The transition from coal to natural gas is a key element of the decarbonisation of the global
economy. The fact that natural gas supports renewables in terms of electricity generation and even
storage is influencing long term energy policy to an affordable power decarbonisation. Therefore,
the role that natural gas will play might be crucial if carbon capture and storage (CCS) or biomass
is to be implemented into the power system. This work aims to find a holistic solution for the
combination of gas, biomass and CCS in terms of cost and emissions.
Three configurations were studied; Biomass Integrated Combined Cycle (BIGCC), Hydrogen
Thermal Combined Cycle (HTCC) and Externally Fired (EF). The potential of each process to
capture CO2 was calculated as well as the likelihood of achieving carbon neutral or negative
emissions at a certain cost. Finally the main parameters influencing the net emissions and cost
were identified through a global sensitivity analysis.
Key conclusions from the work are the following: (1) With a reasonable biomass blending rate
(16% to 47%) it is possible to achieve neutral emissions. (2) Biomass and CCS systems always
will deliver negative emissions, if biomass supply chain CO2 emissions are lower than 900 kg/tBM
and capture rate higher than 50%. (3) Biomass combustion with CCS (EFccs100) has a higher
probability of capturing more than a tonne of CO2 per MWh. (4) Capacity factor was a common
key parameter among technologies. (5) All configurations with more than 50% blending had a
67% likelihood of reaching costs lower than $100/tCO2av (6) If the whole BECCS CO2 emissions are
considered, i.e., including supply chain emissions, instead of the single power plant CO2 emissions,
there will be c.50% increase in the median cost of CO2 removed ($/tCO2 ).