Wilhelm Kuckshinrichs

Worldwide innovations in the development of carbon capture technologies and the utilization of CO2

While Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies are being developed with the focus of capturing and storing CO2 in huge quantities, new methods for the chemical exploitation of carbon dioxide (CCU) are being developed in parallel. The intensified chemical or physical utilization of CO2 is targeted at generating value from a limited part of the CO2 stream and developing better and more efficient chemical processes with reduced CO2 footprint. Here, we compare the status of the three main lines of CCS technologies with respect to efficiency, energy consumption, and technical feasibility as well as the implications of CCS on the efficiency and structure of the energy supply chain.

Chemical Technologies for Exploiting and Recycling Carbon Dioxide into the Value Chain

While experts in various fields discuss the potential of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, the utilization of carbon dioxide as chemical feedstock is also attracting renewed and rapidly growing interest. These approaches do not compete; rather, they are complementary: CCS aims to capture and store huge quantities of carbon dioxide, while the chemical exploitation of carbon dioxide aims to generate value and develop better and more-efficient processes from a limited part of the waste stream. Provided that the overall carbon footprint for the carbon dioxide-based process chain is competitive with conventional chemical production and that the reaction with the carbon dioxide molecule is enabled by the use of appropriate catalysts, carbon dioxide can be a promising carbon source with practically unlimited availability for a range of industrially relevant products. In addition, it can be used as a versatile processing fluid based on its remarkable physicochemical properties.

Value of Lost Load: An Efficient Economic Indicator for Power Supply Security? A Literature Review

Security of electricity supply has become a fundamental requirement for well-functioning modern societies. Because of its central position in all sections of society, the present paper considers the economic consequences of a power supply interruption. The Value of Lost Load (VoLL) is a monetary indicator expressing the costs associated with an interruption of electricity supply. This paper reviews different methods for calculating VoLL, provides an overview of recently published studies, and presents suggestions to increase the explanatory power and international comparability of VoLL.

Carbon Capture, Storage and Use

Fossil-based energy conversion and energy-intensive industries are sources of a large part of global CO2 emissions. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies are regarded as important technical options to reduce worldwide CO2 emissions. However, the discussion on the potential of CCS is highly controversial concerning four perspectives: technology development, economic competitiveness, environmental and safety impacts, and social acceptance. The following chapters focus on these aspects and analyze the potential and the possible role of CCS technologies. The study is based on methods of Integrated Technology Assessment. When regional considerations are important for evaluation, e.g. in case of social acceptance, the focus is on the German perspective.

Opportunities for Utilizing and Recycling CO2

Complementing Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), the utilization of carbon dioxide (CCU) as chemical feedstock and versatile processing fluid is attracting rapidly growing interest in science and industry. The chemical exploitation of carbon dioxide aims to generate value by producing polymeric and inorganic materials, fine chemicals and other products in which large amounts of carbon are fixated for an extended period of time. Provided that the reaction of the CO2 molecule is enabled by the use of appropriate catalysts and process conditions and that the overall carbon footprint of the CO2-based process chain is competitive with conventional chemical production, carbon dioxide can be a promising carbon source with practically unlimited availability.

Economic Analysis of Improved Alkaline Water Electrolysis

Alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) is a mature hydrogen production technology and there exists a range of economic assessments for available technologies. For advanced AWEs, which may be based on novel polymer-based membrane concepts, it is of prime importance that development comes along with new configurations and technical and economic key process parameters for AWE which might be of interest for further economic assessments. This paper presents an advanced AWE technology referring to 3 different sites in Europe (Germany, Austria, Spain). The focus is on financial metrics, the projection of key performance parameters of advanced AWEs, and further financial and tax parameters. For financial analysis from an investor’s (business) perspective, a comprehensive assessment of a technology not only comprises cost analysis but also further financial analysis quantifying attractiveness and supply/market flexibility. Therefore, based on Cash Flow (CF) analysis, a comprehensible set of metrics may comprise Levelised Cost of Energy or, respectively, Levelised Cost of Hydrogen (LCH) for cost assessment, Net Present Value (NPV) for attractiveness analysis and Variable Cost (VC) for analysis of market flexibility. The German AWE site turns out to perform best in all three financial metrics (LCH, NPV, VC). Though there are slight differences in investment cost and operation and maintenance cost projections for the three sites, the major cost impact is due to the electricity cost. Although investment cost is slightly and labour cost is significantly lower in Spain, the difference can’t outweigh the higher electricity cost compared to Germany. Given the assumption that the electrolysis operators are customers directly and actively participating in power markets, and based on the regulatory framework in the three countries, in this special case electricity cost in Germany is lowest. However, as electricity cost is profoundly influenced by political decisions as well as the implementation of economic instruments for transforming electricity systems toward sustainability, it is hardly possible to further improve electricity price forecasts.

The System Value of CCS Technologies in the Context of CO2 Mitigation Scenarios for Germany

This chapter analyses the system value of CCS in Germany within the context of consistent greenhouse gas reduction scenarios with and without the implementation of CCS technologies. The system value of CCS is determined using additional CO2 avoidance costs that would occur if climate change mitigation targets were to be met without using CCS even though CCS technology was available. The development of important parameters, assumptions and energy- and climate-policy targets are represented in scenarios. The methodological basis for the scenario calculations is the bottom-up energy system model IKARUS. The energy economics results comprise energy and CO2 balances, capacity development, and the costs of CO2 reduction strategies. From this, the system value of CCS and the contribution of all sectors to it are derived.

IKARUS - A fundamental concept for national GHG-mitigation strategies

Abstract Within the frame of the German IKARUS project a bottom-up energy optimization model and a macroeconomic simulation model based on the input-output approach have been developed. Under the restriction to reduce energy related CO 2 emissions by 25 % until 2005, first model runs have been done for the German Previous States.

Carbon Capture and Utilization as an Option for Climate Change Mitigation: Integrated Technology Assessment

Fossil-based energy conversion and energy-intensive industries are sources of a large part of global CO2 emissions. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies are regarded as important technical options to reduce worldwide CO2 emissions. However, the discussion on the potential of CCS is highly controversial concerning four perspectives: technology development, economic competitiveness, environmental and safety impacts, and social acceptance. The following chapters focus on these aspects and analyze the potential and the possible role of CCS technologies. The study is based on methods of Integrated Technology Assessment. When regional considerations are important for evaluation, e.g. in case of social acceptance, the focus is on the German perspective.

Economic Analysis of Carbon Capture in the Energy Sector

The cost of carbon capture is a crucial factor for the deployment of the technologies in the electricity sector. In general, much higher electricity generation costs arise in case of carbon capture. With an increase of approximately 80 %, lignite-based CCS plants are particularly affected. The CO2 avoidance costs are € 34–38/tCO2 for lignite plants, € 41–48/tCO2 for hard coal plants, and with approx. € 67/tCO2 highest for natural gas plants. This depends on the lower level of CO2 avoided in case of gas-fired power plants. Only when the price of allowances rises to these levels will the use of CCS power plants be cost-effective.