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COMPARATIVE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF BIOMASS GASIFICATION PATHWAY FOR GREEN H2 PRODUCTION

  • Gautham Srinivas Ganesh - Centre for Sustainable Technologies, Indian Institute of Science, India
  • Dasappa S. - Combustion, Gasification and Propulsion Laboratory, Indian Institute of Science, India - Centre for Sustainable Technologies, Indian Institute of Science, India - Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research, Indian Institute of Science, India
  • Balachandra Patil - Centre for Sustainable Technologies, Indian Institute of Science, India - Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Science, India
  • Anand M. Shivapuji - Combustion, Gasification and Propulsion Laboratory, Indian Institute of Science, India

DOI 10.31025/2611-4135/2025.19470

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Copyright: © 2024 CISA Publisher

Abstract

The transition to low-carbon energy sources is essential to limit the temperature rise due to global warming. Biomass is a carbon-neutral source of energy that could aid in the energy transition and decarbonisation goals. This work compares the economic and environmental performances of small-scale (100 kg/h output) green hydrogen [biomass gasification (BG) and water electrolysis (WE)] pathways, using commercial-scale (20 tph output) conventional hydrogen [steam methane reforming (SMR)] as reference. The source of the electricity supply for BG system operations is a major determinant of the life-cycle emissions. It could be sourced externally (grid) or generated in-situ through an auxiliary gasification system. Capture of CO2 from the syngas stream is feasible through a vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) unit. The assessment reveals negative specific carbon emissions (up to -19 kg CO2/kg H2) when electricity is generated in-situ and carbon capture is carried out in BG systems. The hydrogen costs from the BG pathway are in the range of INR 307-352/kg ($3.71-4.27/kg), competitive with water electrolysis using solar power. The study also suggests the introduction of emission reduction incentive (ERI) as a combined economic-environmental performance indicator. Among the green pathways, BG-H2 with in-situ electricity generation and carbon capture has the best combined performance, requiring an incentive of $127/tonne CO2. While commercial-scale SMR has a low hydrogen production cost due to economies of scale, the increasing natural gas prices could make the BG-H2 pathway lucrative in the future.

Keywords

Editorial History

  • Received: 08 Oct 2024
  • Revised: 25 Dec 2024
  • Accepted: 26 Feb 2025
  • Available online: 17 Mar 2025

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