Life Cycle Modelling of Carbon Dioxide Capture and Geological Storage in Energy Production
Author(s)
Nie, Zhenggang
Type
Thesis
Abstract
Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and geological storage (CCS) is recognised as one of the
main options in the portfolio of greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation technologies being
developed worldwide. The CO2 capture and storage technologies require significant
amounts of energy during their implementation and also change the environmental
profile of power generation. The holistic perspective offered by Life Cycle Assessment
(LCA) enables decision makers to quantify the trade-offs inherent in any change to the
power production systems and helps to ensure that a reduction in GHG emissions does
not result in significant increases in other environmental impacts. Early LCA studies of
power generation with CCS report a wide range of results, as they focus on specific CO2
capture cases only. Furthermore, previous work and commercial LCA software have a
rigid approach to system boundaries and do not recognise the importance of the level of
detail that should be included in the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) data.
This research developed a complete LCA framework for the “cradle-to-grave”
assessment of alternative CCS technologies in carbon-containing fuel power generation.
A comprehensive and quantitative Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) database, which models
inputs/outputs of processes at high level of detail, accounts for technical and geographic
differences, generates LCI data in a consistent and transparent manner was developed
and arranged and flexible structure.
The developed LCI models were successfully applied to power plants with alternative
post-combustion chemical absorption capture and oxy-fuel combustion capture. The
results demonstrate that most environmental impacts come from power generation with
CCS and the upstream process of coal production at a life-cycle perspective. LCA
results are sensitive to the type of coal used and the CO2 capture options chosen.
Moreover, the models developed successfully trace the fate of elements (including trace
metals) of concern throughout the power generation, CO2 capture, transport and
injection chain. Monte Carlo simulation method combined with the LCI models was
applied to quantify the uncertainty of emissions of concern.
A novel analytical framework for the LCA of CO2 storage was also developed and
applied to a saline aquifer storage field case. The potential CO2 leakage rates were
quantified and the operational and geological parameters that determine the ratio of CO2
leakage total volume of CO2 injected were identified.
main options in the portfolio of greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation technologies being
developed worldwide. The CO2 capture and storage technologies require significant
amounts of energy during their implementation and also change the environmental
profile of power generation. The holistic perspective offered by Life Cycle Assessment
(LCA) enables decision makers to quantify the trade-offs inherent in any change to the
power production systems and helps to ensure that a reduction in GHG emissions does
not result in significant increases in other environmental impacts. Early LCA studies of
power generation with CCS report a wide range of results, as they focus on specific CO2
capture cases only. Furthermore, previous work and commercial LCA software have a
rigid approach to system boundaries and do not recognise the importance of the level of
detail that should be included in the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) data.
This research developed a complete LCA framework for the “cradle-to-grave”
assessment of alternative CCS technologies in carbon-containing fuel power generation.
A comprehensive and quantitative Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) database, which models
inputs/outputs of processes at high level of detail, accounts for technical and geographic
differences, generates LCI data in a consistent and transparent manner was developed
and arranged and flexible structure.
The developed LCI models were successfully applied to power plants with alternative
post-combustion chemical absorption capture and oxy-fuel combustion capture. The
results demonstrate that most environmental impacts come from power generation with
CCS and the upstream process of coal production at a life-cycle perspective. LCA
results are sensitive to the type of coal used and the CO2 capture options chosen.
Moreover, the models developed successfully trace the fate of elements (including trace
metals) of concern throughout the power generation, CO2 capture, transport and
injection chain. Monte Carlo simulation method combined with the LCI models was
applied to quantify the uncertainty of emissions of concern.
A novel analytical framework for the LCA of CO2 storage was also developed and
applied to a saline aquifer storage field case. The potential CO2 leakage rates were
quantified and the operational and geological parameters that determine the ratio of CO2
leakage total volume of CO2 injected were identified.
Date Issued
2009-02
Date Awarded
2009-08
Copyright Statement
Attribution NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence (CC BY-ND)
Advisor
Durucan, Sevket
Korre, Anna
Sponsor
Hilary Bauerman Trust
Creator
Nie, Zhenggang
Publisher Department
Earth Science and Engineering
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)