Analysis of Carbon Policies in the Optimal Integration of Power Plants Involving Chemical Looping Combustion with Algal Cultivation Systems

Presently, reducing the CO₂ emissions produced by electric energy generation is one of the most relevant challenges. This paper aims to address such a problem by means of proposing an integrated system including (i) chemical looping combustion systems, (ii) power generation cycles, and (iii) algae-to-biodiesel subsystems to utilize carbon dioxide. The developed approach consists of a mixed-integer linear programming model that represents the global system at a macroscopic level and allows finding the optimal design for the integrated system that involves the selection of the optimum fuel and technology for power generation (for both the combustion system and the power cycle) as well as for biodiesel production in all stages of the algae cultivation system. In addition, the impact of different values for economic penalizations and compensations associated with carbon dioxide emissions on the optimum configuration is evaluated. The results show important economic benefits and reductions in emissions, especially when considering the carbon bonus. Furthermore, the optimal trade-offs between multiple objectives (economic and environmental) are discussed through different Pareto sets.