Evaluation of hybrid electric/gas steam generation for a chemical plant under future energy market scenarios

Paper in proceeding, 2020

Hybrid electric/gas steam generation is a suitable concept to reduce CO2 emissions from existing industrial plants while at the same time being able to benefit from shifting between different varying energy carrier markets. In this study, hybrid steam generation was assessed in terms of total annualised cost for a case study chemical plant under current and future en-ergy market conditions using a linear optimisation model. The methodology accounts for hourly steam demand fluctuations as well as hourly variations of energy carrier prices. Consistent future energy market scenarios (energy carrier prices and CO2 charges) were used to assess the long-term benefits of different investment options. The optimal capacities in terms of total annualised cost of steam production for different energy market conditions were calculated by the model and used as base for three investment decisions that were further assessed in terms of running cost. The assessment considers the impact of on-site CO2 and electric grid capacity limitations. The results show that flexible hybrid steam generation is an economically robust option compared to investment in a stand-alone gas boiler. This characteristic makes hybrid steam generation a promising technology for the transition from current natural gas-based steam production to steam production from electricity and bio-methane.