رسائل ماجيستير
English
2024
Economic and environmental benefits of CO2 conversion to value-added products in Oman
Aisha Abdul Raouf, Muhammad Abdul Qyyum, Rashid Al-Hajr
كلية الهندسة-جامعة السلطان قابوس · عمان
Carbon dioxide emissions represent a significant environmental concern, contributing to greenhouse gas effects and climate change, particularly global warming. One of the primary sources of these emissions is attributed to the “hard-to-abate” sectors—namely cement, steel, chemicals, and transport. The decarbonization of these industries took center stage at the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai, emphasizing the urgent need to accelerate the development, implementation, and utilization of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies.
In alignment with this objective, the Sultanate of Oman is navigating a delicate balance between economic development and environmental responsibility by evaluating the potential of renewable energy and green hydrogen production. This study investigates the economic viability of value-added products, such as methanol and synthetic natural gas (SNG), derived from captured carbon dioxide (CO2) and green hydrogen (H2).
The CO2 feedstock is extracted from the flue gas of a clinker production unit using an amine-based absorption system, while hydrogen is produced via water electrolysis powered by hybrid renewable electricity sources (wind and solar). The levelized cost of captured CO2 and green hydrogen is estimated at $38.6 per ton of CO2 and $4.23 per kilogram of H2, respectively.
A comprehensive economic analysis, based on capital and operational costs from a commercial-scale methanol production study and assuming a project lifetime of 25 years, was conducted to determine the levelized costs of methanol ($873 per ton) and SNG ($2240 per ton).
The study confirms that, currently, the technology demonstrates potential economic competitiveness, although the levelized cost of methanol exceeds twice the prevailing methanol market price in Oman ($375 per ton), with the levelized cost of SNG showing a similar trend. Nonetheless, projections indicate that these processes are likely to become economically competitive in the medium term, driven by evolving global policies and market dynamics.
Furthermore, the research highlights that the levelized costs of methanol and SNG are primarily influenced by key factors such as electricity prices, labor costs, and natural gas prices.