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Deploying gas power with CCS: The role of operational flexibility, merit order and the future energy system

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Schnellmann, Matthias  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9025-1481
Chyong, Chi 
Scott, Stuart 

Abstract

Combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plants are an important part of many electricity systems. By fitting them with carbon capture their CO2 emissions could be virtually eliminated. We evaluate CCGT plants with different variations of post combustion capture using amine solvents, covering a range of options, including solvent storage, partial capture and shifting the energy penalty in time. The analysis is based on the UK electricity system in 2025. The behaviour of individual CCGT plants is governed by the plant’s place in the merit order and to a lesser extent by CO2 reduction targets for the electricity system. In the UK, CCGT plants built from 2016 onwards will emit ~90% of the CO2 emissions of the whole CCGT fleet in 2025. The typical ‘base case’ CCGT plant with capture is designed to capture 90% of the CO2 emissions and to operate dynamically with the power plant. Downsizing the capture facility could be attractive for low-merit plants, i.e. plants with high short-run marginal costs. Solvent storage enables electricity generation to be decoupled in time from the energy penalty associated with carbon capture. Beyond a few minutes of solvent storage, substantial tanks would be needed. If solvent storage is to play an important role, it will require definitions of ‘capture ready’ to be expanded to ensure sufficient land is available.

Description

Keywords

Carbon capture and storage, Flexibility, Combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT), Power plants, Electricity system, Amine solvents

Journal Title

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1750-5836
1878-0148

Volume Title

91

Publisher

Elsevier
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/K000446/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/P026214/1)
The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the EPSRC through the UK Carbon Capture and Storage Research Centre (EP/P026214/1).