Assessing the Impact of Biomass Co-Firing and Carbon Capture on Co2 Emissions and Economic Benefits: A Case Analysis of a Coal-Fired Power Plant in Nanjing, China

Abstract

Coal-fired power plants stand as the primary emitters of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions within China, constituting almost 40% of the nation’s aggregate output. With the ever-increasing pressure on carbon emission reduction, these facilities are actively seeking approaches to promote low-carbon and sustainable development. Technologies, such as biomass co-firing and carbon capture, stand out as promising strategies with vast prospects for significantly reducing the carbon footprint associated with power generation. This work conducts a comprehensive life cycle assessment to scrutinize the impact of biomass co-firing (straw and wood pellets) and carbon capture on both the CO2 emissions intensity and the economic benefits for an operational coal-fired power plant in Nanjing, China. The objective was to gain insight into the application potential and challenges associated with these technologies. The results indicate that co-firing biomass at levels of 5~20% has the potential to reduce emissions by 31~151 kg CO2/MWh. Furthermore, combining 20% biomass co-firing with carbon capture can achieve net negative emissions in the range of 38~69 kg CO2/MWh. However, a major challenge is the economic disadvantage associated with these integrations, inflating the cost of power generation by approximately 5.4% to 97.3%. The augmented costs are primarily attributed to the relatively high biomass fuel prices and the substantial capital expenditure requisite for deploying carbon capture systems. The findings of this study can offer policymakers comprehensive compass for developing evidence-based policies aimed at promoting the implementation of biomass co-firing and carbon capture technologies in coal-fired power plants.

Keywords: life cycle assessment, CO2 emissions, economic benefits, biomass co-firing, carbon capture