Biomass top-cycle CHP with high-temperature heat pump coupling: economic insights for industrial decarbonization

Over half of the final energy consumed by the European industrial sector relied on carbon-emitting fuels in 2022. Biomass-based cogeneration technologies can efficiently adjust to varying industrial electricity and heat demands while contributing to substitute the use of fossil fuels. However, these technologies are best suitable for low-temperature heat applications, such as fuel drying or district heating. This study proposes a biomass cogeneration plant coupled with a high-temperature heat pump as a decarbonization solution for supplying medium-temperature industrial heat. We present an optimization model which combines the operation of cogeneration, heat pump and thermal units. Considering investment and operational costs, results allow us to evaluate the economics of the proposed configuration for a chemical processing industry and contribute to an in-depth understanding of technology options leading to an efficient use of renewable fuels.