Assessment of the techno-economic feasibility of bioethanol production with carbon capture and storage in Brazil

Abstract

This study provides insights in the costs of CO2 capture and storage in combination with bioethanol production from sugarcane in Brazil on the short term (2015) and mid term (2030). Some capture and storage technologies are compared to find the most cost effective combinations to mitigate CO2 emissions. CO2 capture can be applied during the production of ethanol. In this study CO2 capture from fermentation and post-combustion capture from a bagasse powered CHP are researched. As post-combustion capture technology Chilled Ammonia Process (CAP) is studied. The CO2 storage options are: storage in aquifers (underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock) or oilfields. If CO2 is injected in oilfield extra oil can be recovered (EOR).To compare these technologies 4 scenarios are used. In scenario 1 current ethanol factories are studied, CO2 is captured from fermentation and aquifers are used for storage. Scenario 2 is similar to scenario 1, but in this case new ethanol factories are studied in the period 2015-2025. In scenario 3 new ethanol plants are studied in the period 2025-2030, CO2 is captured from fermentation and from the flue gas from the CHP and aquifers are used for storage. Scenario 4 is similar to scenario 3, except for storage. In scenario 4 the CO2 is stored in oilfields and extra oil is produced. The results of the study are that on the short term scenario 2 is most cost-effective.The CO2 reduction costs range from €19,30 to €28,59 /t CO2. On the mid termscenario 4 is most cost effective. In this scenario there are revenues from storing CO2 due to the extra oil production. The revenues are €150,21/ t CO2 reduced.However, the extra oil production leads to an increase in emissions.