Assessment of carbon capture thermodynamic limitation on coal-fired power plant efficiency

► This study shows a theoretical 6.8% pt loss of efficiency for MEA absorption (post), 6.6% pt for MDEA absorption (pre) and 5.4% pt for the cryogenic ASU (oxy). ► These results highlight the difficulty to design a process with less than 5% pt of efficiency loss, the main technological challenge of the CO2 capture field. ► The better achievable performance seems around 6.0% pt loss of efficiency with post-combustion or oxy-combustion options.