<p>This analysis investigates the
cost of carbon capture from the US natural gas-fired electricity generating
fleet comparing two technologies: Post-Combustion Capture and Direct Air
Capture (DAC). Many Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC) units are suitable for
post-combustion capture. We estimated the cost of post-combustion retrofits and
investigated the most important unit characteristics contributing to this cost.
Units larger than 350 MW, younger than 15
years, more efficient than 42% and with a utilization (capacity factor) higher
than 0.5 are economically retrofittable.
Counterintuitively, DAC (which is usually not considered for point-source
capture) may be cheaper in addressing emissions from non-retrofittable NGCCs. DAC
can also address the residual emissions from retrofitted plants. Moreover,
economic challenges of post-combustion capture for small natural gas-fired
units with low utilization, such as gas turbines, make DAC look favorable for
these units. Considering the cost of post-combustion capture for the entire natural
gas-related emissions after incorporating the impact of learning-by-doing for
both carbon capture technologies, DAC is the cheaper capture solution for at
least 1/3 of all emissions. </p>