Energy-Economic and Structural, and Industrial Policy Analysis of Re-Fitting Fossil Fired Power Plants with CO_2 Capture in North Rhine-Westphalia / Germany

摘要

Considering the traditional coal-based energy infrastructure in the German state North Rhine-Westphalia the question arises how to face the needs of embanking climate change. To reduce greenhouse gas intensive electricity generation in the Ruhr area, the introduction of carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an option of particular relevance. The paper investigates and discusses possibilities of setting up a CCS infrastructure in NRW. It shall clarify whether, and possibly how, highly efficient conventional fossil fired power plants could be refitted with CO_2 capture to flexibly react to potentially changing climate policy conditions and to keep up with the market.