Design and thermo-environmental-economic evaluations of biomass-powered trigeneration with integrated post-combustion CO2 capture: Promoting sustainability

The continued reliance on conventional fossil-based energy systems has intensified global environmental concerns, particularly due to high carbon emissions and declining resource sustainability. This study aims to design and evaluate a novel biomass-powered trigeneration system integrated with post-combustion CO2 capture to enhance energy efficiency and environmental performance. The proposed framework comprises multiple thermodynamic subsystems, including an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), an absorption chiller (ABS), a low-pressure steam boiler, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification unit, and a monoethanolamine-based CO2 capture unit, simulated using Aspen HYSYS. A comprehensive thermodynamic, economic, and environmental assessment was performed, with a focus on sensitivity analysis of key design parameters. Results from the model indicate a maximum exergy efficiency of 17.09% and energy efficiency of 58.4%, with total exergy destruction calculated at 53,636 kW. In trigeneration mode, the system achieved simultaneous outputs of 9735 kW cooling, 8158 kW heating, and 3984 kW electric power. The implementation of carbon capture significantly reduced specific CO2 emissions from 0.24 to 0.041 kg/kWh. Economically, the system demonstrates a cost of 0.249 $/kWh per unit of energy produced, representing a substantial reduction compared to power-only configurations. These findings highlight the system's viability for sustainable energy generation and underscore the policy relevance of integrating biomass-based trigeneration with CO2 mitigation technologies to support low-carbon transitions in industrial applications.