Sustainable Design of Multiscale CO2 Electrochemical Conversion

9 Pages Posted: 29 Nov 2022 Last revised: 7 Dec 2022

See all articles by Mar Pérez-Fortes

Mar Pérez-Fortes

Delft University of Technology - Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management

Josephine Vos

Delft University of Technology

Thijmen Wiltink

Delft University of Technology

Ibo van de Poel

Delft University of Technology

Hans de Bruijn

Delft University of Technology

Tarkan Tan

Eindhoven University of Technology (TUE) - School of Industrial Engineering

Nevin Mutlu

Eindhoven University of Technology (TUE)

Floor Alkemade

Eindhoven University of Technology (TUE)

Andrea Ramirez

TuDelft

Date Written: November 25, 2022

Abstract

The storage of renewable electricity in chemical bonds is a compelling technological option that combines flexibility with the synthesis of high energy-dense fuels and chemicals and may use CO2 as raw material. The electrochemical conversion of CO2 is not yet a mature technology. Both fields, electrochemical conversion and carbon dioxide utilisation (CDU), have their own trade-offs; CO2 electrochemical reduction (CO2ER) environmental and economic performance is highly context-dependent. The successful deployment of CO2 electrochemical conversion will depend not only on the further development and scaling of the technology but also on finding appropriate combinations of technologies, business models, and socioeconomic strategies. The current project aims to create critical knowledge on the sustainable implementation of CO2 electrochemical devices for a variety of contexts. The research approach presented in the current work will develop a multidisciplinary framework to assess the contributions and trade-offs of CO2 electrochemical systems, including centralised and decentralised configurations, which are evaluated under realistic conditions. This is a crucial step in understanding the role and contribution of CO2ER within the different CO2 mitigation options in place in the upcoming years. To achieve the project’s goal, we propose a multidisciplinary methodology that includes process systems engineering (PSE) and operations research (OR) tools, and humanistic and social sciences methodologies. Modelling and optimisation techniques, value-sensitive design, and identification of government and market-based governance interventions will help identifying potential areas of improvement and bottlenecks to successfully bring CO2ER to the market. The assessment will be performed at several levels: unit (reaction pathways), process (scheduling and operation, plant layout optimisation), supply chain (optimisation under deterministic and stochastic conditions), and system (social, governance and markets perspectives) of CO2ER. The project results will (i) propose optimal CO2ER-based plants and (ii) supply chains under different contexts; (iii) translate stakeholders’ sustainability value into design requirements for CO2ER; (iv) propose a list of government interventions and market mechanisms that will allow CO2ER market penetration, and (v) identify, quantify and mitigate the influence of the most relevant sources of uncertainty.

Keywords: CO2 electrochemical reduction, CO2 utilisation, multiscale modelling, sustainable design

JEL Classification: C30, C60, C61, C65, Q42, Q50

Suggested Citation

Pérez-Fortes, Mar and Vos, Josephine and Wiltink, Thijmen and van de Poel, Ibo and Bruijn, Hans de and Tan, Tarkan and Mutlu, Nevin and Alkemade, Floor and Ramirez Ramirez, Andrea, Sustainable Design of Multiscale CO2 Electrochemical Conversion (November 25, 2022). Proceedings of the 16th Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies Conference (GHGT-16) 23-24 Oct 2022, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4285206 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4285206

Mar Pérez-Fortes (Contact Author)

Delft University of Technology - Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management ( email )

P.O. Box 5015
2600 GB Delft
Netherlands

Josephine Vos

Delft University of Technology ( email )

Thijmen Wiltink

Delft University of Technology ( email )

Ibo Van de Poel

Delft University of Technology ( email )

Stevinweg 1
Stevinweg 1
Delft, 2628 CN
Netherlands

Hans de Bruijn

Delft University of Technology ( email )

Stevinweg 1
Stevinweg 1
Delft, 2628 CN
Netherlands

Tarkan Tan

Eindhoven University of Technology (TUE) - School of Industrial Engineering ( email )

PO Box 513
Eindhoven, 5600 MB
Netherlands

Nevin Mutlu

Eindhoven University of Technology (TUE) ( email )

Floor Alkemade

Eindhoven University of Technology (TUE) ( email )

Andrea Ramirez Ramirez

TuDelft ( email )

Stevinweg 1
Stevinweg 1
Delft, 2628 CN
Netherlands

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