Techno-Economic Assessment of Bio-Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage Systems in a Typical Sugarcane Mill in Brazil

Sara Restrepo-Valencia and Arnaldo Walter
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Sara Restrepo-Valencia: Department of Energy, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Campinas—UNICAMP, Campinas 13083860, Brazil
Arnaldo Walter: Department of Energy, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Campinas—UNICAMP, Campinas 13083860, Brazil

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: For significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, those from electricity generation should be negative by the end of the century. In this sense, bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology in sugarcane mills could be crucial. This paper presents a technical and economic assessment of BECCS systems in a typical Brazilian sugarcane mill, considering the adoption of advanced—although commercial—steam cogeneration systems. The technical results are based on computational simulations, considering CO 2 capture both from fermentation (released during ethanol production) and due to biomass combustion. The post combustion capture technology based on amine was considered integrated to the mill and to the cogeneration system. A range of energy requirements and costs were taken from the literature, and different milling capacities and capturing rates were considered. Results show that CO 2 capture from both flows is technically feasible. Capturing CO 2 from fermentation is the alternative that should be prioritized as energy requirements for capturing from combustion are meaningful, with high impacts on surplus electricity. In the reference case, the cost of avoided CO 2 emissions was estimated at 62 €/t CO 2 , and this can be reduced to 59 €/t CO 2 in case of more efficient technologies, or even to 48 €/t CO 2 in case of larger plants.

Keywords: bioelectricity; carbon capture; negative emissions; sugarcane; biomass; climate change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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