Economic evaluation of bio-based supply chains with CO₂ capture and utilisation

Abstract

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) are acknowledged as important R&D priorities to achieve environmental goals set for next decades. This work studies biomass-based energy supply chains with CO₂ capture and utilisation. The problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear program. This study presents a flexible supply chain superstructure to answer issues on economic and environmental benefits achievable by integrating biomass-coal plants, CO₂ capture and utilisation plants; i.e. location of intermediate steps, fraction of CO₂ emissions captured per plant, CO₂ utilisation plants' size, among others. Moreover, eventual incentives and environmental revenues will be discussed to make an economically feasible project. A large-size case study located in Spain will be presented to highlight the proposed approach. Two key scenarios are envisaged: (i) Biomass, capture or utilisation of CO₂ are not contemplated; (ii) Biomass, capture and CO₂ utilisation are all considered. Finally, concluding remarks are drawn.