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Synthetic methane for closing the carbon loop: Comparative study of three carbon sources for remote carbon-neutral fuel synthetization

Michaël Fonder, Pierre Counotte, Victor Dachet, Jehan de Séjournet, Damien Ernst

Abstract

Achieving carbon neutrality is probably one of the most important challenges of the 21st century for our societies. Part of the solution to this challenge is to leverage renewable energies. However, these energy sources are often located far away from places that need the energy, and their availability is intermittent, which makes them challenging to work with. In this paper, we build upon the concept of Remote Renewable Energy Hubs (RREHs), which are hubs located at remote places with abundant renewable energy sources whose purpose is to produce carbon-neutral synthetic fuels. More precisely, we model and study the Energy Supply Chain (ESC) that would be required to provide a constant source of carbon-neutral synthetic methane, also called e-NG (electric Natural Gas) or e-methane (electric methane), in Belgium from an RREH located in Morocco. To be carbon neutral, a synthetic fuel has to be produced from existing carbon dioxide (CO2) that needs to be captured using either Direct Air Capture (DAC) or Post Combustion Carbon Capture (PCCC). In this work, we detail the impact of three different carbon sourcing configurations on the price of the e-methane delivered in Belgium. Our results show that sourcing CO2 through a combination of DAC and PCCC is more cost-effective, resulting in a cost of 146 e/MWh for e-methane delivered in Belgium, as opposed to relying solely on DAC, which leads to a cost of 158 e/MWh. Moreover, these scenarios are compared to a scenario where CO2 is captured in Morocco from a CO2 emitting asset that allows to deliver e-methane for a cost of 136 e/MWh.

Synthetic methane for closing the carbon loop: Comparative study of three carbon sources for remote carbon-neutral fuel synthetization

Abstract

Achieving carbon neutrality is probably one of the most important challenges of the 21st century for our societies. Part of the solution to this challenge is to leverage renewable energies. However, these energy sources are often located far away from places that need the energy, and their availability is intermittent, which makes them challenging to work with. In this paper, we build upon the concept of Remote Renewable Energy Hubs (RREHs), which are hubs located at remote places with abundant renewable energy sources whose purpose is to produce carbon-neutral synthetic fuels. More precisely, we model and study the Energy Supply Chain (ESC) that would be required to provide a constant source of carbon-neutral synthetic methane, also called e-NG (electric Natural Gas) or e-methane (electric methane), in Belgium from an RREH located in Morocco. To be carbon neutral, a synthetic fuel has to be produced from existing carbon dioxide (CO2) that needs to be captured using either Direct Air Capture (DAC) or Post Combustion Carbon Capture (PCCC). In this work, we detail the impact of three different carbon sourcing configurations on the price of the e-methane delivered in Belgium. Our results show that sourcing CO2 through a combination of DAC and PCCC is more cost-effective, resulting in a cost of 146 e/MWh for e-methane delivered in Belgium, as opposed to relying solely on DAC, which leads to a cost of 158 e/MWh. Moreover, these scenarios are compared to a scenario where CO2 is captured in Morocco from a CO2 emitting asset that allows to deliver e-methane for a cost of 136 e/MWh.
Paper Structure (13 sections, 1 equation, 5 figures, 10 tables)

This paper contains 13 sections, 1 equation, 5 figures, 10 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Problem statement
  3. Material and method
  4. Modelling framework
  5. Geographical parameters
  6. Model
  7. Hub principle
  8. Our adaptations
  9. Results
  10. Costs analysis
  11. Energy analysis
  12. Results discussion
  13. Conclusion

Figures (5)

  • Figure 1: Geographical location of the different parts of the studied in this work.
  • Figure 2: Illustration of three major modules that are part of our and that are common for all sourcing configurations. The LNG hub features the infrastructures necessary to receive liquefied e-methane from carriers for the end delivery. The module will be installed in Belgium. The power production hub groups all the elements required to provide renewable power coming from energies to other elements of the . Finally, the e-methane production hub takes power and as inputs and produces liquid e-methane, water, hydrogen, and heat as outputs. These outputs can be consumed by other elements of the , such as units.
  • Figure 3: Illustration of the hub design used for our first sourcing configuration. The is captured by units at the place where the methanation is performed.
  • Figure 4: Illustration of the hub design used for our second sourcing configuration. The is captured by a unit placed at a local emitting asset, in Morocco. The is transferred to the methanation plant by pipeline.
  • Figure 5: Illustration of the hub design used for our third sourcing configuration. The is captured by at places where e-methane is used in Belgium. This carbon is transferred to the methanation hub by liquefied carriers. The electricity required for the units is provided by a small renewable energy power hub. Since cannot capture all the emitted , the missing required for methanation is captured by units on site, in Morocco.