Life cycle assessment of an integrated oxy-fuel combustion power plant with CO2 capture, transport and storage ‒ Poland case study

• CCS (Carbon capture and storage) is a promising technology.
• The index of thermoecological cost is an adequate ecological measure.
• CCS system induces 22% higher depletion of non-renewable primary energy.
• In life cycle analysis the operational phase dominates (over 99.5%).

The consumption of non-renewable primary energy resources results in their depletion, which is becoming absolutely crucial for the sustainable development of humankind. The production of electricity based on burning fossil fuels involves harmful emissions. Thus, the additional consumption of primary energy is required in order to make up for the environmental impact. The of that consumption of primary exergy per unit of useful products is called the index of TEC (thermoecological cost). When the whole life cycle is considered, we have to do with the LC TEC (life-cycle thermoecological cost).The paper presents the concept of a life cycle assessment based on the thermoecological cost implemented in an integrated OFC (oxy-fuel combustion) power plant with CO2 capture, transport and storage. A mathematical model evaluating the LC TEC was applied and the example utilised Polish conditions.The obtained value of the LC TEC of the analyzed CCS (Carbon capture and storage) system (with 90% CO2 emission reduction) is about 22% higher than the average value for polish coal-fired power plants (without CCS). The results of sensitivity analysis concerning LC TEC allow to conclude that the operation phase dominates (over 99.5%), thus the construction, repairs and decommissioning phases for CCS systems could be neglected in further studies concerning the depletion of non-renewable natural resources.