How do you calculate regeneration heat cost?

Multiply heat duty (kW) by operating hours and energy price ($/kWh). At 12 kW for 8 hr at $0.12/kWh that is 96 kWh and $11.52. Divide by tonnes CO₂ regenerated for cost per tonne.

What is the regeneration heat cost per tonne CO₂?

In the worked example, $11.52 of heat over 1,000 t CO₂ regenerated is about $0.0115 per tonne. Real plants are higher because reboiler duty is far larger; the method is the same.

Why is regeneration the most expensive part of capture?

Stripping CO₂ from rich solvent requires breaking the chemical bond and boiling off water, which is energy-intensive. Reboiler duty typically dominates total capture energy, which is why this per-tonne figure gets so much attention.

Should I use electricity or steam price here?

Use the price of whatever energy actually drives your reboiler. If it is steam, convert steam cost to an equivalent $/kWh of delivered heat; if it is electric heating, use your electricity rate directly.

How do I lower regeneration heat cost?

Use advanced solvents with lower heat of regeneration, add heat integration like lean-rich exchangers and stripper interheating, and optimize lean loading. Each reduces the heat duty term that drives this cost.

Carbon Capture & CO₂ Compression Equipment calculator

Regeneration Heat Load Calculator

Solvent regeneration, the thermal stripping step that drives captured CO₂ back out of rich solvent, is the single largest energy demand in most post-combustion capture plants. This calculator turns the reboiler or stripper heat duty, the hours it runs and the energy price into a regeneration heat cost, then divides by the CO₂ regenerated to give cost per tonne. Process and energy engineers use the per-tonne figure to benchmark a capture plant against the well-known target of minimizing reboiler duty in GJ per tonne CO₂. Because this term dominates capture OPEX, shaving even a fraction of a cent per tonne scales into real money at plant throughput.

What this calculator does

Estimate regeneration heat energy cost for solvent, sorbent, or thermal swing capture equipment during a defined operating period.
Use it when regeneration heat load in carbon capture and co₂ compression equipment is being quoted and energy is a real chunk of the carbon capture and co₂ compression equipment cost stack.
It multiplies regeneration heat duty by operating hours and energy price for total heat cost, then divides by CO₂ regenerated for cost per tonne.

Formula used

Regeneration heat energy cost = regeneration heat duty × regeneration operating hours × energy price
Regeneration heat cost per tonne CO₂ = regeneration heat energy cost ÷ CO₂ regenerated

Inputs explained

Regeneration heat duty:
Regeneration operating hours:
Energy price:
CO₂ regenerated:

How to use the result

Use it to benchmark stripper energy economics and to size the impact of energy price or duty changes on capture cost.
It treats heat duty as a flat electrical-equivalent at one price; real reboilers run on steam whose cost varies, and duty swings with solvent loading and turndown.

Current U.S. benchmarks

As of Apr 2026, industrial electricity averages 8.7 cents per kWh across the U.S. (EIA), up 5.5% from a year earlier. State averages range widely, so plants should confirm against their own tariff.
Steel mill PPI stands at 348.53 (BLS, May 2026), up 6.7% from a year earlier. New factory orders are up 2.3% year over year (Census).

Common questions

How do you calculate regeneration heat cost? Multiply heat duty (kW) by operating hours and energy price ($/kWh). At 12 kW for 8 hr at $0.12/kWh that is 96 kWh and $11.52. Divide by tonnes CO₂ regenerated for cost per tonne.
What is the regeneration heat cost per tonne CO₂? In the worked example, $11.52 of heat over 1,000 t CO₂ regenerated is about $0.0115 per tonne. Real plants are higher because reboiler duty is far larger; the method is the same.
Why is regeneration the most expensive part of capture? Stripping CO₂ from rich solvent requires breaking the chemical bond and boiling off water, which is energy-intensive. Reboiler duty typically dominates total capture energy, which is why this per-tonne figure gets so much attention.
Should I use electricity or steam price here? Use the price of whatever energy actually drives your reboiler. If it is steam, convert steam cost to an equivalent $/kWh of delivered heat; if it is electric heating, use your electricity rate directly.
How do I lower regeneration heat cost? Use advanced solvents with lower heat of regeneration, add heat integration like lean-rich exchangers and stripper interheating, and optimize lean loading. Each reduces the heat duty term that drives this cost.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.