(310c) Development of Cryogenic Ccus-Based Synthetic Natural Gas Supply Chain Using Power-to-Methane Approach

Currently, natural gas power plants contribute 20% of the world's electricity generation [1]. However, ongoing issues with natural gas suppliers threaten the energy security of countries heavily reliant on this fuel [2]. Therefore, it is an urgent need to develop and distribute sustainable alternative fuels to reduce global dependence on natural gas [3]. In this study, we propose a synthetic natural gas (SNG) supply chain based on cryogenic carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) using Power-to-Methane (PtM) technology. Herein, PtM technology is for producing SNG by catalytically reacting H₂ generated from renewable energy-based water electrolysis with captured CO₂ [4]. Our proposed SNG supply chain has three key advantages as follows. First, this supply chain utilizes PtM technology to produce SNG, making it possible to sustainably alternate the natural gas. Second, the proposed supply chain consumes minimal external energy through two ways: by utilizing the cold energy of liquefied SNG for transportation, which drives the cryogenic solid-phase CCS process, and by utilizing the cold energy of captured and stored solid-state CO₂ for SNG liquefaction. Finally, this supply chain captures and stores CO₂ emitted during SNG utilization, which can be converted back to SNG through PtM technology for reuse. This realizes a net-zero CO₂ emission by closed-loop cycle of CO₂. Our study aims to reduce global dependence on natural gas by effectively supplying SNG with minimal energy consumption based on cryogenic CCUS.

[1] Y. Kim, J. Lee, H. Cho, J. Kim, Novel cryogenic carbon dioxide capture and storage process using LNG cold energy in a natural gas combined cycle power plant, Chem. Eng. J. 456 (2023) 140980. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.140980.

[2] International Energy Agency, International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Outlook 2022, Https://Www.Iea.Org/Reports/World-Energy-Outlook-2022/Executive-Summary. (2022) 524. https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2022.

[3] M. Taifouris, M. Martín, Towards energy security by promoting circular economy: A holistic approach, Appl. Energy. 333 (2023) 120544. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.120544.

[4] K. Ghaib, F.-Z. Ben-Fares, Power-to-Methane: A state-of-the-art review, Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 81 (2018) 433–446. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.08.004.