Comparison of various CO2 capture strategies for five optimized fuel-to-power systems based on solid oxide fuel cells: Technical, economic, and environmental analyses

A comparative evaluation is conducted on five fuel-to-power systems, each employing a different CO2 capture method. They are a MEA-based CO2 capture (MCC) power plant, a cryogenic-based CO2 capture (CCC) power plant, two types of H2 membrane-based CO2 capture (HMCC) power plants, and an O2 membrane-based CO2 capture (OMCC) power plant. The proposed systems are investigated from technical, levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), and environmental perspectives to identify the systems that are lowest in carbon emissions, most efficient, and economically optimal. Based on the results, the MCC, CCC, HMCC1, HMCC2, and OMCC power plants achieved optimal energy efficiencies of 33.3 %, 38.8 %, 36 %, 43.2 %, and 38.4 %, respectively. The LCOE for the MCC, CCC, HMCC1, HMCC2, and OMCC power plants at their optimum levels were approximately 64, 55, 56.2, 66, and 107.5 $/MWh, respectively. The CO2 absorption rates of all systems were nearly 100 %, except for the MCC power plant, which had a rate of 82 %. Also, the optimum CO2 purity for the MCC, CCC, HMCC1, HMCC2, and OMCC power plants were nearly 98.8 %, 95.3 %, 70.3 %, 79.1 %, and 98.6 %, respectively. According to the findings, the CCC power plant demonstrates the best overall results, particularly excelling in economic performance (LCOE) and CO2 absorption. It also ranks second in terms of energy efficiency. These results offer valuable guidance to the power plant sector in choosing the optimal CO2 capture process when utilizing a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) as a prime mover. Additionally, they offer a potential option to address issues related to fossil fuel shortages and environmental pollution.