using electrolysis and zero-emissions electricity does not create GHG emissions. Several countries advocating the use of ‘clean’ hydrogen put both technologies in the same category. Recent studies and strategies have compared these technologies, typically assuming high carbon capture rates, but have not assessed the impact of fugitive emissions and lower capture rates on total emissions and costs. We find that emissions from gas or coal based hydrogen production systems could be substantial even with CCS, and the cost of CCS is higher than often assumed. Carbon avoidance costs for high capture rates are notable. Carbon prices of $22–46/tCO2e would be required to make hydrogen from fossil fuels with CCS competitive with hydrogen produced from fossil fuels without CCS. At the same time there are indications that electrolysis with renewable energy could become cheaper than fossil fuel with CCS options, possibly in the near-term future. Establishing hydrogen supply chains on the basis of fossil fuels, as many national strategies foresee, may be incompatible with decarbonisation objectives and raise the risk of stranded assets.

Studies on pathways to carbon neutrality for indirect coal liquefaction in China

Abstract The production capacity of indirect coal liquefaction (ICL) in use in China has reached a level of 8 million t/a, which corresponds to a carbon footprint of >60 million t/a. ICL is facing mountainous pressure to reduce its carbon emissions when its development is planned with carbon neutrality as a background objective. This paper studies the pathways that can lead to carbon neutrality for ICL in China, constructing four carbon-neutral pathways for ICL systems with the introduction of green hydrogen, biomass as feedstock and with CCS (carbon capture and storage), which can reduce significant carbon emissions from coal-gasification and water–gas shift processes. The carbon-neutral biomass is used to replace some coal as co-feed to gasification and combustion, leading to reduced carbon emissions as well. Calculations and economic analyses are performed on different carbon-reduction pathways using a carbon-neutral ICL system on a 1 million t/a scale as an example. The results are that the pathway of direct coal substitution with biomass is the lowest carbon-reduction route at RMB 31~125/t CO2, substitution with green hydrogen costs the highest at RMB 84~422/t CO2 and CCS costs are in the middle at RMB 96~148/t CO2. Each pathway has its pros and cons, and a combination of the three may be used for the best outcome. Furthermore, a comprehensive study and systematic summation of the critical technological processes and their underlying challenges for carbon-neutral ICL together with direction for a technological breakthrough are presented. These ICL carbon-reduction pathways presented in this paper are capable of realizing an integrated development between fossil and renewable energy sources, helping the carbon-intense coal-chemical industries to achieve their goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality.

Total cost of carbon capture and storage implemented at a regional scale: northeastern and midwestern United States.

We model the costs of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in subsurface geological formations for emissions from 138 northeastern and midwestern electricity-generating power plants. The analysis suggests coal-sourced CO2 emissions can be stored in this region at a cost of $52-$60 ton-1, whereas the cost to store emission from natural-gas-fired plants ranges from approximately $80 to $90. Storing emissions offshore increases the lowest total costs of CCS to over $60 per ton of CO2 for coal. Because there apparently is sufficient onshore storage in the northeastern and midwestern United States, offshore storage is not necessary or economical unless there are additional costs or suitability issues associated with the onshore reservoirs. For example, if formation pressures are prohibitive in a large-scale deployment of onshore CCS, or if there is opposition to onshore storage, offshore storage space could probably store emissions at an additional cost of less than $10 ton-1. Finally, it is likely that more than 8 Gt of total CO2 emissions from this region can be stored for less $60 ton-1, slightly more than the $50 ton-1 Section 45Q tax credits incentivizing CCS.

Cost Analysis of Carbon Capture and Sequestration of Process Emissions from the U.S. Industrial Sector

The industrial sector represents roughly 22% of U.S. emissions. Unlike emissions from fossil-fueled power plants, the carbon footprint of the industrial sector represents a complex mixture of stationary combustion and process emissions produced as a reaction byproduct of cement, iron and steel, glass, and oil production. This study quantifies the potential opportunities for low-cost carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) scenarios with process emissions from the U.S. industrial sector by analyzing the variabilities in point-source capture and geographic proximity to relevant sinks, specifically enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and geologic sequestration opportunities. Using a technology-agnostic cost model developed from mature CO2 capture technologies, costs of CCS are calculated for each of the 656 facilities considered, with application of the U.S. federal tax credit 45Q to qualifying facilities. Capture of these targeted industrial process emission streams leads to the avoidance of 195 MtCO2/yr (188 MtCO2/yr qualifying for 45Q). Further, 123 facilities have the potential to avoid roughly 68.5 MtCO2/yr at costs below $40/tCO2 delivered. This could be competitive for using CO2 for EOR depending on the price of oil. At regional CO2 collection hubs, emissions of 40 MtCO2/yr can be avoided within 100 miles of the existing Louisiana-Mississippi and Texas-New Mexico pipelines.

Analyzing Regulatory Framework for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Technology Development: A case study approach


 
 
 
 Aim: This article provides insight into the portfolio of regulations advancing Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) deployment. Using a taxonomy of policy portfolio tools adapted for regulations specific to CCS, this research identifies regulatory gaps as well as supports for CCS projects.
 Design / Research methods: Through a case study approach, this article analyzes the regulatory provisions in six jurisdictions (Texas, North Dakota, the U.S, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Canada) which have a successful CCS facility. Analyzing the provisions and content of regulations in these jurisdictions, this article highlights regulatory supports or areas of gaps for CCS projects in each jurisdiction.
 Conclusions / findings: There is no uniform definition or categorization of CO2 as a hazard, waste, pollutant or commodity across jurisdictions. This has serious impact on CO2 transport, especially across jurisdictions. It also impacts the administration of storage systems for CCS facilities. Regulations focusing primarily on technical aspects of CCS including capture, transport, and liability predominate while there are less regulatory provisions for the financial aspects of CCS technology as well as public engagement and support. While capital grants and emission and tax credits are the predominant financial issues covered in regulations, contract for differences, streamlining emission trading across borders and enhancing cooperation and multilevel engagement in CCS warrant more attention.
 Originality / value of the article: Many scenarios to maintain global warming below 2 degrees Celsius require combinations of new technology including CCS. The focus on CCS cost as a barrier to deployment overshadows the needs for regulatory support as a means of reducing uncertainties and de-risking CCS investments.
 
 
 
 
 

EVALUATING CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE IN A CLIMATE MODEL WITH ENDOGENOUS TECHNICAL CHANGE

We assess the extent to which Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and R&D on this abatement technology are part of a socially efficient solution to the problem of climate change. For this purpose, we extend the intertemporal model of climate and directed technical change developed by Acemoglu et al. (2012) [The environment and directed technical change. American Economic Review, 102(1), 131–166] to include a sector responsible for CCS. We show that two types of solutions exist: a renewable energy regime where current CCS technology is only temporarily used but never further developed; and a fossil energy regime where CCS is part of a long-term solution and is further developed at about the same rate as fossil energy technology. Our computations show that for current estimates of the marginal cost of CCS, the renewable energy regime clearly dominates the fossil fuel energy regime.

Feasible roadmap for CCS retrofit of coal-based power plants to reduce Chinese carbon emissions by 2050

In the medium to long term, China must conduct deep emission reduction actions to transform the country’s economy and meet the conditions of the Paris Agreement. As an advanced emission reduction technology, carbon capture and storage (CCS) is undoubtedly an important means of achieving this goal. China must consider how to retrofit existing thermal power plants to install CCS technology. Thus, the expected future roadmap for power plants with CO2 capture is of significant interest. To achieve this aim, we propose a new CCS project investment model, which helps design the CCS development roadmap for achieving the emission targets for 2050. Reductions in the cost of technologies as a result of learning-by-doing is considered to enrich the model to describe the reality more sensibly. Through some mathematical skills, we transform the original continuous problem into a nonlinear integer programming problem. By solving the model, we are trying to answer questions about when to adopt CCS technology and the cost. The results reveal that early large-scale CCS demonstrations are not necessary. The peak investment period of CCS is around 2035. Operating costs account for 80% of the overall cost of CCS, and thus, policymakers must fully motivate the development and investment of operating technologies, especially capture technologies. The results also show that when the scale of CCS technology is promoted, flexible installation levels can be considered to improve efficiency and reduce costs.