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Conceptual process design and technoeconomic analysis of an e-methanol plant with direct air-captured CO2 and electrolytic H2

Fabio Cameli (UGent) , Evangelos Delikonstantis (UGent) , Afroditi Kourou (UGent) , Victor Rosa (UGent) , Kevin Van Geem (UGent) and Georgios Stefanidis (UGent)
(2024) ENERGY & FUELS. 38(4). p.3251-3261
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Abstract
Carbon-negative electrified production of methanol (e-MeOH) can play a central role in sustainable chemical manufacturing in the coming years. In this context, CO2-based methanol synthesis routes solely based on renewable electricity have been proposed. However, the production route via direct air-captured (DAC) CO2 and green H-2 from water electrolysis (WE) is not industrially available, and in-depth feasibility studies are needed to determine its viability. By designing a 50 kt y(-1) e-MeOH production plant based on DAC-CO2 and electrolytic H-2, we assess the plant's performance and economic feasibility against the state-of-the-art industrial manufacturing based on natural gas steam reforming. Absorption-based DAC accounts for the highest capital expenditure (CAPEX) of the plant, whereas the proton-exchange membrane WE drives electricity consumption. The adiabatic reactor for the catalytic CO2-H-2 reaction is the least cost-intensive section. Thus, the levelized cost of product of e-MeOH in 2050 is expected to be still 3 times that of the current fossil-based MeOH. However, the overall electrified process is carbon negative by consuming 0.64 kg(CO2-eq) kg(MeOH)(-1), whereas the conventional process releases a significant amount of greenhouse gases. Technological improvement of the DAC unit could increase the competitiveness of the e-process, together with lower electricity prices. Furthermore, sourcing CO2 from concentrated streams would cut production costs up to equaling a conventional process penalized with a 183 $ t(CO2)(-1) carbon tax.
Keywords
CARBON-DIOXIDE CAPTURE, HYDROGEN, PERSPECTIVES, TECHNOLOGIES, CYCLE, GAS

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MLA
Cameli, Fabio, et al. “Conceptual Process Design and Technoeconomic Analysis of an E-Methanol Plant with Direct Air-Captured CO2 and Electrolytic H2.” ENERGY & FUELS, vol. 38, no. 4, 2024, pp. 3251–61, doi:10.1021/acs.energyfuels.3c04147.
APA
Cameli, F., Delikonstantis, E., Kourou, A., Rosa, V., Van Geem, K., & Stefanidis, G. (2024). Conceptual process design and technoeconomic analysis of an e-methanol plant with direct air-captured CO2 and electrolytic H2. ENERGY & FUELS, 38(4), 3251–3261. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.3c04147
Chicago author-date
Cameli, Fabio, Evangelos Delikonstantis, Afroditi Kourou, Victor Rosa, Kevin Van Geem, and Georgios Stefanidis. 2024. “Conceptual Process Design and Technoeconomic Analysis of an E-Methanol Plant with Direct Air-Captured CO2 and Electrolytic H2.” ENERGY & FUELS 38 (4): 3251–61. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.3c04147.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Cameli, Fabio, Evangelos Delikonstantis, Afroditi Kourou, Victor Rosa, Kevin Van Geem, and Georgios Stefanidis. 2024. “Conceptual Process Design and Technoeconomic Analysis of an E-Methanol Plant with Direct Air-Captured CO2 and Electrolytic H2.” ENERGY & FUELS 38 (4): 3251–3261. doi:10.1021/acs.energyfuels.3c04147.
Vancouver
1.
Cameli F, Delikonstantis E, Kourou A, Rosa V, Van Geem K, Stefanidis G. Conceptual process design and technoeconomic analysis of an e-methanol plant with direct air-captured CO2 and electrolytic H2. ENERGY & FUELS. 2024;38(4):3251–61.
IEEE
[1]
F. Cameli, E. Delikonstantis, A. Kourou, V. Rosa, K. Van Geem, and G. Stefanidis, “Conceptual process design and technoeconomic analysis of an e-methanol plant with direct air-captured CO2 and electrolytic H2,” ENERGY & FUELS, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 3251–3261, 2024.
@article{01J5VPKVN8JYTB3F6XEAY70A28,
  abstract     = {{Carbon-negative electrified production of methanol (e-MeOH) can play a central role in sustainable chemical manufacturing in the coming years. In this context, CO2-based methanol synthesis routes solely based on renewable electricity have been proposed. However, the production route via direct air-captured (DAC) CO2 and green H-2 from water electrolysis (WE) is not industrially available, and in-depth feasibility studies are needed to determine its viability. By designing a 50 kt y(-1) e-MeOH production plant based on DAC-CO2 and electrolytic H-2, we assess the plant's performance and economic feasibility against the state-of-the-art industrial manufacturing based on natural gas steam reforming. Absorption-based DAC accounts for the highest capital expenditure (CAPEX) of the plant, whereas the proton-exchange membrane WE drives electricity consumption. The adiabatic reactor for the catalytic CO2-H-2 reaction is the least cost-intensive section. Thus, the levelized cost of product of e-MeOH in 2050 is expected to be still 3 times that of the current fossil-based MeOH. However, the overall electrified process is carbon negative by consuming 0.64 kg(CO2-eq) kg(MeOH)(-1), whereas the conventional process releases a significant amount of greenhouse gases. Technological improvement of the DAC unit could increase the competitiveness of the e-process, together with lower electricity prices. Furthermore, sourcing CO2 from concentrated streams would cut production costs up to equaling a conventional process penalized with a 183 $ t(CO2)(-1) carbon tax.}},
  author       = {{Cameli, Fabio and Delikonstantis, Evangelos and Kourou, Afroditi and Rosa, Victor and Van Geem, Kevin and Stefanidis, Georgios}},
  issn         = {{0887-0624}},
  journal      = {{ENERGY & FUELS}},
  keywords     = {{CARBON-DIOXIDE CAPTURE,HYDROGEN,PERSPECTIVES,TECHNOLOGIES,CYCLE,GAS}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{3251--3261}},
  title        = {{Conceptual process design and technoeconomic analysis of an e-methanol plant with direct air-captured CO2 and electrolytic H2}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.3c04147}},
  volume       = {{38}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}

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