CCUS Technology Research Articles

Current hydrogen production methods and their economic and environmental analysis

As global temperatures continue to rise due to the extensive use of fossil energy sources, concerns about the environment continue to deepen. Accelerating the energy transition is a major trend, and countries are continuously increasing the proportion of clean energy in the energy supply. Hydrogen energy is one of the most promising clean energy sources and a hot research topic in various countries. Hydrogen production is a key step in the use of hydrogen energy, this paper focuses on the current mainstream hydrogen production methods including electrolysis of water, solar decomposition of water, biomass hydrogen production, nuclear technology, steam methane reforming, coal gasification, methane pyrolysis, etc. And the economic and environmental benefits of each method. According to studies, the mainstream method of producing hydrogen today involves burning fossil fuels, and more recent methods—like the electrolysis of water—need a lot more testing and development before they can be used extensively. The implementation of CCS or CCUS technology can considerably lower the carbon emissions of the hydrogen production process when it comes to hydrogen produced from fossil fuels, but doing so will result in higher energy costs and hydrogen production costs. This paper is expected to support future research directions and help governmental decision-making in the energy transition.

Study on properties and CO2 emission of self-pulverizing calcium sulfoaluminate (SPCSA) after carbonization curing

The extensive use of Portland cement (OPC) has resulted in a steady rise in CO2 emissions from the construction industry, posing a significant climate threat. While adopting low-carbon cement enriched with belite minerals holds promise for substantial CO2 emission reduction in the cement industry, the limited early hydration activity of C2S constrains its engineering applications. Carbon capture, storage, and utilization (CCUS) technology, capable of rapidly developing the strength of C2S, opens up a new avenue for utilizing low-carbon cement. This study evaluated the properties of self-powdering calcium sulfoaluminate (SPCSA) cements with different C2S contents, and the carbon emissions during production and application were analyzed. The samples' carbonation area, compressive strength, and capillary water absorption properties were tested. The carbonation products and pore structures were also characterized using XRD, TGA, SEM, and Low-NMR. The results show that when the molar ratio of C4A3S̅ to C2S is 1:12 (S̅12), the compressive strength and CO2 sequestration of SPCSA are 69.78 MPa and 0.15 g/g, respectively. When CCUS technology is adopted, the CO2 emission during the production and application of SPCSA is 585.78 kg/t, much lower than that of OPC of 878.28 kg/t. This is significant as a reference for realizing carbon neutrality in the cement industry.

Synthetic natural gas (SNG) production by biomass gasification with CO2 capture: Techno-economic and life cycle analysis (LCA)

The integration of renewables with CCUS technologies has the promising potential to deliver energy applications with overall negative CO2 emissions which would significantly contribute to the climate neutrality. Moreover, the renewable-based synthetic fuels are predicted to replace the conventional fossil fuels. The current work evaluates key techno-economic and environmental indicators for the SNG production from various renewable fuels (e.g., sawdust, residual wood, organic wastes, agricultural and urban wastes etc.) through gasification process fitted with decarbonization capability. The investigated plant capacity was set to 500 MWth SNG with 60 % CO2 capture rate of primary fuel (biomass). The overall concept was evaluated using various process engineering approaches e.g., reactor & process modelling and simulation, model validation, heat and power analysis, techno-economic assessment combined with detailed environmental impact by Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). The investigated design shows promising performance indicators such as high cumulative energy efficiency (69 %) and carbon conversion to SNG, almost zero plant specific CO2 emissions (3 kg/MWh) and overall negative carbon emissions (−457 kg/MWh) from the whole biomass chain. The SNG production cost is not yet fully competitive versus the EU natural gas prices (53 vs. 30–35 €/MWh) but it shows promising potential considering the trends of increasing fossil prices and CO2 emission tax.

Contestation in social acceptance of direct air capture (DAC) technologies in Korea by differing framings over governance principles

Recently, DAC technologies have been recognized as a viable innovation in Korea’s mitigation efforts. In 2023, while formulating a specific implementation plan to meet the national mitigation target in Korea’s 2030 nationally determined contribution (NDC), the government considered setting a separate mitigation target for DAC technologies alongside the existing target for carbon capture, storage, and utilization (CCUS) technologies. During government-wide meetings, a clear divide emerged between supporters and opponents. Despite strong demand from supporters, the final national implementation plan did not include a mitigation target for DAC technologies. Focusing on this contestation, this paper explores why setting a separate target for DAC technologies was contested and not accepted at the policy-drafting stage. From the theoretical ground of social acceptance of new and innovative technologies, this paper utilizes four governance principles as social norms with which stakeholders understand and interpret DAC technologies, and analyzes differing framings on DAC technologies. Research results show that dominant framing approaches, hindering the establishment of a DAC technology-specific mitigation target, are i) risks of considering short-term and binding targets in commensurate with long-term targets through DAC technologies, ii) the uncertainty of mitigation potentials by technologically and methodologically under-developed DAC technologies, and iii) the inefficiency of financial investment for DAC technologies. This paper concludes with policy recommendations, emphasizing the need to establish binding short- and mid-term targets in alignment with the 2050 long-term target, government support for technology demonstrations, methodological assistance for leveraging carbon markets, and a redefinition of the relationship between CCUS and DAC technologies.

Construction Path of "Zero Carbon" Power Plant Based on the LEAP Model

As the power industry is the primary carbon emission industry, the research on the construction path of "zero-carbon" power plants against the background of the "dual-carbon" goal must be strengthened. Considering a state-owned power generation enterprise as an example, based on the carbon emissions of the power plant in recent years, the LEAP model was constructed by combining its energy structure and geographical and climatic conditions and the baseline, energy structure adjustment, technological progress, and comprehensive scenarios were set up. The energy consumption demand under each scenario was analyzed and the future carbon emissions under each scenario were predicted. The results showed that in 2060, the total carbon emissions from the power generation sector under the technological progress and energy structure adjustment scenarios decrease by 54.55% and 75.97% compared with those in the baseline scenario, respectively, which demonstrated the large potential for carbon emission reduction from clean energy substitution and that the flexibility transformation of thermal power units and the upgrading and replacement of ultra-supercritical generating units could reduce coal consumption and decrease carbon emissions, whereas the development of CCUS technology was significant, and the construction of CCUS projects was a necessary condition for realizing carbon neutrality of power plants while retaining a certain scale of thermal power generation. Under a comprehensive scenario, "zero carbon" emissions from power plants could be realized around 2056. The results of the study provide ideas for the construction of "zero carbon" power plants.

Comprehensive evaluation of CCUS technology: A case study of China's first million-tonne CCUS-EOR project

CCUS, an emerging technology for reducing carbon emission, plays a crucial role in achieving the goal of carbon neutrality. CCUS technology exemplified by CO2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is gradually progressing from project demonstration to large-scale application. However, the commercial application still faces uncertainties in economic cost, energy efficiency and environmental benefits. This paper takes China's first million-tonne CCUS-EOR project (Qilu Petrochemical-Shengli Oilfield CCUS-EOR project) as an example, and establishes a comprehensive research framework for evaluating CCUS from the three dimensions of energy, environment, and economy, based on economic viability, energy input-output analysis, and carbon input-output analysis. The results demonstrate that during the project lifecycle, when the average oil price is $90/bbl, the project's NPV is $56.09 million, the project's IRR is 13.4 %, the payback period is 8.34 years, and the threshold oil price for the project to be economically profitable is $81.52/bbl. Furthermore, the Energy Return on Investment (EROI) of the project is 9.09, which considerably superior to that of the Shengli Oilfield's non-EOR, and the net energy output is approximately 18,472.57 kilobarrels. The Carbon Return on Investment (CROI) of the project is 4.12, with significant environmental benefits, and the cumulative net carbon emission reduction is approximately 8078.55 kilotonnes. Furthermore, the trends in EROI and CROI of the CCUS-EOR project demonstrate nearly opposite trajectories. The variation trends in EROI emerge N-shaped curve, while that of CROI emerge S-shaped curve. In summary, the Qilu Petrochemical-Shengli Oilfield CCUS-EOR project exhibits notable advantages in terms of energy efficiency and environmental benefits. However, the threshold oil price for triggering economic profitability is relatively high, which may pose certain economic risks to investors during periods of low oil price.

Techno-economic feasibility of CO2 utilization for production of green urea by Indian cement industries

The cement industry contributes substantially to global carbon emissions, necessitating urgent adoption of mitigation pathways aligned with climate goals. This study investigates the technical and economic viability of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from cement plants in India and using that captured CO2 to produce green urea. The research aims to determine the feasibility of the CCUS approach as a practical way to reduce CO2 emissions from cement production while also boosting India's self-sufficiency in producing urea, a crucial fertilizer. The research uses a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) framework to assess various factors, including the technological readiness of CCUS technologies, the capital and operating costs of setting up and running such a system, the market demand for green urea, and the potential reduction in CO2 emissions. The study focused on 32 major cement plants in India, using data from their annual reports to inform the MCA model with an assumption of a post-combustion Monoethanolamine (MEA) scrubbing capacity CO2 capture capacity of 0.5 million tonnes per year per plant and used existing data and modeling techniques to analyze the feasibility of converting the captured CO2 into urea. The key findings indicate that this approach is promising and projects a 12.4% reduction in CO2 emissions from the cement industry if these 32 plants implement the CCUS technology. Additionally, it highlights a favorable market for the green urea produced, with an estimated output of 21.82 million tonnes per year, enough to offset a significant portion of India's reliance on urea imports. Financially, the study projects a six-year payback period and a 16.7% return on investment. It concludes that implementing CCUS technology to create green urea in Indian cement plants is technically and economically feasible. The approach has the potential to significantly reduce CO2 emissions while also supporting India's goal of self-sufficiency in urea production. However, further investigation and pilot-scale projects are recommended to validate the model's findings and optimize various aspects, such as managing flue gas impurities and leveraging waste heat for energy efficiency.

Forecast of innovative activity in key areas of energy transition technologies based on analysis of patent activity

Energy transition technologies aimed at increasing energy efficiency are a tool for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit the increase in average annual temperature. To increase the efficiency of implementation of these technologies, it is necessary to forecast innovative activity in the areas of hydrogen energy, CCUS and information technology based on taking into account key influencing factors, the contribution of sectors of the classical fuel and energy complex and the level of mutual influence of countries. Based on the analysis, a forecast was made to increase the share of the sector of international vertically integrated oil companies (VIOCs) in the total number of patents in the field of hydrogen energy by 2.5% points. and an increase in the share of the national vertically integrated oil company sector in the area of CCUS technologies by 10% points. by 2027. It has been determined that the innovative activity of the electricity and coal industry sectors in energy transition technologies is most resistant to the influence of external geopolitical and infrastructural crises. The market for CCUS technologies is currently more susceptible to the effects of international cooperation than the market for hydrogen energy technologies. The authors show that a decrease in the level of international integration by 25% points. over the past 5 years has led to a decrease in innovative activity in energy transition technologies by 15% points. In order to identify international barriers to the introduction of technologies, the authors provide a comparative analysis of the level of mutual influence of countries within the framework of international economic associations using the examples of the SCO, BRICS, and MERCOSUR. The highest level of mutual influence was identified within the framework of SCO interaction. According to the analysis, the entry of new countries into BRICS in 2024 will lead to a decrease in the integral level of innovation activity by 30% points. from the current value and strength of mutual influence of countries by 50% points. Taking into account the identified positive relationship between revenue and innovative activity in the area of information technology, it is recommended to direct investments primarily in favor of Industry 4.0 solutions.

Energy transition strategies in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries

During the last two decades, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have seen their population, economies and energy production growing steeply with a substantial increase in Gross Domestic Product. As a result of this growth, GCC consumption-based carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions increased from 540.79 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MtCO2) in 2003 to 1090.93 MtCO2 in 2020. The assumptions and strategies that have driven energy production in the past are now being recast to achieve a more sustainable economic development. The aim of this study is to review and analyze ongoing energy transition strategies that characterize this change to identify challenges and opportunities for bolstering the effectiveness of current strategic orientations. The ensuing analysis shows that since COP26, GCC countries have been pursuing a transition away from carbon-based energy policies largely characterized by the adoption of solar PV with other emerging technologies including energy storage, carbon capture, and hydrogen generation and storage. While as of 2022 renewable energy adoption in the GCC only represented 0.15 % of global installed capacity, GCC countries are making strong efforts to achieve their declared 2030 energy targets that average about 26 % with peaks of 50 % in Saudi Arabia and 30 % in the UAE and Oman. With reference to solar energy, plans are afoot to add 42.1 GW of solar photovoltaics and concentrated solar power which will increase 8-fold the current installed renewable capacity (5.1 GW). At the same time, oil and gas production rates remain stable and fossil fuel subsidies have grown in the last few years. Also, there is a marked preference for the deployment of CCUS and utility-scale solar energy technology vs. distributed solar energy, energy efficiency and nature-based solutions. The pursuit of energy transition in the GCC will require increased efforts in the latter and other overlooked strategic endeavors to achieve a more balanced portfolio of sustainable energy solutions, with stronger emphasis on energy efficiency (as long as rebound effects are mitigated) and nature-based solutions. Increased efforts are also needed in promoting governance practices aimed to institutionalize regulatory frameworks, incentives, and cooperation activities that promote the reduction of fossil fuel subsidies and the transition away from fossil fuels.

CCUS Perspectives: Assessing Historical Contexts, Current Realities, and Future Prospects

CCUS technologies are crucial solutions for mitigating climate change by reducing CO2 emissions from industrial operations and energy sectors. This review critically examines the current state of CCUS technologies, and highlights advancements, challenges, regulatory frameworks, and future directions. It comprehensively analyzes carbon capture methods, such as pre-combustion, post-combustion, and oxy-fuel combustion capture, while comparing their efficiencies and limitations. The review also explores carbon utilization techniques, such as direct and indirect utilization, emphasizing their potential applications and technological constraints. Additionally, it assesses various carbon storage methods, focusing on geological, ocean, and mineralization storage, and discusses their capacity, feasibility, and environmental implications. The study reviews the policy and regulatory frameworks, economic viability, market trends, and environmental sustainability of CCUS. By identifying research gaps and recommending future research priorities, this review aims to guide the development of more efficient/effective, and cost-effective CCUS technology, ensuring their role in a sustaining low-carbon future. This review provides a forward-looking perspective, a critical and interdisciplinary analysis that assesses the current state of CCUS technologies, and further provides a roadmap for future development.

Carbon Capture and Utilization Projects Run by Oil and Gas Companies: A Case Study from Russia

As oil and gas companies are one of the major greenhouse gas emitters, they face increasing responsibility to address climate challenges. This highlights the necessity of integrating decarbonization options into their operations to meet global climate objectives. While progress in technologies for capturing, utilizing, and storing CO2 (CCUS technologies) is often attributed to oil and gas companies, CCUS projects in the sector predominantly focus on carbon storage, namely CO2 injection for enhanced oil recovery, which presents limited possibilities. Meanwhile, carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies offer a promising avenue for producing valuable products from CO2, a potential that has been underexplored in theory and practice within the oil and gas sector. This study analyzes the development of the full CCU cycle by oil and gas companies, assessing the economic viability of such projects. It includes a content analysis of research materials on CCU deployment and a case study modeling the economic viability of producing methanol from CO2 in Russia. The findings indicate that the estimated minimum price for CO2-based methanol to achieve project payback is USD 1128 per ton, compared to approximately USD 400 per ton for traditional methanol. This price gap underscores the need to foster the development of low-carbon technologies, markets, and measures to support these projects. In the domain of CCU projects, cost-reduction measures could be more applicable, while regulatory measures, such as carbon taxes, currently have a limited impact on the economic viability of these projects.

Research on the Development and Policy Evolution of CCUS Industry at Home and Abroad

CCUS is internationally recognized as one of the three major pathways to achieve carbon neutrality goals. It is an important choice for realizing zero emissions from large-scale fossil energy utilization and a feasible technological solution to offset carbon emissions in industries such as power, steel, and cement where emissions reductions are challenging. Systematic analysis of the development and policy evolution of the CCUS industry at home and abroad can provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for China's energy transition and development under the background of carbon emission peaking and achieving carbon neutrality. Guided by the strategic goals of national energy security, carbon emission peaking, and achieving carbon neutrality, this study aims to analyze the global development process and stage characteristics of the CCUS industry, investigate the supporting policies in the CCUS field and their evolution patterns, summarize the current status and trends of the CCUS industry at home and abroad, and provide reference for the implementation of national energy green and low-carbon transformation and the construction of a new energy system. In terms of industry, European and American countries emphasize national-level technological guidance and macro-control. The United States has introduced the progressive 45Q tax credit policy, and the European Union has included CCUS in its carbon trading system. The US National Carbon Capture Center provides a testing environment and facilities for CCUS technology research and development, and has established a carbon dioxide industry cluster and transportation hub. In terms of policies, tax credits and carbon trading policies in Europe and America have attracted various types of capital investment, establishing a relatively complete legal framework system. These regions have been leading in CCUS technology research and deployment, holding dominant positions and decision-making power in mainstream international CCUS organizations such as the CSLF, IEA, GCCSI, and OGCI. This study benchmarks the forward-looking and strategic development status of the CCUS industry at home and abroad, elucidates the challenges facing CCUS industry development, and proposes future trends and policy support needs for the CCUS industry. The research reveals that Europe and America emphasize national-level technological guidance and macro-control, focusing on the construction of regional industrial networks and having established a relatively complete legal and regulatory framework system. Compared to other countries, China needs to establish national-level guidance on CCUS development, regional carbon dioxide capture and transportation networks, and enact specific laws, regulations, and technical standards for CCUS.

Unveiling the evolution and future prospects: A comprehensive review of low-carbon transition in the coal power industry

Transitioning to low-carbon coal power plants is critical in addressing climate change, given the significant contribution of coal-fired power generation to global CO2 emissions. Our understanding of the low-carbon transition in the coal power sector has significantly advanced in recent decades. However, the sector's transition remains contentious due to methodological disparities, inconsistent datasets, and varying assumptions across existing studies, which pose challenges for predicting future research trajectories and actions. To address this issue, we developed a Document-based Information Mining and Statistical Analysis Method, conducting a comprehensive review, bibliometric analysis, and comparative study of 1905 journal articles and 14 databases sourced from international authorities. Our quantitative analysis reveals a notable upswing in publications and international collaborative efforts in coal power transition research, with average growth rates of 8.6%, 9.3%, and 3.7% for authors, countries, and institutions, respectively. These studies depict diverse transition trajectories, projecting global and Chinese coal power capacities ranging from 58-927 GW and 0-395 GW in 2050, driven by six key uncertainties such as carbon budgets and energy demand variations, and advancements in CCUS and renewable technologies. We categorized 44 major coal-dependent countries into three groups based on their engagement with coal power transition research, identified three potential transition patterns aligned with temperature control goals, and outlined four distinct research stages in the evolution of coal power transition. Drawing from these insights, we conclude with valuable perspectives on the expansion of international collaboration, reduction of transition uncertainty, focus for future research, and mitigation of transition risks.

The Current Status and Future Prospects of Carbon Capture, Carbon Transportation, And Carbon Utilization Technologies in Chinese Coal-Fired Power Plants Within the Context of Dual Carbon Goals

Carbon dioxide capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) constitute vital measures for achieving net emissions reduction in China. Against the backdrop of the “dual carbon” initiative in China, this paper meticulously examines and analyzes the key technological principles, merits and demerits, and bottlenecks associated with CCUS carbon capture in the country’s thermal power plants at the current stage. It combines the prevailing industrial application status and the future development trajectory of pertinent technologies with considerations of industrial economic benefits and business models. Building upon this analysis, the paper summarizes the application status of CCUS technology in China’s thermal power plant industry and presents future prospects. On the technological front, the three capture methods grapple with the challenge of high costs. Therefore, there is a need to intensify efforts in developing low-cost and efficient carbon capture materials, as well as researching and practically applying low-cost oxygen generation technology. Economically, CCUS technology currently faces high costs, low returns, and certain commercial barriers, placing China in a demonstrative business model stage. To overcome these challenges and realize the economic benefits of CCUS technology, government incentives and technological innovation are imperative. These measures aim to reduce the overall cost of CCUS technology, stimulate the scale development, and foster commercialization, ultimately contributing to the achievement of China’s carbon emission reduction targets.

Assessment of Hydrogen Energy Industry Chain Based on Hydrogen Production Methods, Storage, and Utilization

To reach climate neutrality by 2050, a goal that the European Union set itself, it is necessary to change and modify the whole EU’s energy system through deep decarbonization and reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions. The study presents a current insight into the global energy-transition pathway based on the hydrogen energy industry chain. The paper provides a critical analysis of the role of clean hydrogen based on renewable energy sources (green hydrogen) and fossil-fuels-based hydrogen (blue hydrogen) in the development of a new hydrogen-based economy and the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions. The actual status, costs, future directions, and recommendations for low-carbon hydrogen development and commercial deployment are addressed. Additionally, the integration of hydrogen production with CCUS technologies is presented.

LEAP model-based analysis to low-carbon transformation path in the power sector: a case study of Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area

As a major carbon emitter, the power sector plays a crucial role in realizing the goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. This study constructed a low-carbon power system based on the LEAP model (LEAP-GBA) with 2020 as a statistic base aiming of exploring the low-carbon transformation pathway of the power sector in the Guangdong–Hong Kong, and Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Five scenarios are set up to simulate the demand, power generation structure, carbon emissions, and power generation costs in the power sector under different scenarios. The results indicate that total electricity demand will peak after 2050, with 80% of it coming from industry, buildings and residential use. To achieve net-zero emissions from the power sector in the GBA, a future power generation mix dominated by nuclear and renewable energy generation and supplemented by fossil energy generation equipped with CCUS technologies. BECCS technology and nuclear power are the key to realize zero carbon emissions from the power sector in the GBA, so it should be the first to promote BECCS technology testing and commercial application, improve the deployment of nuclear power sites, and push forward the construction of nuclear power and technology improvement in the next 40 years.

Adopting green absorbent for CO2 capture and agricultural utilization: Biogas slurry and biomass ash case

Previously, the once-through CO2 chemical absorption process by biogas slurry was experimentally verified to offer the unique advantages like low energy consumption, cost-effectiveness, and feasibility of CO2 fixation in plants. However, this technology also faces some challenges and limitations, including a low CO2 absorption rate and performance. To improve the effectiveness and reliability of this innovative carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology, this study proposes a novel method to enhance the CO2 absorption performance without affecting agricultural applications of CO2 by mixing biogas slurry with biomass ash as the green CO2 absorbent. The results indicate that when the solid-liquid mass ratio of biomass ash to biogas slurry is 5:10, the CO2 loading of the biomass ash and biogas slurry mixture (BA-BS) reaches 936.7 ± 59.1 mmol/kg. Furthermore, the pH of the BA-BS remains stable at 6.9, meeting the rhizosphere pH requirements for plant cultivation. The CO2 absorption of the BA-BS liquid phase, referred to as improved biogas slurry (IBS), reaches its maximum at 230.4 ± 3.5 mmol/L, which is 126.8% higher than that of the unimproved biogas slurry. The nitrogen content in the BA-BS solid phase, calling improved biomass ash (IBA), also reaches its maximum at 4.24 ± 0.74 mg/g, thereby expanding the agricultural utilization of biomass ash. The most reasonable and effective way of utilizing CO2-rich mixed biogas slurry and biomass ash involves use IBA as the base fertilizer for tomato cultivation, supplemented later with IBS to promote growth. This optimal application allows for substantial utilization of CO2, introduced into the tomato cultivation environment by IBA and IBS. The carbon fixation of a single tomato has improved by 108.2%. This study thus provides a feasible solution for high-value negative carbonization of biogas slurry and biomass ash.

Current Status and Challenges of CCUS Technology Development from a Global Perspective

Current Status and Challenges of CCUS Technology Development from a Global Perspective

Development of Mass–Energy Balance Model Based on a New Process of RSF with Hy-O-CR

At present, blast furnace (BF) ironmaking is still the main process for producing hot metal in China and around the world. Under the constraint of the global goal of “double carbon”, it is urgent to carry out hydrogen metallurgical innovation for the existing BF ironmaking process with higher carbon emissions. In recent years, BF technology with hydrogen enrichment and pure oxygen has made some progress, effectively reducing carbon emissions of hot metal per tons, but it is still unable to break through the technical bottleneck of emission reduction of more than 30%. In view of this, the authors put forward an ironmaking technology of a reduction smelting furnace (RSF) that is hydrogen-rich and utilizes pure oxygen and carbon recycle (Hy-O-CR), which breaks through the technical defect of traditional BF emission reduction of less than 30% by reshaping the furnace. Firstly, the construction process of the mass and energy balance model for two main unit modules in the new process (RSF with Hy-O-CR and top gas cycle) is introduced, and then the parameter optimization under specific scenario conditions is analyzed, and the influence mechanism of several key variables on the parameters in the furnace is obtained. Finally, the emission of CO2 in the whole process is explored in the case of two typical operating parameters. The results show that after using CCUS technology, the minimum value of direct CO2 emission is 215.93 kg/tHM, which is as high as 84.58% compared with the traditional BF process. Even if the removed CO2 is counted in carbon emissions, the minimum value of direct or indirect carbon emissions is 729.85 kg/tHM, and the proportion of emission reduction can reach 47.87%. The research results show that the reconstruction of Hy-O-CR technology can change the ratio of direct reduction and indirect reduction, which greatly breaks through the emission limit of the traditional BF and provides a new reference for hydrogen metallurgy technology and a basis for further study of the optimization of RSF size.

Prediction Model of Electric Power Carbon Emissions Based on Extended System Dynamics

In response to global climate change, China has committed to peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, commonly known as the “30–60 Dual Carbon”. Under the background of “30–60 Dual Carbon”, this article takes the electric power industry, which is the main industry contributing to China’s carbon emission, as the research object, explores the time and peak value of the carbon peak of the electric power industry, and analyzes whether carbon neutrality can be realized under the peak method, so as to get the carbon neutrality path of the electric power industry and serve as the theoretical basis for the formulation of relevant policies. The Environmental Kuznets Curve inspection and the relationship analysis are carried out, then the system dynamics model is constructed, the carbon emissions from 2020 to 2040 are simulated, and the peak time is predicted. Three different scenarios are set to explore the path of electricity carbon neutralization under the premise of a fixed peak. It is shown that Gross Domestic Product per capita index factors have the largest positive contribution, and thermal power share index factors have the largest negative contribution to electricity carbon emissions. Based on the current efforts of the new policy, carbon emissions can achieve the peak carbon emissions’ target before 2030, and it is expected to peak in 2029, with a peak range of about 4.95 billion tons. After the power industry peaks in 2029, i.e., Scenario 3, from coal 44%, gas 9% (2029) to coal 15%, gas 7% (2060), where the CCUS technology is widely used, this scenario can achieve carbon neutrality in electricity by 2060. Adjusting the power supply structure, strictly controlling the proportion of thermal power, optimizing the industrial structure, and popularization of carbon capture, utilization, and storage technology will all contribute to the “dual carbon” target of the power sector.