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Multi-scenario life cycle assessment of post-combustion carbon capture in China's coal-fired power plant

Author

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  • Zhou, Yilun
  • Guo, Dongfang
  • Qi, Guojie
  • Wang, Shujuan

Abstract

The environmental emissions associated with post-combustion carbon capture technologies in coal-fired power plants have gained significant attention, particularly those linked to chemical absorption methods and downstream carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) processes. Currently, China is deploying multiple megaton-scale absorbent-based carbon capture facilities, but research on commercial-scale multi-scenario life cycle assessments (LCA) of full-chain CCUS schemes remains limited. Therefore, this study conducts a detailed LCA based on input-output data from a newly operational 2 × 1000 MW supercritical coal-fired power plant in China. Four scenarios are evaluated: 1) baseline business-as-usual (BAU) operation without carbon capture; 2) carbon capture using 30 % monoethanolamine (MEA) for enhanced oil recovery (EOR-MEA); 3) carbon capture using 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) for EOR (EOR-AMP); 4) carbon capture and utilization (CCU) via AMP-enabled methanol synthesis (CCU-AMP). The results indicate that both EOR and CCU scenarios can reduce the global warming potential (GWP), with EOR achieving the highest reduction (61.7 %), followed by CCU (12.3 %). For midpoint environmental impact indicators such as acidification potential (AP) and eutrophication potential (EP), carbon capture technologies effectively mitigate impacts, with MEA-based systems outperforming AMP absorbents and CCU surpassing EOR. However, for endpoint environmental toxicity impacts such as freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity potential (FATEP), marine aquatic ecotoxicity potential (MAETP), terrestrial ecotoxicity potential (TAETP), and human toxicity potential (HTP), the AMP absorbent shows lower toxicity, and the EOR scheme outperforms the CCU scheme. This study emphasizes the different impacts of various CCUS technologies on the environment, offering critical insights for the application and integration of commercial-scale carbon capture technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhou, Yilun & Guo, Dongfang & Qi, Guojie & Wang, Shujuan, 2025. "Multi-scenario life cycle assessment of post-combustion carbon capture in China's coal-fired power plant," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:340:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225049643
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.139322
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mores, Patricia & Scenna, Nicolás & Mussati, Sergio, 2012. "CO2 capture using monoethanolamine (MEA) aqueous solution: Modeling and optimization of the solvent regeneration and CO2 desorption process," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 1042-1058.
    2. Sreedhar, I. & Nahar, Tanisha & Venugopal, A. & Srinivas, B., 2017. "Carbon capture by absorption – Path covered and ahead," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 1080-1107.
    3. Sammarchi, Sergio & Li, Jia & Izikowitz, David & Yang, Qiang & Xu, Dong, 2022. "China’s coal power decarbonization via CO2 capture and storage and biomass co-firing: A LCA case study in Inner Mongolia," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PA).
    4. Slyvester Yew Wang Chai & Lock Hei Ngu & Bing Shen How, 2022. "Review of carbon capture absorbents for CO2 utilization," Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 12(3), pages 394-427, June.
    5. Ning Yang & Fu Kang & Zhenyu Liu & Xinzhe Ge & Yunlong Zhou, 2022. "An integrated CCU-plant scheme and assessment for conversion of captured CO2 into methanol [Novel process technologies for conversion of carbon dioxide from industrial flue gas streams into methanol]," International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies, Oxford University Press, vol. 17, pages 550-562.
    6. Singh, Udayan & Colosi, Lisa M., 2021. "The case for estimating carbon return on investment (CROI) for CCUS platforms," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
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    1. Yu, Shijie & Feng, Tianxiang & Tian, Tian & Su, Xirui & Liu, Sitong & Wang, Shuai & Li, Wenjie & Zhang, Ruiqin, 2026. "Environmental synergies and trade-offs in low-carbon transition of power sector: A life cycle assessment of various power generation technologies in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 349(C).

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