Decarbonized Green Hydrogen Production by Sorption-enhanced Biomass Gasification: An Integrated Techno-econonic and Environmental Evaluation

Deployment of innovative renewable-based energy applications are critical for reducing CO2 emissions and achieving global climate neutrality. This work evaluates the production of decarbonized green H2 based on sorption-enhanced biomass (sawdust) gasification. The calcium-based sorbent was evaluated in a looping cycle configuration as sorption material to enhance both the CO2 capture rate and the energy-efficient hydrogen production. The investigated concept is set to produce 100 MWth high purity hydrogen (>99.95% vol.) with very high decarbonization yield (>98–99%) using woody biomass as a fuel. Conventional biomass (sawdust) gasification systems with and without CO2 capture capability are also assessed for the calculation of energy and economic penalties induced by decarbonization. The results show that the decarbonized green hydrogen manufacture by sorption-enhanced biomass gasification shows attractive performances e.g., high overall energy efficiency (about 50%), reduced energy and economic penalties for almost total decarbonization (down to 8 net efficiency points), low specific carbon emissions at system level (lower than 7 kg/MWh) and negative CO2 emission for whole biomass value chain (about − 518.40 kg/MWh). However, significant developments (e.g., improving reactor design and fuel/sorbent conversion yields, reducing sorbent make-up etc.) are still needed to advance this innovative concept from present level to industrial sizes.