Hydrochar and synthetic natural gas co-production for a full circular economy implementation via hydrothermal carbonization and methanation: An economic approach
Journal article, 2024

Herein we study the economic performance of hydrochar and synthetic natural gas co-production from olive tree pruning. The process entails a combination of hydrothermal carbonization and methanation. In a previous work, we evidenced that standalone hydrochar production via HTC results unprofitable. Hence, we propose a step forward on the process design by implementing a methanation, adding value to the gas effluent in an attempt to boost the overall process techno-economic aspects. Three different plant capacities were analyzed (312.5, 625 and 1250 kg/hr). The baseline scenarios showed that, under the current circumstances, our circular economy strategy in unprofitable. An analysis of the revenues shows that hydrochar selling price have a high impact on NPV and subsidies for renewable coal production could help to boost the profitability of the process. On the contrary, the analysis for natural gas prices reveals that prices 8 times higher than the current ones in Spain must be achieved to reach profitability. This seems unlikely even under the presence of a strong subsidy scheme. The costs analysis suggests that a remarkable electricity cost reduction or electricity consumption of the HTC stage could be a potential strategy to reach profitability scenarios. Furthermore, significant reduction of green hydrogen production costs is deemed instrumental to improve the economic performance of the process. These results show the formidable techno-economic challenge that our society faces in the path towards circular economy societies.

CO waste valorization 2

Hydrothermal carbonization

Methanation

Profitability analysis

Author

Judith González-Arias

University of Seville

Guillermo Torres-Sempere

University of Seville

Miriam González-Castaño

University of Seville

Francisco Baena-Moreno

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

University of Seville

T. R. Reina

University of Seville

Journal of Environmental Sciences

1001-0742 (ISSN) 18787320 (eISSN)

Vol. 140 69-78

Subject Categories

Energy Engineering

Economics

Environmental Sciences

DOI

10.1016/j.jes.2023.04.019

PubMed

38331516

More information

Latest update

2/20/2024