Trigeneration System Research Articles

Proposal and analysis of a concentrating photovoltaic-driven system for combined production of electricity, hydrogen, and low-temperature refrigeration

A trigeneration system that uses concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) waste heat for low-temperature refrigeration and surplus electricity to power an electrolyzer for hydrogen synthesis is presented in this research to address the energy demands of a multi-unit building. Energy and exergy assessments evaluate system performance under various situations. The ANSYS-FLUENT and Engineering Equation Solver are used. To evaluate its energetic and exergetic performance, the system is studied at different direct normal irradiation (DNI), photovoltaic areas, and absorption chiller driving temperatures. At a constant DNI, increasing the coil diameter from 400 to 600 mm may raise channel water temperature by 3–5%. Ejector-absorption cycle driving temperature enhancement from 65 to 95 °C increased refrigeration capacity from 22 to 34 kW, hydrogen production from 0.76 to 2.8 kg/h, and power generation from 5.9 kW to 4.1 kW. By increasing the photovoltaics area from 78 to 126 m2 and using an absorption chiller and electrolyzer, system energy and exergy efficiencies increase by 23.47% and 8.02%, respectively, while CPV exergy efficiency decreases by 18.06%. The CPV destroys the most exergy in the system, whereas the electrolyzer destroys the least. Combining photovoltaics and the refrigeration machine with an electrolyzer is a novel approach to harnessing sunshine energy.

Thermodynamic analysis and optimization of a biogas-powered trigeneration system to produce power, cooling and freshwater

Despite all the efforts to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels worldwide, the majority of the global energy matrix continues to depend on them, leading to serious environmental impacts such as droughts, that heavily affect rural areas in arid and semi-arid regions. In this work, aiming to reduce environmental impacts, losses and instability associated with power lines and water scarcity, a computational model of a decentralized small-scale trigeneration system to produce power, cooling and freshwater was developed and operating conditions were optimized to maximize both Energy Utilization Factor (EUF) and exergetic efficiency. The trigeneration system consists of biogas-powered microturbines, an LiBr/H2O absorption refrigeration system and a humidification-dehumidification desalination system. The results obtained have shown that the system was able to produce 104.4 kW, 12 kW and 0.1231 kg·s−1 of power, refrigeration and freshwater mass flow rate, respectively, with an EUF of 1.024 and exergetic efficiency of 25.39%. The analysis of exergy destruction has revealed that the microturbines, particularly their combustion chambers, accounted for 78.23% of the total exergy destruction rate in the system which was 295.92 kW for the base case. Using Genetic Algorithm to maximize the EUF, it was possible to achieve a 12.12% increase in the EUF and a 16.25% increase in freshwater production when compared to the base case considered.

Characteristics Analysis of Integrated CAES and CFPP Trigeneration System Considering Working Conditions and Application Scenarios

To meet the goal of worldwide decarbonization, the transformation process toward clean and green energy structures has accelerated. In this context, coal-fired power plant (CFPP) and large-scale energy storage represented by compressed air energy storage (CAES) technology, are tasked with increasing renewable resource accommodation and maintaining the power system security. To achieve this, this paper proposes the concept of a CFPP–CAES combined cycle and a trigenerative system based on that. Considering the working conditions of the CFPP, thermal characteristics of three typical operation modes were studied and some general regularities were identified. The results of various potential integration schemes discussion indicated that extracting water from low-temperature points in the feedwater system to cool pressurized air and simultaneously increase the backwater temperature is beneficial for improving performance. In addition, preheating the pressurized air before the air expanders via low-grade water in the feedwater system as much as possible and reducing extracted steam contribute to increasing the efficiency. With the optimal integration scheme, 2.85 tonnes of coal can be saved per cycle and the round-trip efficiency can be increased by 2.24%. Through the cogeneration of heat and power, the system efficiency can reach 77.5%. In addition, the contribution degree of the three compression heat utilization methods to the performance improvement ranked from high to low, is preheating the feedwater before the boiler, supplying heat, and flowing into the CFPP feedwater system. In the cooling energy generation mode, the system efficiency can be increased to over 69%. Regardless of the operation mode, the benefit produced by integration is further enhanced when the CFPP operates at higher operating conditions because the coupling points parameters are changed. In addition, the dynamic payback period can be shortened by 11.33 years and the internal rate of return increases by 5.20% under a typical application scenario. Regarding the effect of different application scenarios in terms of economics, investing in the proposed system is more appropriate in regions with multiple energy demands, especially heating demand. These results demonstrate the technical advantages of the proposed system and provide guiding principles for its design, operation, and project investment.

Multi-aspect evaluation of a novel geothermal-driven trigeneration system for cooling, heat, and power generation

This paper presents a novel trigeneration process that utilizes geothermal fluid and a gas turbine to generate electricity, heat, and cooling. The trigeneration system comprises a gas turbine cycle, dual flash geothermal-organic Rankine cycle, cooling production unit, and heat and power generation unit. A comprehensive parametric study is conducted from energy, exergy, economic, and environmental perspectives to evaluate the proposed process. Thermodynamic analysis shows that the energy and exergy efficiencies of the system are 46% and 47%, respectively. The total exergy destruction of the process is calculated to be 147,006 kW, with the gas turbine cycle and combustor contributing the highest and second-highest exergy destruction ratios at 66% and 45%, respectively. Environmental analysis reveals that the indirect emission of the proposed structure is zero, and the total carbon dioxide emission is related to the flue gas of the gas turbine unit, amounting to 44,010 kgCO2/h. Considering the production capacity of the three products, the carbon dioxide footprint is determined to be 17.44 kgCO2/MJ. Furthermore, the economic analysis indicates that the total annual cost of the proposed scheme is 56,817,774 $. The production costs for cooling, electricity, and heating are 0.3 $/kg(CW,5℃), 0.073 $/kWhe, and 0.174 $/kgST, respectively. This comprehensive evaluation demonstrates the efficiency and feasibility of the trigeneration process, making it a promising option for sustainable power generation with minimal environmental impact.

Improving the efficiency of solar-driven trigeneration systems using nanofluid coolants

This article provides a technical and economic assessment of the currently available trigeneration and cogeneration plants to produce heat, vapour, electricity, and cold. A thermodynamic analysis of a trigeneration plant that uses a solar collector as a heat source has been carried out. The results of experimental studies have shown the possibility of reducing the cost of the refrigeration cycle to 11.5%. Mathematical models of refrigerating and thermal cycles in trigeneration units are presented. The following optimal parameters of the trigeneration unit are established. The share of the solar radiation component in the process conditions was 50%. The efficiency of the solar collector was 83%, the efficiency of the cold generator was 65%, and the electric generator reached 60%. The pressure in the system ranged from 9 to 11 bar, and the operating temperature of the solar collector was 280 … 380 K. Statistical evaluation of the results showed satisfactory convergence of experimental and theoretical data. The Pearson criterion was χ2 = 0.87, Student's t-test 0.07 … 0.09, the statistical significance of results р ≤ 0.005.

Energy and Exergy Analysis of a Combined Cooling Heating and Power System with Regeneration

Solar assisted trigeneration system has proved to be a potential method in generating power with net zero carbon emissions. The present work aims to address the potential ways to improve the efficiency of the solar energy-integrated carbon dioxide trigeneration system. A regeneration integrated combined cooling, heating, and power system is proposed. With a comprehensive thermodynamic model, the proposed system is simulated for various operating conditions. A component-level exergy analysis is also conducted to estimate the total irreversibility of the system. As the gas cooler exit temperature increases, the overall system irreversibility also increases. When the bleed mass is 20% of the total mass, the system has the lowest energy destruction rate. The potential component that contributes most to system irreversibility is the gas cooler, followed by the regenerator and expansion valve. The proposed system with regeneration yields 29% more COP than the conventional system when operating at lower compressor discharge pressure and a gas cooler exit temperature of 34 °C. It is inferred from the obtained results that to reduce the total irreversibility of the system, it is advised to operate the system at a lower compressor discharge pressure and gas cooler exit temperature.

Simulation and multi-objective assessment of an environmentally friendly trigeneration system powered by biogas from landfilling using a novel cascade heat integration model

This study introduces a novel integrated trigeneration system fed by biogas fuel from landfilling, promoting environmentally sustainable practices. In the system proposed within this study, fuel combustion occurs through the implementation of a gas turbine cycle, while the subsequent waste heat is efficiently recuperated within a cascade framework. The combustion process is combined with a supercritical carbon dioxide cycle, an organic Rankine cycle, an ammonia Rankine cycle, a seawater desalination unit, and a Kalina cycle. The process is simulated using the Aspen HYSYS software while conducting a comprehensive analysis encompassing the energy, exergy, economic, and environmental aspects. In view of the thermodynamic perspective, the analysis yields values of 70.28%, 24.89%, and 57.51% for the energy utilization factor, and thermal and exergy efficiencies, respectively. The subsequent environmental results illustrate that the proposed scheme exhibits a carbon dioxide emission level of 0.272 kgCO2/kWh, yielding a noteworthy reduction of 51.02% in carbon dioxide emissions compared to a traditional power and heat generation system. Besides, the economic analysis demonstrates a positive net present value of 779, 571, 045 $ for the proposed process. Furthermore, the total unit cost of products and cost of energy are found at 12.25 $/GJ and 0.022 $/kWh, respectively.

Using Green Energy Sources in Trigeneration Systems to Reduce Environmental Pollutants: Thermodynamic and Environmental Evaluation

With rising electricity demand and environmental concerns, renewable energy is increasingly important. Geothermal power plants offer an opportunity to utilize natural energy sources advantageously. These systems can be coupled with other power cycles, like gas Brayton cycles, to maximize their potential output. Biogas is considered a viable replacement for fossil fuels such as natural gas to further mitigate pollutant gas emissions. In this paper, a biogas-fueled gas turbine coupled with a double-expansion geothermal cycle is proposed that uses, for heat recovery, combustion product gases to run a Kalina cycle. After heating the geothermal fluid twice for double expansion, the product hot gases also heat water in a domestic water heater. Also, three thermoelectric generators are utilized to increase the overall output. Using the geothermal cycle’s waste heat, a humidifier–dehumidifier desalination unit is considered for freshwater production. Green energy, freshwater, and heat are the system’s products, all of which are useful. The proposed system is examined from a thermodynamic perspective using EES V.10.561 (Engineering Equation Solver) software. For the considered input parameters, energy and exergy efficiencies of 36% and 44% are achieved.

Multi-criteria thermo-economic analysis of solar-driven tri-generation systems equipped with organic Rankine cycle and bottoming absorption refrigeration and Kalina cycles

Optimal thermo-economic integration of renewable energy sources with multi-generation energy systems is a prime research topic today. The present study proposes a multi-criteria evaluation method of such integration, based on combined heating and power (CHP), and combined cooling and power (CCP) scenarios, for three different solar intensities. Three novel solar-driven tri-generation systems are selected. They include different organic Rankine cycle (ORC) architectures and a Kalina cycle system (KCS) and a double-effect absorption refrigeration cycle as bottoming cycles. Evaluation of the tri-generation systems, both with and without the KCS system, indicates a performance improvement of up to 23% in various thermoeconomic characteristics when the KCS system is present. Selection of the suitable tri-generation system for each condition and optimization of the working fluid are carried out based on a multi-attribute decision-making method. P-xylene is found as the optimal organic working fluid for ORC and ORC (ORC integrated with internal heat exchanger) based systems, and benzene for the regenerative ORC-based system in both CHP and CCP scenarios. Multi-criteria analysis shows that ORC-based system outperforms other systems with net outranking flow of 0.44 (0.39) for CHP (CCP) application. The optimal configuration gives 95.6 M$ and 1.99 years for net present value and dynamic payback period, and 83.03% and 34.55% for energy and exergy efficiencies, respectively.

Enhanced compression heat recovery of coupling thermochemical conversion to trigenerative compressed air energy storage system: Systematic sensitivity analysis and multi-objective optimization

Compressed air energy storage system has been considered as a promising alternative solution for stabilizing the electricity production driven by intermittent renewable energy sources. However, the inefficient utilization of thermal energy within the compressed air energy storage system hinders the efficient operation of system. Therefore, a novel trigenerative system integrated compressed air and chemical energy storage system is introduced in this study. The proposed system transforms the compression heat to the syngas in the form of chemical energy to achieve energy level upgradation during the charging process, and recuperates the thermal energy at the exit of the gas turbine to increase the inlet temperature of the compressed air for electricity enhancement during the discharging process. The residual heat during the operation process is then conducted for producing cooling and heating outputs simultaneously based on the law of energy cascade utilization. A systematic parametric analysis is carried out to investigate the effects of critical parameters on system comprehensive performance. Furthermore, the multi-objective optimization is employed to find the optimal trade-off among the thermodynamic performance, economic attractiveness and environmental friendliness of the proposed system. The parametric analysis indicates that the operating parameters of air compressor and gas turbine affect the performance indicators of thermodynamic and economic significantly. Moreover, at the best trade-off solution selected by the TOPSIS method, the system reaches 42.96 % of exergetic round trip efficiency, 105.28 $/MWh of levelized cost of energy and 206.94 kg/MWh of CO2 emission per unit energy output.

Design and 3E scrutiny of a trigeneration system, consisting of a solar chimney, multi-effect desalination, and water electrolyzer: A process for evaluating regional applications

Low/medium temperature solar thermal applications are more economically feasible for seawater desalination. In this way, the current research presents a novel combined process in a solar chimney, wherein a multi-effect desalination and a polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzer are established, producing electric power, fresh water, and high-purity hydrogen simultaneously. This model is simulated under the steady-state conditions by the engineering equation solver environment, then a comprehensive assessment is accomplished from the viewpoints of thermodynamics and cost. The results exhibit that the higher chimney’s diameters and the higher pressure drops across the turbine lead to higher thermodynamic efficiencies as well as lower costs. The base design conditions show that this arrangement results in energetic and exergetic efficiencies of 31.08% and 7.08%, individually. From the cost facet, the sum unit cost of products is computed as 16.86 $/GJ, so the payback period (PP) of 3.47 years is available. The potential of the configured system is investigated using a regional application method, for which four different countries are regarded. The selected areas include Alice Springs, Madrid, Riyadh, and Tehran. Considering the case study, the proposed arrangement is more efficient when applied to the climatic conditions in Tehran.

Performance analysis of a solar based novel trigeneration system using cascaded vapor absorption-compression refrigeration system

Solar power tower technique has a strong potential among several solar systems for large-scale power generation. It is crucial to make new, efficient trigeneration unit for solar power tower plant. This work makes a novel supercritical Brayton cycle based combined cycle in which helium is considered as the working fluid for power generation. The cascaded vapor absorption-compression refrigeration system is integrated with traditional Brayton cycle for recovering waste heat to produce additional heating and low temperature cooling effects for food storage. The energy, exergy efficiency and power output of the proposed plant were found as 28.82%, 39.53% and 14,865 kW respectively. The COPcooling and COPheating values were observed as 0.5391 and 1.539 respectively at 850 W/m2 of direct normal irradiation, 80 °C of generator temperature (Tc) and -20°C of evaporator temperature (Te). Solar sub system is responsible for high exergy destruction around 78.18% (22,763 kW) of total destruction of the overall plant. Moreover, parametric study reveals that performance of trigeneration system is highly affected by the heliostat and receiver efficiency, Tc, Te and inlet temperature of helium turbine. Also, a comparison with related earlier research has demonstrated that the performance of the current system is superior to that of systems based on the Rankine cycle and supercritical CO2 cycles.

Simulation and study of the simultaneous use of geothermal energy and flue gas waste energy in an innovative combined framework for power, chilled water, and fresh water generation

The integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar, biomass, and geothermal, with other technologies and energy production cycles holds the potential to significantly enhance power generation processes' efficiency. A novel trigeneration structure is introduced that harnesses geothermal energy and waste energy from flue gases. The proposed system comprises several key components, like combined flash and binary geothermal system, a water desalination unit, a Kalina power and cooling cycle, and organic Rankine cycles. The system is analyzed from various perspectives, encompassing energy, exergy, economic, and environmental viewpoints. This assessment allows for a holistic understanding of the trigeneration structure's performance, considering its energy efficiency, exergetic effectiveness, economic viability, and environmental impact. By combining elements, the trigeneration system aims to optimize the utilization of geothermal energy while efficiently converting waste energy from flue gases into useful power. The implementation and evaluation of this trigeneration structure offer promising prospects for sustainable and more effective power generation, promoting the integration of renewable resources with existing energy production technologies. The potential benefits of this approach could lead to a more environmentally friendly and economically viable solution for meeting our energy demands.

Multi-aspect prediction of the sensitivity of thermodynamic/thermoeconomic performance metrics of an innovative solar-driven trigeneration system utilizing thermal energy storage

Clean energy development for multiple productions interests many countries and companies. Hence, this paper presents an innovative solar-driven trigeneration arrangement equipped with a thermal energy storage unit (TESU); the whole system comprises parabolic dish collectors, a modified Rankine cycle, and a double-effect absorption chiller. The system is designed to enhance the integrity performance compared to previous designs. Heat loss recovery is performed using an internal heat exchanger to improve the Rankine cycle's performance. The operating framework of the arrangement contains three steady modes: solar mode associated with the state without applying TESU, storage mode corresponding to the state without solar energy using TESU, and solar-storage mode capable of storing energy in addition to launching the combined cycles. The prediction of the sensitivity of the net output power, heating capacity, input energy, power to heating and cooling ratios, and energy and exergy efficiencies is conducted in solar mode. Furthermore, the thermoeconomic analysis is carried out in solar mode to determine the equipment's financial aspect. Referring to the results, the overall energy efficiencies of the modes introduced before are equal to 97.23%, 81.98%, and 40.23%, and the corresponding exergy efficiencies are 15.53%, 14.47%, and 8.58%. Also, the exergoeconomic factor of the solar subsystem is 70.77%.

Optimal Capacity Determination of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology Based Trigeneration System And Prediction of Semi-closed Greenhouse Dynamic Energy Loads Using Building Energy Simulation

Optimal Capacity Determination of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology Based Trigeneration System And Prediction of Semi-closed Greenhouse Dynamic Energy Loads Using Building Energy Simulation

Exergoeconomic and environmental analyses of a geothermal-powered tri-generation system: A study of CO2 emission reduction

A geothermal-powered tri-generation system is presented and discussed from thermodynamic, exergoeconomic, payback period, extended-environmental, and exergoenvironmental perspectives. The designed system consists of an organic flash cycle assisted by a two-phase ejector and a vapor compression cycle that utilizes a zeotropic working fluid of Isobutane/Pentane. To further recover waste heat, an electrolyzer unit is utilized as a subsystem for producing H2. All the system outputs except for the exergoenvironmental index and exergoeconomic factor reach the highest point when the mass fraction of Pentane increases. According to a parametric study, the greatest variations in system products are related to changes in the flash tank temperature. Furthermore, the system outputs indicate a non-linear relationship with the mass fraction of Pentane. The temperature of evaporators has a substantial influence on the system's cooling capacity. Meanwhile, the remaining output parameters remain steady or show minor changes. By increasing the flash tank temperature, the costs related to electricity, cooling, and H2 all decreased before gradually increasing. The two-phase ejector has the highest exergy destruction rate because of the energy lost in the mixing process.

A thermodynamic, exergoeconomic, and exergoenvironmental investigation and optimization on a novel geothermal trigeneration system to sustain a sport arena

In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on sustainable energy provision for sport facilities, aiming to reduce carbon emissions, promote energy efficiency, and create a more sustainable sporting environment. The present investigation concurs with introducing a novel trigeneration system intended to generate power and provide heating and cooling load for sports facilities. The present system is offered to sustain the general energy requirement of an intended sport compound independently throughout the year. The single-flash Geothermal (SFG) system is included as a measure for attaining the required energy to initialize the system. After producing power and providing heat load, the remaining exergy associated with the SFG system is harvested and utilized to drive the double-effect absorption chiller (DEAC), Kalina cycle (KC), and the Organic Rankine cycle (ORC). A further study based on the first law of thermodynamics revealed that the SFG system, KC, and ORC allot thermal efficiency by 5.724 %, 9.31 %, and10.26 %, respectively. Furthermore, the second-law investigation determined that the SFG system, KC, and ORC allocate exergetic efficiency by 18.08 %, 34.89 %, and 48.64 %, respectively. From an extended numerical perspective, the SFG system was deemed to result in a total output value of 66.55 kW worth of power and 615.8 kW worth of heating load. The DEAC performed with an 88.8 kW worth of cooling load provision and 1.199 as the coefficient of performance (COP). The KC and the ORC delivered 26.14 kW and 14.61 kW as in total outlet power, respectively. Integrally, the generalized system was found capable of producing 107.3 kW worth of net power output. The sum unit cost of the products (SUCP) was evaluated for the overall system, which equals 45.55$/GJ. A multi-objective Genetic algorithm optimization is carried out, aiming to achieve the optimal points and conditions of the system using the Pareto frontier method, where point C was chosen according to the TOPSIS criteria, deriving 46.0$/GJ and 40.09 % associated with SUCP and exergetic efficiency, respectively. Eventually, the exergoenvironmental parameters are derived and analyzed to study the environmental impacts.

Analysis of a solar driven ORC-absorption based CCHP system from a novel exergy approach

The present study comprehensively analyses the thermodynamic performance of a zero-emissions solar driven trigeneration system using a numerical approach. The analysis is conducted from both the First and Second law of Thermodynamics viewpoints, employing a novel and coherent exergy approach. Solar parabolic trough collectors (SPTCs) provide the heat input to an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system, while a single-effect H2O/LiBr absorption heat pump is coupled in cascade to the ORC. The proposed ORC layout is based on a single-pressure regenerated, recuperated and superheated cycle. There is divergence of opinion among researchers regarding key aspects of the exergy analysis of trigeneration systems. Therefore, this study proposes the definition of the dead state conditions for each subsystem individually, taking into account their specific constraints. Unlike temperature, specific dead state conditions for pressure and composition are defined separately. An energy-exergy parametric approach is conducted to evaluate the effects of different system parameters on the system performance. The system is also optimized following single and multi-objective approaches with different criteria. The optimum system achieve an energy efficiency of 152.4%, an exergy efficiency of 21.1%, and an electrical-exergy efficiency of 17.5%. The electricity, cooling and heating productions are 82.1 kW, 200.4 kW and 471.7 kW, respectively. The SPTCs are identified as the main source of exergy destruction, responsible for 73% of inlet exergy is destructed. In addition, the systeḿs performance is shown to be sensitive to the variations in the solar field outlet temperature and in the ORC condensation temperature. Consequently, controlling these parameters could be effectively utilized for regulating power generation as well as cooling and heating production.

Design, multi-aspect analyses, and multi-objective optimization of a novel trigeneration system based on geothermal and municipal solid waste energies

The study of multi-source energy systems, due to higher performance and producing various products, is an interesting subject. The current study designs a multi-source system including a gas turbine cycle with CH4 and municipal solid waste digester, a geothermal system with an organic Rankine, organic flash, and a double-effect absorption refrigeration subsystem to produce power, cooling, and heating loads simultaneously. The thermodynamic and economic analyses are utilized to estimate the system’s performance and multi-objective optimization has been applied to define the optimum state of the system concerning two scenarios. The results indicate that the system provides 423.4 kW net power, 384.7 kW heating load, and 106.3 kW cooling load with 39.28% exergetic efficiency and 6.67 years payback period. These values are improved to 664.9 kW net power, 446.5 heating load, 42.01% exergetic efficiency, and 6.05 years payback period at the best optimum scenario. The sensitivity analysis reveals that the air compressor’s pressure ratio mainly impacts the net power, heating load production, and net present value. The cooling load production and exergetic efficiency are mainly affected by the air preheater effectiveness variation.

Thermoeconomic and life cycle assessments for a trigeneration system: A case study

ABSTRACT The current need to diversify the global energy matrix implies introducing renewable energy sources and evaluating commercially available solutions. This study assesses a trigeneration system from thermoeconomic and environmental viewpoints, employing the Theory of Exergy Cost and Life Cycle Assessment. The location of the theoretical study case is the state of Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil. The trigeneration system operates on biogas and is comprised of four subsystems: biogas purification, molted carbon fuel cell, combined cycle, and absorption refrigeration system. The energy services produced are electricity, heat (hot water), and cooling. The results of the thermoeconomic analysis revealed that the energy system requires an electricity tariff of at least US$ 106.76/MWh to generate revenue due to the high costs associated with the purchase of biogas and capital costs of the equipment for biogas purification and fuel cell. The life cycle assessment identified that the biogas purification step presented the highest environmental impacts due to the material composition of the absorption and regeneration columns, which is interesting as this is the most critical step of the process. LCA results indicate that although methane is a vital energy vector for energy transition, further studies are required on the technical and environmental aspects of its use in energy systems.