A Thorough Emission-Cost Analysis of the Gradual Replacement of Carbon-Rich Fuels with Carbon-Free Energy Carriers in Modern Power Plants: The Case of Cyprus

Pavlos Nikolaidis and Andreas Poullikkas ()
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Pavlos Nikolaidis: Department of Electrical Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, 3036 Limassol, Cyprus
Andreas Poullikkas: Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority, 1305 Nicosia, Cyprus

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 17, 1-18

Abstract: Global efforts towards de-carbonization give rise to remarkable energy challenges, which include renewable energy penetration increase and intermediate energy carriers for a sustainable transition. In order to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels, alternative sources are considered by commodities to satisfy their increasing electricity demand, as a consequence of a rise in population and the quantity of residential appliances in forthcoming years. The near-term trends appear to be in fuel and emission reduction techniques through the integration of carbon capture and storage and more efficient energy carriers, exploiting alternative energy sources, such as natural gas and hydrogen. Formulating both the fuel consumption and emission released, the obtained experimental results showed that the total production cost can be reduced by making use of natural gas for the transition towards 2035’s targets. Maximum profits will be achieved with hydrogen as the only fuel in modern power plants by 2050. In this way, the lowest electricity production can be achieved as well as the elimination of carbon dioxide emissions. Since the integration of renewable energy resources in the sectors of electricity, heating/cooling and transportation will continuously be increased, alternative feedstocks can serve as primary inputs and contribute to production cost profits, improved utilization factors and further environmental achievements.

Keywords: de-carbonization; emission cost formulations; sustainable energy carrier; combined cycles; renewable generation contribution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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