An alternate wind power integration mechanism: Coal plants with flexible amine-based CCS

This paper explores a solution to problems associated with two promising technologies for decarbonizing the electricity generation system: high costs of energy penalty of carbon capture and storage, and the intermittency and non-dispatchability of wind power. It looks at the optimal design and operating strategy of a hybrid system consisting of a coal plant retrofitted with a post-combustion amine-based Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) system equipped with the option to perform partial CO2 capture, and a co-located wind farm. A linear optimization model determines the optimal component sizes for the hybrid system and capture rates while meeting constraints on annual average emission targets of CO2, and variability of the combined power output. Economic benefits result from capturing less CO2 during high electricity price time periods and capturing more CO2 during times of relatively low electricity prices or times when integrating wind power output would exceed the transmission capacity of the connector lines. The hybrid system has Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) and Cost of Carbon Capture (CoC) comparable to those of a new Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plant (NGCC), and provides a mechanism for muting the variability of wind power in the same way an energy storage system would.