Publication Overview
This report is a brief review of the technology and costs of partial capture of CO₂. The report does not attempt to prescribe policies for mandating CO₂ capture and whether partial capture should be part of a policy for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. IEA GHG provides technical information which can be used by policy makers but it does not intend to be policy prescriptive
Publication Summary
Partial capture of CO₂ is not feasible in oxy-combustion power generation units but partial capture can be achieved at multi-units power plants by having some units with high percentage capture and some units without capture. In a plant with post combustion capture the optimum method of achieving partial capture would be to by-pass some of the flue gas around the capture unit. The resulting cost per tonne of CO₂ avoided is expected to be similar to or slightly higher than for high percentage capture. Partial capture can be achieved in IGCC by reducing the extent of shift conversion. The resulting cost per tonne of CO₂ avoided for partial capture (around 50%) is expected to be about the same or lower than for high percentage capture. Based on current expectations of the relative costs of IGCC and pulverised coal plants, the lowest cost method of achieving partial capture would be to have a portfolio of IGCCs with high percentage capture and pulverised coal plants without capture. Partial capture could be appropriate for power plants with CCS demonstration units.
