Journal Article - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Gasification of Coal and Biomass: A Net Carbon-Negative Power Source for Environment-Friendly Electricity Generation in China
Abstract
Realizing the goal of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 2 °C by the end of this century will most likely require deployment of carbon-negative technologies. It is particularly important that China, as the world's top carbon emitter, avoids being locked into carbon-intensive, coal-fired power-generation technologies and undertakes a smooth transition from high- to negative-carbon electricity production. We focus here on deploying a combination of coal and biomass energy to produce electricity in China using an integrated gasification cycle system combined with carbon capture and storage (CBECCS). Such a system will also reduce air pollutant emissions, thus contributing to China's near-term goal of improving air quality. We evaluate the bus-bar electricity-generation prices for CBECCS with mixing ratios of crop residues varying from 0 to 100%, as well as associated costs for carbon mitigation and cobenefits for air quality. We find that CBECCS systems employing a crop residue ratio of 35% could produce electricity with net-zero life-cycle emissions of greenhouse gases, with a levelized cost of electricity of no more than 9.2 US cents per kilowatt hour. A carbon price of approximately $52.0 per ton would make CBECCS cost-competitive with pulverized coal power plants. Therefore, our results provide critical insights for designing a CBECCS strategy in China to harness near-term air-quality cobenefits while laying the foundation for achieving negative carbon emissions in the long run.
Want to Read More?
The full text of this publication is available via Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
For more information on this publication:
Please contact
Science, Technology, and Public Policy
For Academic Citation:
Lu, Xi, Liang Cao, Haikun Wang, Wei Peng, Jia Xing, Shuxiao Wang, Siyi Cai, Bo Shen, Qing Yang, Chris P. Nielsen and Michael B. McElroy. "Gasification of Coal and Biomass: A Net Carbon-Negative Power Source for Environment-Friendly Electricity Generation in China." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 116. no. 17. (2019): 8206–8213.
- Recommended
- In the Spotlight
- Most Viewed
Recommended
Journal Article
- Nature Sustainability
Managing China's Coal Power Plants to Address Multiple Environmental Objectives
Journal Article
- Applied Energy
Potential Co-benefits of Electrification for Air Quality, Health, and CO2 Mitigation in 2030 China
Journal Article
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Air Quality, Health, and Climate Implications of China’s Synthetic Natural Gas Development
In the Spotlight
Most Viewed
Analysis & Opinions
- Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
To Enhance National Security, the Biden Administration Will Have to Trim an Exorbitant Defense Wish List
Journal Article
- Research Policy
The Relationship Between Science and Technology
Book Chapter
Russian Presidential Election, Basic Election Facts
Abstract
Realizing the goal of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 2 °C by the end of this century will most likely require deployment of carbon-negative technologies. It is particularly important that China, as the world's top carbon emitter, avoids being locked into carbon-intensive, coal-fired power-generation technologies and undertakes a smooth transition from high- to negative-carbon electricity production. We focus here on deploying a combination of coal and biomass energy to produce electricity in China using an integrated gasification cycle system combined with carbon capture and storage (CBECCS). Such a system will also reduce air pollutant emissions, thus contributing to China's near-term goal of improving air quality. We evaluate the bus-bar electricity-generation prices for CBECCS with mixing ratios of crop residues varying from 0 to 100%, as well as associated costs for carbon mitigation and cobenefits for air quality. We find that CBECCS systems employing a crop residue ratio of 35% could produce electricity with net-zero life-cycle emissions of greenhouse gases, with a levelized cost of electricity of no more than 9.2 US cents per kilowatt hour. A carbon price of approximately $52.0 per ton would make CBECCS cost-competitive with pulverized coal power plants. Therefore, our results provide critical insights for designing a CBECCS strategy in China to harness near-term air-quality cobenefits while laying the foundation for achieving negative carbon emissions in the long run.
Want to Read More?
The full text of this publication is available via Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.Lu, Xi, Liang Cao, Haikun Wang, Wei Peng, Jia Xing, Shuxiao Wang, Siyi Cai, Bo Shen, Qing Yang, Chris P. Nielsen and Michael B. McElroy. "Gasification of Coal and Biomass: A Net Carbon-Negative Power Source for Environment-Friendly Electricity Generation in China." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 116. no. 17. (2019): 8206–8213.
- Recommended
- In the Spotlight
- Most Viewed
Recommended
Journal Article - Nature Sustainability
Managing China's Coal Power Plants to Address Multiple Environmental Objectives
Journal Article - Applied Energy
Potential Co-benefits of Electrification for Air Quality, Health, and CO2 Mitigation in 2030 China
Journal Article - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Air Quality, Health, and Climate Implications of China’s Synthetic Natural Gas Development
In the Spotlight
Most Viewed
Analysis & Opinions - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
To Enhance National Security, the Biden Administration Will Have to Trim an Exorbitant Defense Wish List
Journal Article - Research Policy
The Relationship Between Science and Technology
Book Chapter
Russian Presidential Election, Basic Election Facts