Optimal CO2 Capture Operation in an Advanced Electric Grid

Abstract Increased attention to CO 2 capture operability motivates study of CO 2 capture within a full electricity system where different operating configurations (no capture, inflexible capture, flexible capture) can be studied alongside competing generating technologies in current and future electric grids. A least-cost electricity system dispatch model is created as a mixed integer linear program using GAMS software and used to perform such analysis, specifically examining flexible post-combustion amine scrubbing for energy and ancillary service provision. A projected 2020 Electric Reliability Council of Texas grid with substantial wind and energy storage is modeled to quantify flexible capture capabilities for $0–80/tCO 2 and $3–8/MMBTU natural gas. Flexible capture is found to reduce electricity dispatch costs by responding to variability in electricity demand. Given sufficient system response time, the ability to reduce capture load (energy requirement) allows facilities to provide substantial low-cost reserve capacity, and units with capture operating below 100% load can offer the ability to increase capture load for unexpected increases in supply such as from wind. The cost and reliability (ancillary) service benefits of flexible capture are found to increase with CO 2 and natural gas price because units become more economical to operate. Furthermore, the existence of grid-scale energy storage does not significantly detract from the value of flexible capture.

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