Valuing Responsive Operation of Post-combustion CCS Power Plants in Low Carbon Electricity Markets

Abstract

This work considers the potential value in the additional flexibility of CCS post-combustion power plants gained by varying the operating CO2 capture level. The continuous relationship between CO2 capture level and the specific electricity output penalty is illustrated, and a new methodology is proposed for maximising net plant income through optimising the operating capture level. This methodology allows the plant to respond to electricity prices, fuel prices, and carbon reduction incentives including CO2 prices and premium payments for low carbon electricity. The implications for flexible operation under different market scenarios are qualified, and the indicative value to plant operators is determined.

The Economic Value of Flexible Ccs in Net-Zero Electricity Systems the Case of the UK

“…There are two types of flexible CCS discussed in the literature: (i) a flexible venting CCS system and (ii) a flexible storage CCS system. Works such as Rao & Rubin (2006), Ludig et al (2011), Bruce et al (2014), Errey et al (2014), Manaf et al (2016), andSingh et al (2022) studied CCS processes of variable capture rates that optimise the marginal capture rate (tons of CO2 captured over tons of CO2 vented pre-capture) with respect to the additional cost of higher capture performance and electricity costs. Studies such as Domenichi et al (2013), Mac Dowell and Shah (2015), Flø et al (2016), Sanchez Fernandez et al (2016, Khorshidi et al (2016), andCheng et al (2022) looked at storing CO2 inside the aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) capture solvent during peak electricity prices and regenerated the solvent during off-peak windows.…”

“…Furthermore, Ludig et al (2011) and Bruce et al (2014) found flexible CCS venting could be better implemented within markets with higher VRE source penetration. Errey et al (2014) studied the cost drivers of this strategy and noted that a granular control of a flexible venting CCS decision framework would experience the maximal economic benefit. Manaf et al (2016) provided an electricity and carbon price integrated model that optimised the solvent regenerator heat duty and, consequently, the energy penalty of the CCS.…”

Techno-Economic Assessment for the Best Flexible Operation of the CO2 Removal Section by Potassium Taurate Solvent in a Coal-Fired Power Plant

“…The flexible operation of the CO 2 removal section makes the plant's profitability improve [21,22], because, during peak demands or when the price of electricity is high, the consumption of the CO 2 removal plant is reduced and the production of electricity is increased. Several studies in the literature, with tests on pilot plants [23], focused on the flexible operation of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) power stations, considering MEA as the chemical absorption solvent, and studying the bypass and solvent storage techniques [24][25][26][27][28], the operation at variable capture level [29,30] and the variable solvent regeneration mode [31,32]. Bui et al [33,34] demonstrated that flexible operation is technically feasible in a large-scale CO 2 capture process via simulations and experimental tests using MEA solvent.…”

Fixed and Capture Level Reduction operating modes for carbon dioxide removal in a Natural Gas Combined Cycle power plant

“…Chalmers et al (Chalmers and Gibbins, 2007), Gibbins and Crane (Gibbins and Crane, 2004) and Delarue et al (Delarue et al, 2012) focused on bypass and on solvent storage techniques. The variable capture level, optimized as a function of the electricity price and CO2 emissions was considered by Errey et al (Errey et al, 2014) and Rubin et al (Rubin et al, 2007), while the variable solvent regeneration was taken into account by MacDowell and Shah (Mac Dowell and Shah, 2014) and Mechleri et al (Mechleri et al, 2017). Generally, the technical literature on flexible PCC in power plants is focused on the purification of flue gases coming from coal-fired units.…”