A Plan for Biomass Power Generation With Negative Carbon Emissions

Worldwide energy consumption is accelerating at an unprecedented rate while humanity comes to understand the effects of climate change. Renewable resources such as wind and solar supply more energy every year, but the overwhelming majority of energy consumed is still from fossil fuels. The transition to zero carbon emission sources is important, but carbon negative energy could also become necessary in ensuring a sustainable global environment and economy. The most technically and commercially viable carbon negative solution is biomass-fueled power generation with carbon capture and sequestration. A conceptual design based on a biomass-fired circulating fluidized-bed boiler and developed using the Thermoflex software package (Thermoflow, Inc.) is presented that can be evaluated and pursued by the research, engineering, and business communities. Recommendations are proposed for siting and fuel supply in the Southeastern U.S., with an evaluation of some of the impacts from wood harvesting, processing, and transportation to the lifecycle carbon emissions. An economic analysis of this carbon negative concept indicates that certain policy proposals in the U.S. could make biomass power generation with carbon capture and sequestration an economically feasible resource. Results show that an owner and/or the public could realize a net benefit of up to $332/MWh above and beyond marginal energy or capacity values under aggressive carbon pricing.