Conceptual Design of Optimized Fossil Energy Systems with Capture and Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide

In this final progress report, we describe research results from Phase I of a technical/economic study of fossil hydrogen energy systems with CO2 sequestration. This work was performed under NETL Award No. DE-FC26-02NT41623, during the period September 2002 through August 2004. The primary objective of the study is to better understand system design issues and economics for a large-scale fossil energy system co-producing H2 and electricity with CO2 sequestration. This is accomplished by developing analytic and simulation methods for studying the entire system in an integrated way. We examine the relationships among the different parts of a hydrogen energy system, and identify which variables are the most important in determining both the disposal cost of CO2 and the delivered cost of H2. A second objective is to examine possible transition strategies from today's energy system toward one based on fossil-derived H2 and electricity with CO2 sequestration. We carried out a geographically specific case study of development of a fossil H2 system with CO2 sequestration, for the Midwestern United States, where there is presently substantial coal conversion capacity in place, coal resources are plentiful and potential sequestration sites in deep saline aquifers are widespread.