Carbon capture and storage (CCS) can limit carbon emissions from coal power stations, but
unfortunately decreases the net efficiency of such power plants. This study examines the
link between capture technology and coal consumption for large scale CCS deployment.
Estimates of the efficiency reduction (i.e., the energy penalty, EP) are assembled for
three main technologies. Pre-combustion CCS is most efficient (EP [ 18.9 ± 3.9%), oxyfuel
combustion CCS is intermediate (EP [ 21.4 ± 5.3%), and post-combustion CCS is
least efficient (EP [ 24.8 ± 7.5%). Published CCS scenarios are compiled and their associated
coal uses are calculated using the obtained EPs under different technology pathways.
Coal consumption using CCS can be up to 31% higher compared to equal non-CCS
cases, leading to several scenarios exceeding projected coal production in resource
constrained studies.