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Solar-based calcium looping power plant with thermo-chemical energy storage capability: A techno-economic and environmental (LCA) analysis

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  • Cormos, Calin-Cristian

Abstract

Renewable energy holds a significant place in the quest for low carbon economy and climate neutrality. Furthermore, the Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technologies are foreseen to have a significant role in overall economy decarbonization. The renewables and CCUS integration has an attractive potential for the future energy- and cost-efficient energy systems. Along this line, the Calcium Looping (CaL) is a particular attractive technology to deliver high energy efficiency with thermochemical energy storage potential. The present study performs an in-depth technical, economic and environmental analysis for a solar-based CaL plant with thermo-chemical energy storage to generate 100 MW net electricity. The power plant is assessed in flexible operational conditions in view of energy storage using CO2 and sorbent storage capabilities. As evaluation shows, the solar calcium looping process has promising techno-economic performances: high net power efficiency (around 42.5 %), lower economic costs such as the specific capital investments (about 3400 €/kW net power), around 76 €/MWh levelized cost of decarbonized electricity and very attractive low environmental impact (evaluated through a detailed Life Cycle Analysis - LCA). The flexibility of investigated CaL power plant using CO2 and sorbent storage capability is very promising for overall optimization of the most relevant technical, economic and environmental performance indexes.

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  • Cormos, Calin-Cristian, 2025. "Solar-based calcium looping power plant with thermo-chemical energy storage capability: A techno-economic and environmental (LCA) analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:251:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125010936
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123431
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sebastian Sobczuk & Agata Jaroń & Mateusz Mazur & Anna Borucka, 2025. "Renewable Energy and CO 2 Emissions: Analysis of the Life Cycle and Impact on the Ecosystem in the Context of Energy Mix Changes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-35, June.

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