Work

Comparative techno-economic analysis of integrated process designs combining LNG cold utilization and carbon capture

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Given the slow deployment of renewables and the continued dominance of natural gas in power generation, advancing carbon capture technologies is essential to curb high energy costs and support broader adoption. Meanwhile, a significant amount of cold energy sources remains untapped despite growing energy demand. Integrating unused cryogenic sources with carbon capture technologies offers a promising pathway to accelerate the low-carbon transition. This paper investigates multiple integrated process designs that utilize the high-grade cold energy of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for carbon capture and storage in the form of liquefied CO 2 (LCO 2 ), structured around pre-combustion, post-combustion, and oxy-combustion strategies. The analysis is contextualized by Singapore's LNG imports and local distribution conditions. Steady-state models assess the performance of each integrated design, while techno-economic evaluation examines the LNG power net revenues, accounting for capture costs, environmental taxation, and potential LCO 2 sales, contingent on market accessibility. The assessment shows that an integrated chemical absorption capture system with blended amines would achieve a CO 2 intensity of 0.135 kg/kWh e , with the highest increase in net revenue (30.1 %) if the LCO 2 is marketed, and among the lowest shortfalls in net revenue (0.44 %) without market access. The results also indicate that an integrated cryogenic carbon capture system would achieve low to moderate abatement rates, leading to CO 2 intensities as low as 0.202 kg/kWh e . Without LCO 2 market access, it would incur a minor net revenue shortfall of less than 0.5 %, but only if acid gas enrichment increases CO 2 concentration in the feed gas to 30 %mol CO2 (dry basis).

Source: Journal of Cleaner Production

DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.146274

Authors: Fadhel Ayachi, Li Chin Law, Epaminondas Mastorakos, Alessandro Romagnoli

Institutions: Nanyang Technological University, The Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education in Singapore, University of Cambridge

Language: English

Topic: Carbon Dioxide Capture Technologies

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Climate action, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,660