Integrating Oxy-Fuel Combustion in Waste-To-Energy Power Plants Show Promising Results for Reducing CO2 Emissions

Strategic Insights -

A recent study published in Fuel, a peer-reviewed journal, has investigated the potential of integrating oxy-fuel combustion into waste-to-energy power plants with electrolysis to address waste management and reduce CO2 emissions. The research, conducted by Aalto University, found that retrofitting a combined heat and power plant into oxy-fuel combustion is economically competitive compared to its conventional air-fired strategy. The study used data from a real power plant in Finland and modeled the integration of a waste-to-energy combined heat and power plant with an alkaline electrolyzer for oxy-fuel combustion.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that integrating oxy-fuel combustion into waste-to-energy power plants with electrolysis is a promising strategy to address waste management and reduce CO2 emissions.
  • The economic implication of retrofitting a combined heat and power plant into oxy-fuel should be compared to its conventional air-fired strategy to enhance investments for carbon capture strategies.
  • The implementation of oxy-fuel combustion and waste heat recovery from the electrolyzer increased the district heating output from 154 to 350 MWth.
  • A sensitivity analysis found that the optimal exploitation of the thermal energy in the flue gas was achieved with a recirculation fraction of 70%-80% (70.5% in this study).
  • The oxyfuel system produced a mass flow rate of CO2 equal to 18.4 kg/s with a purity of 99.2 mol% and 2.06 kg/s of pure H2 with a molar ratio of 2.5:1 (H2-CO2).
  • The price of H2, produced by the oxy-fuel retrofitted system, to obtain the same profit as the conventional air-fired combined and heat power plant was 1.57 EUR/kg.
  • The proposal for retrofitting into oxy-fuel combustion can be implemented on a large scale, making a significant impact on reducing CO2 emissions.

Statistics:

  • The combined heat and power plant required additional electric power of 320 MWel, supplemented by the grid, to satisfy the demand of the electrolyzer (372 MW).
  • The district heating output increased from 154 to 350 MWth.
  • The price of H2, produced by the oxy-fuel retrofitted system, to obtain the same profit as the conventional air-fired combined and heat power plant was 1.57 EUR/kg.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Aalto University Reports Findings in Fuel Research (Profitability Analysis of H2 Production By Water Electrolysis In an Integrated Oxy-fuel Combustion Thermal Power Plant). Global Warming Focus. October 20, 2025; p 382.
  • Fuel. Profitability Analysis of H2 Production By Water Electrolysis In an Integrated Oxy-fuel Combustion Thermal Power Plant. 2025; 398.