Short-Cut Correlations for CO2 Capture Technologies in Small-Scale Applications

The escalating urgency to address climate change has driven carbon capture (CC) technologies
into the spotlight, particularly for large-scale emitters, which benefit from economies of scale.
However, small-scale emitters account for a significant share of CO2 emissions, yet such applica
tions remain largely overlooked in the literature. While CC cost is often used as a key performance
indicator (KPI) for CC technologies, the lack of standardized cost estimation methods leads to
inconsistencies, complicating comparisons, and hindering the deployment of CC systems. This
study addresses these challenges by developing flexible short-cut correlations for selected CC
technologies, providing estimates of the total equipment cost (TEC) and energy consumption spe
cific to small-scale applications across various CO2 inlet concentrations (mol%) and capture scales
(10 – 100 kt/y). The flexibility of the correlations enables the integration of various cost estimation
methods available in the literature and case-specific assumptions (e.g., utility prices), enhancing
their consistency and applicability across various scenarios. This approach provides decision
makers with a practical yet simple method for assessing the technical and economic viability of
CC systems without conducting extensive simulations or detailed techno-economic assessments
(TEAs). Ultimately, this work aims to improve the accessibility of CC technologies for small-scale
industries, facilitating their broader application and contributing to the overall goal of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions across various sectors.