Techno-Economic Assessment of Integrated Crude Gasification and CO₂-Plume Geothermal Systems: A Synergic Approach for Electricity Generation

Global hydrogen production contributes significantly to carbon dioxide emissions due to reliance on fossil fuels. This study aims to integrate and model various upstream and downstream processes to facilitate concurrent hydrogen production, underground storage, CO₂ utilization, and electricity generation. The first part of this paper focuses on modeling gasification and CO₂ capture processes, supplemented by an economic analysis to estimate critical capital and operating costs for design, scale-up, and integration considerations. The second part of this work shows how CO₂-plume geothermal systems and power generation plants can complement gasification and CO₂ capture processes to create a sustainable energy system. Key findings reveal a H₂/VR ratio is 0.24 % wt/wt with a CO₂ intensity is 3 % wt/wt. The CO₂ capture process achieves a capture rate of 97%, with an initial CO₂ flow rate of 582.0 kg/s and a captured CO₂ flow rate of 565.8 kg/s. Additionally, the levelized costs of H₂, with and without carbon capture, are determined as 1.795 $/kg and 1.684 $/kg, respectively. The CO₂-plume geothermal model demonstrates varied outcomes, with the 1000 md scenario exhibiting the lowest CO₂ sequestration due to its high average CO₂ flow rate, while the 25 md scenario produces the most water owing to low permeability values. Notably, the 250 md and 1000 md scenarios achieve the highest and second-highest average power output, attributed to high CO₂ flow rate, low water cut, and prolonged maintenance of CO₂ in a supercritical state. This research provides valuable economic and technical insights that support the transition towards a low-carbon hydrogen future. The findings pave the way for more sustainable and efficient energy solutions.