Gasification of coal and biomass as a net carbon-negative power source for environment-friendly electricity generation in China

Abstract

Realizing the goal of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 2 °C by the end of this century will most likely require deployment of carbon-negative technologies. It is particularly important that China, as the world’s top carbon emitter, avoids being locked into carbon-intensive, coal-fired power-generation technologies and undertakes a smooth transition from high- to negative-carbon electricity production. We focus here on deploying a combination of coal and biomass energy to produce electricity in China using an integrated gasification cycle system combined with carbon capture and storage (CBECCS). Such a system will also reduce air pollutant emissions, thus contributing to China’s near-term goal of improving air quality. We evaluate the bus-bar electricity-generation prices for CBECCS with mixing ratios of crop residues varying from 0 to 100%, as well as associated costs for carbon mitigation and cobenefits for air quality. We find that CBECCS systems employing a crop residue ratio of 35% could produce electricity with net-zero life-cycle emissions of greenhouse gases, with a levelized cost of electricity of no more than 9.2 US cents per kilowatt hour. A carbon price of approximately $52.0 per ton would make CBECCS cost-competitive with pulverized coal power plants. Therefore, our results provide critical insights for designing a CBECCS strategy in China to harness near-term air-quality cobenefits while laying the foundation for achieving negative carbon emissions in the long run.

Prospective contributions of biomass pyrolysis to China’s 2050 carbon reduction and renewable energy goals

“…Besides the CO 2 mitigation benefits offered by deployment of BIPP systems, there is also considerable potential for reduction of air pollution, contributing to China’s near-term air quality goals. In this study, three potential pathways are considered for air pollution reduction as a result of the assumed deployment of BIPP systems, including: substitution effects due to the use of pyrolysis products displacing traditional emission sources such as thermal power generation and coke oven gas and coal tar use (less new air pollution emissions from the combusted biomass stream used to generate heat for pyrolysis in BIPP systems); and pollution avoided by reduced domestic burning of biomass waste and the open burning of biomass in fields 40 . The results indicate that deployment of BIPP systems can provide for a significant reduction in China’s air pollution, including decreases in emissions of SO 2 , NO x , BC, and primary PM 2.5 .…”

Scattered coal is the largest source of ambient volatile organic compounds during the heating season in Beijing

“…For example, a "switching from coal to natural gas" project was proposed by the Chinese government to reduce air pollution from coal-fired boilers and associated premature mortality, and its air quality, health, and climate implications were also assessed in detail (Qin et al, 2017;Qin et al, 2018). Lu et al (2019) suggested that deploying coal-bioenergy gasification systems with carbon capture and storage may provide a promising opportunity for China to realize its carbon mitigation and air-pollution abatement goals simultaneously. These initiatives could contribute to the development of future policies aimed at supporting sustainable energy transitions, improving urban air quality and protecting public health.…”

The Energy Transition in China: Mid-to Long-Term National Strategies and Prospects

“…The researchers found that a new process to produce electricity in China by combining coal and biomass energy can reduce CO2 in the atmosphere if biomass accounts for more than 35 percent of the mix and the waste carbon are captured (Lu et al, 2019). In addition to the technical feasibility, the study also demonstrates the economic viability with Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) less than 9.2 cents per kilowatthour (around $52 per ton), enabling it to compete with the existing coal power plants in China (Lu et al, 2019). Though related research is still ongoing and putting into action takes more time, this strategy offers an opportunity for China to achieve negative-carbon energy development with large amounts of coal still in use.…”