Comparative life cycle assessment of CO2 onshore transport in China: Pipeline or tanker truck?

Abstract

The transport of CO₂ plays a crucial role in the application of carbon capture, utilisation, and storage technology, significantly affecting the economy and emission reduction effectiveness of this technology. Nevertheless, a noticeable gap exists in the literature regarding the comprehensive assessment and comparison of different onshore transport modes specifically focused on China. In particular, there is a lack of evaluation research on tanker truck transport. This study employs a life cycle assessment approach to evaluate and compare the cost and carbon footprint of pipeline and tanker truck transport methods of CO₂ in China. The assessments show that, with a 20-year operating time, the costs for pipeline and tanker truck transport in China stand at 0.2584 and 0.2306 CNY/t·km, respectively. The life cycle carbon emissions for pipeline transport of CO₂ is 0.0939 kg/t·km, 9.62 % less than tanker truck transport. The production of pipelines primarily dictates the cost and carbon footprint of pipeline transport, whereas tanker truck transport is mainly affected by the operation and maintenance processes. Operating years, price factors and discount rates affect the unit transport cost of both modes, while transport distance influences the comparison of the carbon footprint; changes in these factors together shape the decision of the optimal mode of transport. This study proposes enhancing the overall benefit of CO₂ transport through a combination of vehicle-pipeline transport and reducing transport carbon emissions by enhancing pipeline anti-corrosion and other methods.