Identifying Optimal Multi-state collaborations for reducing CO2 emissions by co-firing biomass in coal-burning power plants. (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dundar, Bayram; McGarvey, Ronald G.; Aguilar, Francisco X.
• Is Part Of: Computers & industrial engineering. Volume 101(2016)
• Page Start: 403
• Page End: 415
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: Renewable energy -- Optimization; Engineering -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Industrial engineering -- Periodicals; 620.00285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cie.2016.09.028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-8352

Abstract

Highlights: Identify min-cost approaches to reduce CO2 emissions via co-firing woody biomass. Extend model to identify min-cost multi-state partnerships for emission reduction. Apply model to 5 states, meets some (renewable energy) but not all (emission) goals. Abstract: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently proposed a rule that aims to reduce carbon emissions from US coal-fired power plants. The proposed "Clean Power Plan" specifies state-specific rate-based goals to achieve a total US carbon emission reduction of 32% below 2005 levels by 2030. An increase in the co-firing of woody biomass with coal to generate biopower is one of the potential approaches that electricity providers could take to comply with EPA's proposed rules. We develop a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model to identify minimum-cost approaches for reducing CO2 emissions via co-firing biomass subject to spatially-explicit biomass availability constraints. An important feature of the EPA recommendations is an allowance for states to participate in multi-state compliance strategies. We extend the MILP model to optimize within a larger geographical framework that allows states to identify minimum-cost partnerships that meet aggregated emission reduction goals. We apply the MILP model to data for five Midwestern US states to determine the role that co-firing biomass could play in achieving their EPA-proposed emission reduction targets, and find that some states can meet their renewable energy generation targets through co-firing, although co-firing alone is not sufficient to achieve any state's emission reduction targets.