A paper published in AppliedEnergy (ScienceDirect) explores the role of Remote Renewable Energy Hubs (RREHs), facilities located in regions with abundant renewable resources, designed to produce carbon-neutral synthetic fuels thanks to carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) methods.
This study models the Energy Supply Chain (ESC) required to deliver a steady flow of synthetic methane (e-methane or e-NG) from an RREH in Morocco to Belgium. Several scenarios are compared where CO₂ is captured either through Direct Air Capture (DAC) or Post-Combustion Carbon Capture (PCCC) at point sources.
KEY FINDINGS
🔵 The sourcing of CO₂ through a combination of DAC and PCCC is more cost-effective, resulting in a cost of 146 €/MWh for e-methane delivered in Belgium.
🔵 A pathway relying solely on DAC, would lead to a cost of 158 €/MWh.
🔵 A scenario where CO₂ is captured in Morocco from a CO₂-emitting asset allows for the delivery of e-methane for a cost of 136 €/MWh in Belgium.
Read the full study here.
