Unit-level cost-benefit analysis for coal power plants retrofitted with biomass co-firing at a national level by combined GIS and life cycle assessment. (1st March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Jin; Wang, Rui; Li, Haoran; Nie, Yaoyu; Song, Xinke; Li, Mingyu; Shi, Mai; Zheng, Xinzhu; Cai, Wenjia; Wang, Can
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 285(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03-01
• Subjects: Power plants -- Unit-level -- China -- Biomass energy -- Cost-benefit analysis; CBG combustion biomass' GHG emission factor -- CBS combustion biomass' SO2 emission factor -- CCG combustion coal's GHG emission factor -- CCS combustion coal's SO2 emission factor -- GC Gini coefficient. GIS, geographical information system -- GHG greenhouse gas -- GR the amount of GHGs reduction -- GRPC GHGs reduction per unit cost -- LCOE levelized costs of electricity -- LCA life cycle assessment -- SR the amount of SO2 reduction -- SRPC SO2 reduction per unit cost -- UBG upstream biomass' GHG emission factor -- UBS upstream biomass' SO2 emission factor -- UCG upstream coal's GHG emission factor -- UCS upstream coal's SO2 emission factor; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.116494
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Highlight: Coal-to-biomass retrofitting costs US$18.3–73.0 for each ton of carbon reduced. Coal-to-biomass retrofit costs US$21.6–806.5 for each kg of SO2 reduced. The unit's size, age, and transportation distance are main influencing factors. Carbon or SO2 reductions mainly depends on cost or benefit preference, respectively. Abstract: To avoid the irreversible impact of global climate change on human society, many countries have recently put forward ambitious goals to accelerate the low-carbon transition of energy systems. Among low-carbon measures, retrofitting existing coal power plants with biomass co-firing is regarded as a promising cost-efficient option to mitigate greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions. However, the life-cycle economic cost or environmental benefit of this coal-to-biomass retrofit is not identical for various types of power plants in different regions. To facilitate a more efficient biomass utilization strategy in an energy system, it is necessary to carry out a large-scale and high-resolution cost-benefit assessment for the co-firing of biomass and coal in retrofitted plants. Taking China as an example, this study utilized a bottom-up approach and geographic information system, combined with the latest available datasets, to develop a unit-level cost-benefit analysis framework for the coal-to-biomass transition. The results indicate that the coal-to-biomass retrofit costs US$18.3–73.0 for each ton of carbon reduction, and US$21.6–806.5 for each kg of SO2 reduction, at a 25% blending ratio. Installed capacity, operating year, and transportation distance are important influencing factors of cost-benefit heterogeneity. The priority of power unit retrofitting in terms of carbon reductions mainly depends on the cost preference, while that for SO2 reduction is mainly determined by benefit preference. The analytical framework proposed in this study can be used in other countries to formulate an efficient biomass development strategy.