The design of carbon capture IGCC-based plants with hydrogen co-production

The co-production of electricity and hydrogen from fossil fuels with the simultaneous capture of CO2 is an attractive proposal for the future European power generation system. A plant based on this technology and with the ability to vary the electricity-tohydrogen output could operate in base-load mode irrespective of the electricity demand, with significant economic advantages. This paper focuses on this type of plant fuelled by coal and lignite and identifies the most suitable gasification technologies that could be adopted for each fuel type, proposes optimal plant configurations and assesses plant performance.