En Route to Zero Emissions for Power and Industry with Amine-Based Post-combustion Capture

Abstract

As more countries commit to a net-zero GHG emission target, we need a whole energy and industrial system approach to decarbonization rather than focus on individual emitters. This paper presents a techno-economic analysis of monoethanolamine-based post-combustion capture to explore opportunities over a diverse range of power and industrial applications. The following ranges were investigated: feed gas flow rate between 1-1000 kg ·s^-1, gas CO₂ concentrations of 2-42%_mol, capture rates of 70-99%, and interest rates of 2-20%. The economies of scale are evident when the flue gas flow rate is <20 kg ·s^-1 and gas concentration is below 20%_mol CO₂. In most cases, increasing the capture rate from 90 to 95% has a negligible impact on capture cost, thereby reducing CO₂ emissions at virtually no additional cost. The majority of the investigated space has an operating cost fraction above 50%. In these instances, reducing the cost of capital (<i>i.e.</i>, interest rate) has a minor impact on the capture cost. Instead, it would be more beneficial to reduce steam requirements. We also provide a surrogate model which can evaluate capture cost from inputs of the gas flow rate, CO₂ composition, capture rate, interest rate, steam cost, and electricity cost.