Integrated carbon capture and renewable technologies for carbon neutral energy hubs: A network-ready superstructure model

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive superstructure model for carbon-neutral energy hubs, integrating Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) with renewable technologies. The model addresses the significant energy demands of CCUS processes, particularly in cooling, heating, and CO₂ compression, by incorporating an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) to enhance overall energy efficiency. The proposed framework features an energy-efficient CO₂ removal unit capable of sepa¹rating up to 130,000 kg/h of CO₂, with the ORC integrated into the compression stages' intercoolers. Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) and photovoltaic (PV) technologies are incorporated to meet heating and power demands, while batteries provide electrochemical energy storage for multi-vector energy management. This integration enables sustainable electrical power production of up to 9.5 MW. The superstructure is designed as a flexible, network-ready template for carbon-neutral energy nodes, adaptable to various industrial settings and scalable for broader energy networks. Sensitivity analyses identify the optimal CCUS operating conditions and structural configuration, revealing that the system's total heating demand and power consumption are most sensitive to the CO₂ removal units' operating pressure and structural parameters. The model's versatility is demonstrated through its application to blue hydrogen production, integrating a hydrogen-based power and heat generation unit for methane reforming at 24 bar and 700 °C. This conceptual design offers a modular approach to developing interconnected, carbon-neutral energy systems across diverse industrial applications, paving the way for large-scale industrial decarbonization strategies.