Advanced Steam Reforming of Bio-Oil with Carbon Capture: A Techno-Economic and CO2 Emissions Analysis

Abstract

A techno-economic analysis has been used to evaluate three processes for hydrogen production from advanced steam reforming (SR) of bio-oil, as an alternative route to hydrogen with BECCS: conventional steam reforming (C-SR), C-SR with CO2 capture (C-SR-CCS), and sorption-enhanced chemical looping (SE-CLSR). The impacts of feed molar steam to carbon ratio (S/C), temperature, pressure, the use of hydrodesulphurisation pretreatment, and plant production capacity were examined in an economic evaluation and direct CO2 emissions analysis. Bio-oil C-SR-CC or SE-CLSR may be feasible routes to hydrogen production, with potential to provide negative emissions. SE-CLSR can improve process thermal efficiency compared to C-SR-CCS. At the feed molar steam to carbon ratio (S/C) of 2, the levelised cost of hydrogen (USD 3.8 to 4.6 per kg) and cost of carbon avoided are less than those of a C-SR process with amine-based CCS. However, at higher S/C ratios, SE-CLSR does not have a strong economic advantage, and there is a need to better understand the viability of operating SE-CLSR of bio-oil at high temperatures (>850 °C) with a low S/C ratio (e.g., 2), and whether the SE-CLSR cycle can sustain low carbon deposition levels over a long operating period.

Tailoring Ceria-Based Nanocatalysts for Enhanced Performance in Steam Reforming Processes: Exploring Fundamentals and Morphological Modulations

“…Currently, the most prominent methods for H 2 production are electrochemical water splitting (electrolysis) and steam-reforming reactions, with steam-methane reforming being the dominant process [13]. The primary factor behind the limited utilization of electrolysis is the high cost associated with electricity, a crucial requirement for its operation; reforming reactions do not require such input.…”

CO2 Capture and Sequestration

“…This comparison has enabled the authors to identify the most promising solution for further development and exploitation in CCS. Reeve et al [17] carried out a techno-economic analysis of three processes for hydrogen production from advanced steam reforming (SR) of bio-oil as an alternative route to hydrogen with bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS): conventional steam reforming (C-SR), C-SR with CO 2 capture (C-SR-CCS), and sorptionenhanced chemical looping (SE-CLSR). The analysis concluded that SE-CLSR is comparable to C-SR-CCS in terms of the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH).…”