Economic analysis of CO2 capture from natural gas combined cycles using Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells

After an introduction about MCFC technological status and economic outlook, this work analyzes the economic performances of the proposed plants in order to evaluate their economic viability, considering all plant components and adopting a detailed bottom-up approach to determine the component cost distribution and the total plant costs. The final effect on cost of electricity and CO2 capture cost are addressed, allowing to evidence whether and how this solution might be competitive in the future. It is shown that current MCFC costs do not allow an economic advantage with respect to 'traditional' carbon capture cycles (i.e., NGCC with ammines scrubbing); while the situation would change assuming more aggressive mid-term MCFC cost targets. The breakeven specific costs that MCFC should achieve to successfully compete on an economic basis results close to 1500 €/kWel (in terms of Total Equipment Cost, TEC) for a cost of natural gas equal to 6.5 €/GJ, increasing to 2000 €/kWel assuming NG cost of 9 €/GJ.