State-level infrastructure and economic effects of switchgrass cofiring with coal in existing power plants for carbon mitigation

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2007 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es070335h· OSTI ID:20961351

Morrow, William R; Griffin, W Michael; Matthews, H Scott ^[1]

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1. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA (United States). Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

This paper presents a linear programming (LP) methodology for estimating the cost of reducing a state's coal-fired power plant carbon dioxide emissions by cofiring switchgrass and coal. LP modeling allows interplay between regionally specific switchgrass production forecasts, coal plant locations, and individual coal plant historic performance data to determine an allocation of switchgrass minimizing cost or maximizing carbon reduction. The LP methodology is applied to two states, Pennsylvania (PA) and Iowa (IA), and results are presented with a discussion of modeling assumptions, techniques, and carbon mitigation policy implications. The LP methodology estimates that, in PA, 4.9 million tons of CO{sub 2}/year could be mitigated at an average cost of less than $$34/ton of CO{sub 2} and that, in IA, 7 million tons of CO{sub 2}/year could be mitigated at an average cost of mitigation of $$27/ton of CO{sub 2}. Because the factors determining the cofiring costs vary so much between the two states, results suggest that cofiring costs will also vary considerably between different U.S. regions. A national level analysis could suggest a lowest-cost cofiring region. This paper presents techniques and assumptions that can simplify biomass energy policy analysis with little effect on analysis conclusions. 20 refs., 4 figs.

• OSTI ID: 20961351
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 41, Issue 19; Other Information: [e-mail]; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
09 BIOMASS FUELS
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
GRAMINEAE
COCOMBUSTION
COAL
MITIGATION
CARBON DIOXIDE
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
COST ESTIMATION
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
USA
IOWA
PENNSYLVANIA
ECONOMIC IMPACT
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
LINEAR PROGRAMMING
ECONOMETRICS