Evaluating the impact of CO2 capture and storage on total efficiency: A lifecycle analysis

Abstract

This paper evaluates the impact of carbon capture and storage (CCS) on the total efficiency of natural gas and coal-fired power plants in various countries, with a focus on energy penalties. Unlike previous studies, which primarily examine efficiency losses within the conversion process, this work extends the analysis across the entire fuel lifecycle, providing a more comprehensive assessment. Total efficiency is calculated by accounting for energy consumption across all stages: fuel preparation (extraction, processing, transportation), power generation, and CCS operations. The findings reveal that CCS significantly reduces total efficiency, with thermodynamic efficiency losses exceeding 50 % in both natural gas and coal plants. Sensitivity analyses identify CO₂ capture and transportation as the most energy-intensive stages, critically influencing overall efficiency losses. While natural gas plants suffer greater penalties due to high fuel preparation demands, coal plants are more impacted by CCS-related energy consumption. The study underscores the need for optimized fuel logistics, advanced CO₂ capture technologies, and efficient transportation strategies to mitigate these penalties and enhance the feasibility of CCS as a decarbonization pathway.