A techno-economic analysis of the benefits of aqueous phase reformation for hydrogen enrichment of natural gas engines and turbines

Aqueous phase reformation (APR) for hydrogen enrichment of natural gas power plants is a developing technology with a range of environmental benefits that include the displacement of fossil fuel with renewable feedstocks derived from biomass, reduced NOX emissions, as well as increased efficiency and thus lower carbon intensity of generated power. However, to date, aqueous phase reformation has only been tested at lab-bench scale, and the economic viability of a full-scale reactor for a hydrogen enrichment system is unclear. A comprehensive analysis of the economic value of these benefits will provide researchers with a better understanding of the value of this technology. When an APR for H2 enrichment system is applied to a 23 MW natural gas engine, the benefits have an estimated combined value of 1.87 ȼ/kWh produced and a present value of $33 million. When applied to a 100 MW natural gas turbine the estimated combined value of the aforementioned benefits is 1.55 ȼ/kWh and present value of $155 million.