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Add biomass boiler to add_carbon_capture function and update outputs.#253

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jonathan-peel:add-biomass-bioler-cc
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Add biomass boiler to add_carbon_capture function and update outputs.#253
jonathan-peel wants to merge 9 commits intoPyPSA:masterfrom
jonathan-peel:add-biomass-bioler-cc

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@jonathan-peel jonathan-peel commented Jan 22, 2026

Changes proposed in this Pull Request

  • following logic from @millingermarkus, I added the large biomass boiler post-combustion capture retrofit data to the existing add_carbon_capture function
  • This retrofit is larger (500 MW(th)) than the already implemented "small CHP" (100 MW(th)) retrofit, therefore it is a better approximation for full-scale thermal power plants such as CCGTs. To fit CCGTs, I will make further adjustments to the capex, efficiency and variable O&M separately in pypsa-eur.
  • I also included the variable O&M costs for all the carbon capture retrofit technologies.

Checklist

  • Code changes are sufficiently documented; i.e. new functions contain docstrings and further explanations may be given in doc.
  • Data source for new technologies is clearly stated.
  • Newly introduced dependencies are added to environment.yaml (if applicable).
  • A note for the release notes doc/release_notes.rst of the upcoming release is included.
  • I consent to the release of this PR's code under the GPLv3 license.

@lkstrp lkstrp requested a review from euronion February 9, 2026 10:38
@jonathan-peel
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Hi @euronion! Just a quick ping here to ask if you could approve this - it's currently blocking a project of mine - please let me know if you have any questions. Many thanks in advance :)

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Thanks for the PR and sorry for not reviewing for some time in this repo.

  • Is this a retrofit option for existing boilers or additional costs for building new units with post-combustion capture?
    Or are the costs for retrofit and for new units similar?
    I'm asking because we have some carbon capture retrofit technologies already, so it would make sense to adopt a similar naming biomass boiler carbon capture retrofit.
    Although I think you tried to be consistent with the biomass CHP capture naming, right?

  • Can you regenerate the output files? We recently changed to reporting values in 2025 instead of 2020 EUR.

Comment thread docs/release_notes.rst
.. To use the features already you have to use the ``master`` branch.

* Add `Post-combustion carbon capture retrofit - 500 MW(th) biomass-fired boiler` as `biomass boiler capture` (https://github.com/PyPSA/technology-data/pull/253); also add Variable O&M for all carbon capture retrofits
* Adding `grey methanol synthesis`.
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Suggested change
* Adding `grey methanol synthesis`.

Unclear where this came from, but not part of the PR

Comment thread outputs/US/costs_2020.csv
Comment on lines +3631 to +3632
biomass boiler capture,compression-electricity-input,0.1,MWh/tCO2,"Danish Energy Agency, inputs/technology_data_for_carbon_capture_transport_storage.xlsx",401.b Post comb - Large biomass,2020.0,,
biomass boiler capture,compression-heat-output,0.16,MWh/tCO2,"Danish Energy Agency, inputs/technology_data_for_carbon_capture_transport_storage.xlsx",401.b Post comb - Large biomass,2020.0,,
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The investment number contains the investment required for postprocessing (compression and dehydration). It would only be consistent to also include the electricity and heat requirements for this step as well (they are separate in the DEA data sheet) or to report it as additional rows.

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Comment thread outputs/US/costs_2020.csv
biomass boiler capture,electricity-input,0.03,MWh/tCO2,"Danish Energy Agency, inputs/technology_data_for_carbon_capture_transport_storage.xlsx",401.b Post comb - Large biomass,2020.0,,
biomass boiler capture,heat-input,0.833,MWh/tCO2,"Danish Energy Agency, inputs/technology_data_for_carbon_capture_transport_storage.xlsx",401.b Post comb - Large biomass,2020.0,,
biomass boiler capture,heat-output,0.833,MWh/tCO2,"Danish Energy Agency, inputs/technology_data_for_carbon_capture_transport_storage.xlsx",401.b Post comb - Large biomass,2020.0,,
biomass boiler capture,investment,3394803.4231,EUR/(tCO2/h),"Danish Energy Agency, inputs/technology_data_for_carbon_capture_transport_storage.xlsx",401.b Post comb - Large biomass,2020.0,,
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Do you know why this value does not match the value in the data sheet (2.7 MEUR/(t CO2/h))?

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Comment thread docs/release_notes.rst
.. The features listed below are not released yet, but will be part of the next release!
.. To use the features already you have to use the ``master`` branch.

* Add `Post-combustion carbon capture retrofit - 500 MW(th) biomass-fired boiler` as `biomass boiler capture` (https://github.com/PyPSA/technology-data/pull/253); also add Variable O&M for all carbon capture retrofits
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Suggested change
* Add `Post-combustion carbon capture retrofit - 500 MW(th) biomass-fired boiler` as `biomass boiler capture` (https://github.com/PyPSA/technology-data/pull/253); also add Variable O&M for all carbon capture retrofits
* Add `Post-combustion carbon capture retrofit - 500 MW(th) biomass-fired boiler` as `biomass boiler capture` (https://github.com/PyPSA/technology-data/pull/253).
* Added Variable O&M for carbon capture retrofits: "biomass CHP capture" and "cement capture" (https://github.com/PyPSA/technology-data/pull/253).

Keeping it explicit by mentioning the tech names :)

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