Carbon Capture And Utilization Technologies Research Articles

Worlds apart? Investigating acceptance and usage demands of carbon-based cosmetics and clothing across European countries

BackgroundGlobal warming and the increasing risk of natural disasters force us all to act. As the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions has been proven effective but insufficient on its own, Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) technologies emerged to fill the gap. Using CCU technologies, CO2 is captured and further processed into valuable products instead of being emitted into the atmosphere.MethodThis study investigates the prevailing public perception of such CCU-based products by the example of clothing and cosmetics. We applied the method of conjoint measurement to experimentally examine context-related factors (= attributes) in different usage settings and explored the consumers’ decision profiles for or against the usage of CCU-based products (cosmetics and clothing). Conjoint measurements were realized as an online experiment, addressing acceptance patterns and preferences in four European countries (Germany, Norway, Spain, and Poland). In addition, we assessed general attitudes and affective assessments of the CCU products. A total of N = 828 participants took part in the study, and the international subsamples were comparable.ResultsResults revealed that health compatibility is the main adoption-driving factor in the decisions for or against the use of the products. Still, attributes like the environmental impact, product quality, and information flow play an important role as well, even though to a lesser extent. Participants from different countries significantly differ in their cognitive and affective evaluations of acceptance-related attributes.ConclusionsThe outcome provides insights into differences in Pan-European comparison and helps to understand the public motives and country-specific terms of use for CCU-based products, effectively establishing recommendations for policy and governance.

CARBON CAPTURE AND UTILIZATION (CCU): A REVIEW OF EMERGING APPLICATIONS AND CHALLENGES

As the global community grapples with the urgent need to mitigate the impacts of climate change, Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) has emerged as a promising and multifaceted strategy to address carbon emissions. This review paper provides a comprehensive examination of the current state of CCU technologies, focusing on both the emerging applications and the challenges inherent in their implementation. The first section offers an overview of diverse carbon capture methods, ranging from pre-combustion to direct air capture, highlighting key advancements in technologies such as chemical absorption, membrane separation, and adsorption. Subsequently, the paper delves into the various pathways of carbon utilization, exploring applications in the production of fuels, carbon-based materials, and chemical synthesis. Notable breakthroughs in power-to-gas technologies, utilization in construction materials, and industrial applications are discussed in detail. The core of the review is dedicated to unveiling the emerging applications of CCU, with a specific emphasis on its role in agriculture and soil enhancement, integration with renewable energy systems, and collaboration with other industries. The potential economic and environmental benefits of these applications are explored to underscore the transformative impact of CCU on sustainable development. However, the journey towards widespread CCU adoption is not without challenges. This paper identifies and analyzes technical hurdles related to efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, it examines the regulatory, policy, and societal challenges that may hinder the seamless integration of CCU technologies. Case studies of successful CCU projects provide practical insights, emphasizing lessons learned and best practices. The paper concludes by outlining future prospects and opportunities in the field of CCU, emphasizing the need for continued research, development, and international collaboration. It calls for a concerted effort to overcome challenges and harness the full potential of CCU in contributing to global carbon reduction goals. This comprehensive review aims to serve as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals involved in climate change mitigation, providing a nuanced understanding of the current landscape, opportunities, and challenges associated with Carbon Capture and Utilization.
 Keywords: Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU), Applications, Challenges.

Lactic Acid from CO2: A Carbon Capture and Utilization Strategy Based on a Biocatalytic Approach.

The EU low-carbon economy aims to reduce the level of CO2 emission in the EU to 80% by 2050. High efforts are required to achieve this goal, where successful CCU (Carbon Capture and Utilization) technologies will have a high impact. Biocatalysts offer a greener alternative to chemical catalysts for the development of CCU strategies since biocatalysis conforms 10 of the 12 principles of green chemistry. In this study, a multienzymatic system, based on alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), that converts CO2 and ethanol into lactic acid leading to a 100% atom economy was studied. The system allows cofactor regeneration, thus reducing the process cost. Through reaction media engineering and enzyme ratio study, the performance of the system was able to produce up to 250 μM of lactic acid under the best conditions using 100% CO2, corresponding to the highest concentration of lactic acid obtained up to date using this multienzymatic approach. For the first time, the feasibility of the system to be applied under a real industrial environment has been tested using synthetic gas mimicking real blast furnace off-gases composition from the iron and steel industry. Under these conditions, the system was also capable of producing lactic acid, reaching 62 μM.

Exploring the Challenges of Calcium Looping Integrated with Methane Bireforming for Enhanced Carbon Capture and Utilization.

The urgent need to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change has driven research in carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies. Among these, calcium looping (CaL) has emerged as a prominent candidate for CO2 capture. This study aimed to explore the novel integration of CaL with methane bireforming (BRM) using CaO-Ni/CeO2 as dual-function material (DFM) and investigated the challenges and opportunities associated with the process. Implementing a calcium looping-bireforming (CaL-BRM) process revealed distinct differences compared to methane dry reforming (DRM). Notably, methane conversion occurred at higher temperatures, likely due to competition with the formation of Ca(OH)2. Meanwhile, the conversion of CO2 was delayed, possibly because hydroxide species on the CaO surfaces hindered the availability of CO2 for methane reforming. To address these challenges, Ni/CeO2 and CaO-Ni/CeO2 catalysts were employed in conventional catalytic gas-phase BRM and methane steam reforming (SRM) reactions. The results demonstrated that the presence of CaO significantly influenced BRM efficiency due to the Ca(OH)2 formation, as was evident by the results of the characterization on the postreaction catalysts and the parallel study of SRM. This study contributes valuable insights into the feasibility and potential of CaL-BRM, advancing the development of sustainable CCU technologies.

CO[formula omitted] storage or utilization? A real options analysis under market and technological uncertainty

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) are considered essential solutions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. A crucial difference between the two is that CCS is already a mature technology, while CCU is still in the R&D phase. Hence, firms are confronted with a dilemma, where they have to choose between either the mature CCS, the emerging CCU, or the installation of both in a Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) system. In this study, we analyze different strategies that the firm can pursue and determine the optimal investment timing. In doing so, we take into account both technological uncertainty, i.e. the unknown time-to-market of CCU, and market uncertainty, i.e. the CO2 price. Three different CCUS value chains in the cement industry are analyzed. We find that the anticipated arrival of profitable CCU technologies in the future does not delay investments in CCS in the current period. Investments in CCS and CCU can be accelerated by reducing the volatility of the CO2 price, or by increasing the growth rate of the CO2 price. Finally, we find that a higher fraction of CO2 emissions that can be used in CCU, results in sooner adoption of CCS today.

Scenario assessment of introducing carbon utilization and carbon removal technologies considering future technological transition based on renewable energy and direct air capture

Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies have the potential to significantly contribute to GHG reduction. Numerous studies have evaluated the CO2 reduction effects and economics of CCUs and CDRs; however, uncertainties in these evaluations due to various regional characterizations and future technological transitions are of high importance. In this study, four synthetic fuels (fuels produced from captured CO2 and H2), methanol, methane, gasoline, and diesel, were evaluated by life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic assessment (TEA). Five representative countries with different regional characteristics were selected for the study. A bottom-up integrated LCA/TEA approach was used, involving detailed process simulations to avoid uncertainties and to evaluate future technological transitions based on direct air capture (DAC) and renewable energy. The overarching objective of this study was to provide a transparent framework with a common dataset generation methodology to determine the countries that have the advantages/disadvantages in synthetic fuel production and sale, considering the local operational parameters and large-scale introduction of DAC/renewable energy. Such multiple synthetic fuel analyses across various jurisdictions have not been conducted in previous studies. The results showed that the highest and lowest CO2 reductions were achieved by diesel (average 6.33 kg-CO2·kg−1) and methanol (average 3.43 kg-CO2·kg−1), respectively, whereas the highest and lowest product costs were of gasoline (average 2.96 USD·kg−1) and methanol (average 0.82 USD·kg−1), respectively. The technological transition using DAC and renewable energy showed average CO2 emission reductions of 47% (methanol), 99% (methane), 545% (gasoline), and 621% (diesel). Moreover, in the future, the lowest CO2 emission reduction costs are expected in Germany for methanol and diesel, Australia for methane, and Canada for gasoline. These findings can contribute to improving international collaboration to promote CCU and CDR technologies.

Economic and Environmental Performance of an Integrated CO2 Refinery.

The consequences of global warming call for a shift to circular manufacturing practices. In this context, carbon capture and utilization (CCU) has become a promising alternative toward a low-emitting chemical sector. This study addresses for the first time the design of an integrated CO2 refinery and compares it against the business-as-usual (BAU) counterpart. The refinery, which utilizes atmospheric CO2, comprises three synthesis steps and coproduces liquefied petroleum gas, olefins, aromatics, and methanol using technologies that were so far studied decoupled from each other, hence omitting their potential synergies. Our integrated assessment also considers two residual gas utilization (RGU) designs to enhance the refinery's efficiency. Our analysis shows that a centralized cluster with an Allam cycle for RGU can drastically reduce the global warming impact relative to the BAU (by ≈135%) while simultaneously improving impacts on human health, ecosystems, and resources, thereby avoiding burden-shifting toward human health previously observed in some CCU routes. These benefits emerge from (i) recycling CO2 from the cycle, amounting to 11.2% of the total feedstock, thus requiring less capture capacity, and (ii) reducing the electricity use while increasing heating as a trade-off. The performance of the integrated refinery depends on the national grid, while its high cost relative to the BAU is due to the use of expensive electrolytic H2 and atmospheric CO2 feedstock. Overall, our work highlights the importance of integrating CCU technologies within chemical clusters to improve their economic and environmental performance further.

Role of carbon capture and utilization (CCU) for decarbonization of industrial sector: A case study of Japan

Carbon capture and utilization (CCU), which is a process used to captured CO2 and convert it into other substances via chemical reactions with hydrogen, is considered to be the most effective carbon–neutral technology for heavy industries. Therefore, comprehensive model-based studies on the economic viability of CCU for decarbonizing the industrial sector can provide effective solutions for controlling carbon emissions from petrochemical industry. In this study, we investigated 1) the roles that CCU could play in Japan’s decarbonization pathways to meet the country’s 2050 carbon emission goals, 2) factors that influence CCU deployment, and 3) how the market penetration of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) could affect CCU deployment. Notably, we applied the MARKet ALlocation (MARKAL) model and extended it to integrate CCU technologies and represent chemical production processes, including those required to manufacture basic petrochemical products. Furthermore, the total optimal (minimized) system cost was determined, while considering climate policies and technological assumptions, by analyzing scenarios based on various parameters associated with CO2 emissions and CCU costs. Our study indicates that CCU has the potential to reduce the use of fossil fuel-based energy required by the petrochemical industry by 32%, thus, substantially contributing to Japan’s 2050 CO2 emissions target. Notably, CCU technology can play a key role in near-future decarbonization efforts, especially in cases where ZEV penetration is not as fast as expected.

Committed to implementing CCU? A comparison of the policy mix in the US and the EU

Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies aim to use carbon dioxide (CO2), either captured from industrial point sources or from the atmosphere, instead of fossil carbon in the production of a variety of valuable goods. CCU has the potential to contribute to emission reductions and to lower raw material consumption as well to foster transitional processes toward a circular economy. To enable societies to take full advantage of this potential, policy support is needed in overcoming current barriers and fostering CCU implementation as a feasible option for the industry. Based on a literature and online investigation, this paper identifies and compares the current policy mixes for CCU in the US and the EU, focusing on policy strategies and existing and proposed policy instruments. The analysis shows that US strategy documents, with very few exceptions, do not mention CCU specifically in the context of the country's 2030 or 2050 climate targets. In the EU, in contrast, the future role of CCU is clearly linked to achieving climate-neutrality by 2050. The main policy instruments to incentivize the implementation of CCU in the US are tax credits (45Q). Moreover, funding exists for research and development efforts. In the EU, many reform proposals are currently underway that could benefit CCU technologies. At present, policy support, for instance through the Renewable Energy Directive, mainly aims at renewable fuels of non-biological origin while in other areas CCU support remains at odds with principles such as “energy efficiency first”. The EU does, however, have a broad range of funding opportunities available for research, development and demonstration projects. The paper uses the cross-regional comparison of policy mixes to formulate policy recommendations to improve policy mixes for CCU. A clearer strategic commitment to CCU, its incorporation into green public procurement guidelines, incorporating CCU across different funding schemes for sustainable energy transition, and ambitious new targets for renewable electricity and green hydrogen, for instance, could help develop the policy mixes further to provide a supportive framework for CCU.

Bifunctional Artificial Carbonic Anhydrase for the Integrated Capture and Electrochemical Conversion of CO2

To valorize waste and atmospheric CO2, carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies are currently receiving a lot of attention. Alkali base solutions have shown to be efficient capture solutions, and the electrochemical CO2 reduction (eCO2R) is a promising approach to convert CO2 using renewable energy. However, the capture and conversion have been investigated almost exclusively as separate processes to date. This strategy has the disadvantage that CO2 must be desorbed and compressed after capture, which increases the capital and operational costs of the technology significantly. To improve the valorization potential of CCU technologies, integrating both the capture and electrochemical conversion steps by directly utilizing the postcapture solution as an electrolyte (in the form of bicarbonate) for the eCO2R is a highly promising approach. However, bicarbonate electrolysis cannot compete yet in terms of energy efficiency with analogous CO2-fed electrolyzers. Nevertheless, given its huge potential, there is interest in optimizing the overall technology by, for instance, decreasing the costs of capturing the CO2 by shortening the operational time or promoting the electrochemical conversion of CO2 in bicarbonate solutions. In this study, we have synthesized and optimized for the first time ever bioinspired catalysts that were able to fulfill and improve steps in a combined CO2 capture and conversion system. In the best-case scenario, the rate of the conversion of CO2 to bicarbonate (mimicking the capture step in CCU) increased by 91% when the biomimetic catalyst [Zn(cyclen)]2+ was present in the capture solution. On the other hand, the same catalyst promoted the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to formate from a bicarbonate postcapture solution by inhibiting the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The partial current density toward the HER decreased from 18 mA cm–2 in control experiments to 0.7 mA cm–2 in the presence of [Zn(cyclen)]2+.

Life cycle assessment of a novel electrocatalytic process for the production of bulk chemical ethylene oxide from biogenic CO2

Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies support future energy and climate transition goals by recycling carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The use of biogenic CO2 from renewable sources, is an avenue for the production of fully renewable products. Fossil-based materials can potentially be replaced in the long term while allowing for the use of so called “waste” streams. To foster the development of a circular economy more insights need to be gained on the life cycle impact of CCU technologies. This study analyzed a CCU process chain, with focus on the utilization of volatile renewable electricity and biogenic CO2. We performed a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment, evaluating various environmental impact categories (CML 2001 methodology) and primary energy demand (PED) with GaBi LCA software by sphera®. The targeted olefin is ethylene oxide (C2H4O), which is a crucial intermediate chemical for the production of various synthetic materials, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). As functional unit, 1 kg ethylene oxide was chosen. In the novel process at first ethylene (C2H4) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are produced from water and CO2via an electrocatalytic process (Power-to-X process). In a second step, the two intermediates are synthesized to ethylene oxide. The theoretical implementation of a medium-scale process under average European conditions was considered in 12 scenarios that differed in energy supply and CO2 source. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the influence of the energy and resource efficiencies of the production steps. The process was compared to its fossil benchmark, an existing conventional EO production chain. Concerning the global warming potential (GWP), negative emissions of up to −0.5 kg CO2 eq./kg product were calculated under optimized process conditions regarding energy and conversion efficiency and using biogenic CO2. In contrast, the GWP exceeded the fossil benchmark when the European grid mix was applied. The PED of 87 MJ/kg product under optimized conditions is comparable to that of other Power-to-X processes, but is high compared to fossil-based ethylene oxide. Based on the results we conclude that the energy efficiency of the electrocatalytic cell and renewable energy as input are the main levers to achieve a low environmental impact.

Reflecting on the environmental impact of the captured carbon feedstock

Climate change mitigation potentials of carbon capture and utilization (CCU) closely depend on the energy and chemicals used to capture the chemically inert CO2. The potential environmental benefits of CCU are typically assessed using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. Although LCA is a standardized method, modelling CO2 as a carbon feedstock instead of an emission introduces an ambiguous “multifunctionality issue”. Inconsistent multifunctionality practices have been applied to deal with this methodological complexity in LCAs of CCU technologies. Using one method instead of another can lead to highly positive or negative carbon footprints for the same carbon source and CO2 capture process.A comprehensive guideline to clarify the best practices to conduct LCAs of CCU technologies was published in 2020 (and updated in March 2022) in a collaborative process involving over 40 experts. In this guideline and linked scientific articles from experts involved in its development, a so-called “substitution method” is recommended to avoid suboptimal choices of CO2 sources, improve comparability and harmonize decision-making. This article critically reviews the methodological formulation of the recommended method and suggests corrections to possible inaccuracies in a future update of the guideline. Furthermore, various illustrative examples of common CO2 feedstocks were used to illustrate the meaning of adopting such a method in practice. Economic-based benchmarking of the environmental impacts of CO2 feedstocks calculated with such a method was also broadly illustrated.

A standardized methodology for economic and carbon footprint assessment of CO2 to transport fuels: Comparison of novel bicarbonate electrolysis with competing pathways

Early evaluation of carbon capture and utilization (CCU) pathways in terms of cost and emission reductions is critical in guiding future R&D and commercialization. However, such evaluation is challenging due to varying technology readiness levels (TRL) of pathways, unavailability of cost and emission data for new technologies and uncertainty of performance parameters of lab scale technologies. In this study, we propose a standardized methodology that allow comparing synthetic fuel production pathways based on early stage lab scale CO2 electrolysis technologies with mature CCU technologies and incumbent technologies. This methodology provides guidelines for defining pathways, modeling and cost and carbon footprint (CF) assessment supported by a bottom-up framework to scale- up the costs and CF of lab scale technologies. We apply the developed methodology to evaluate Fischer-Tropsh synthesis (FTS) fuel production pathways based on bicarbonate electrolysis, a novel early stage CO2 electroreduction technology with integrated CO2 capture, and reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction, a mature thermocatalytic CO2 conversion technology. The cost of diesel fuel production using RWGS and bicarbonate electrolysis pathways were 1.7 $/L and 1.5 $/L, respectively, which is more than 140% of current cost of diesel. Nevertheless, both pathways were able to achieve significant emissions reductions with bicarbonate electrolysis reducing 90% and RWGS reducing at 70% compared to conventional diesel. Based on the uncertainties of calculated cost, neither pathway is more economically competitive than the other. However bicarbonate electrolysis pathway offer more opportunities for emission reduction as most of its energy demand can be provided by renewable electricity. RWGS pathway with relatively higher thermal energy demand will need to rely on high level of energy recovery and integration to achieve similar emission reductions.

Sustainability analysis framework based on global market dynamics: A carbon capture and utilization industry case

Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) is attracting much attention as an option for reducing global CO2 emission since it can convert CO2 into more stable and valuable products. One of the most important issues in CCU research is the balance between the global market demand and the supply of the products which can be produced from CO2. However, the majority of previous research did not consider the product supply from the existing plants, and the price reduction caused by the additional supply from CCU processes to be built. To this end, in this work, a systematic analysis framework is proposed to identify optimal deployment strategy for CCU industry with the considerations for global market conditions. To demonstrate the application of the proposed framework, several case studies are designed and performed using the following design variables: time, CO2 processing scale, objective function, and level of market competition. In these case studies, the following representative CCU products are considered, which are obtained from chemical conversion of CO2: gasoline, diesel, methanol, dimethyl ether, dimethyl carbonate and succinic acid. Our analysis results showed that the optimal product portfolio for CCU industry exhibits a complex nonlinear temporal evolution with methanol and dimethyl ether being the best product for the short-term and long-term, respectively. It was also shown that the proposed framework can be used to systematically calculate the maximum capacity of CCU industry, which was estimated to be approximately 350 Mton CO2/yr by the calendar year of 2050 given the current levels of CCU technologies.

Exergetic Analysis of DME Synthesis from CO2 and Renewable Hydrogen

Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) is a viable solution to valorise the CO2 captured from industrial plants’ flue gas, thus avoiding emitting it and synthesizing products with high added value. On the other hand, using CO2 as a reactant in chemical processes is a challenging task, and a rigorous analysis of the performance is needed to evaluate the real impact of CCU technologies in terms of efficiency and environmental footprint. In this paper, the energetic performance of a DME and methanol synthesis process fed by 25% of the CO2 captured from a natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plant and by the green hydrogen produced through an electrolyser was evaluated. The remaining 75% of the CO2 was compressed and stored underground. The process was assessed by means of an exergetic analysis and compared to post-combustion Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), where 100% of the CO2 captured was stored underground. Through the exergy analysis, the quality degradation of energy was quantified, and the sources of irreversibility were detected. The carbon-emitting source was a 189 MW Brayton–Joule power plant, which was mainly responsible for exergy destruction. The CCU configuration showed a higher exergy efficiency than the CCS, but higher exergy destruction per non-emitted carbon dioxide. In the DME/methanol production plant, the main contribution to exergy destruction was given by the distillation column separating the reactor outlet stream and, in particular, the top-stage condenser was found to be the component with the highest irreversibility (45% of the total). Additionally, the methanol/DME synthesis reactor destroyed a significant amount of exergy (24%). Globally, DME/methanol synthesis from CO2 and green hydrogen is feasible from an exergetic point of view, with 2.276 MJ of energy gained per 1 MJ of exergy destroyed.

CHEMampere: Technologies for sustainable chemical production with renewable electricity and CO2, N2, O2, and H2O

AbstractThe chemical industry must become carbon neutral by 2050, meaning that process‐, energy‐, and product‐related CO2 emissions from fossil sources are completely suppressed. This goal can only be reached by using renewable energy, secondary raw materials, or CO2 as a carbon source. The latter can be done indirectly through the bioeconomy or directly by utilizing CO2 from air or biogenic sources (integrated biorefinery). Until 2030, CO2 waste from fossil‐based processes can be utilized to curb fossil CO2 emissions and reach the turning point of global fossil CO2 emissions. A technology mix consisting of recycling technologies, white biotechnology, and carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies is needed to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. In this context, CHEMampere contributes to the goal of carbon neutrality with electricity‐based CCU technologies producing green chemicals from CO2, N2, O2, and H2O in a decentralized manner. This is an alternative to the e‐Refinery concept, which needs huge capacities of water electrolysis for a centralized CO2 conversion with green hydrogen, whose demand is expected to rise dramatically due to the decarbonization of the energy sector, which would cause a conflict of use between chemistry and energy. Here, CHEMampere's core reactor technologies, that is, electrolyzers, plasma reactors, and ohmic resistance heating of catalysts, are described, and their technical maturity is evaluated for the CHEMampere platform chemicals NH3, NOx, O3, H2O2, H2, CO, and CxHyOz products such as formic acid or methanol. Downstream processing of these chemicals is also addressed by CHEMampere, but it is not discussed here.

Computer-aided identification and evaluation of technologies for sustainable carbon capture and utilization using a superstructure approach

Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) offer ways to reduce carbon emissions of fossil-fuel-based industries with lower economic penalties. There has been increasing social demand to invest in CCU technologies but their evaluations for further R&D and commercialization are complicated by the lack of consistent standards for data and methodologies, as well as their varying levels of technical maturity and uncertainty. As numerous combinations of capture and conversion technologies are possible in a commercial implementation, it is essential to perform systematic evaluations in terms of their economics and CO2 reduction potential, both quickly and fairly. This work introduces a computer-aided tool called ArKaTAC3 which can be used for such purposes. The latest version of the software includes features for constructing a superstructure network to model various CCU pathway alternatives from given sources to products and identifying optimal ones. Many difficult issues faced in evaluating CCU technologies, including the collection of reliable life cycle inventory data, system boundary specification, multi-objective specification, and consideration of uncertainty can be managed with the tool and its embedded CCU database, thus lowering the barrier to systematic and quantitative analyses by policymakers and practitioners. Two case studies are performed: (i) identification of sustainable CCU pathways from a superstructure comprising various CO2 utilization technologies and (ii) optimization of a CCU supply chain network in the Middle East. These case studies demonstrate the efficacy and flexibility of the newly-developed tool in making policy- and investment-related decisions for CCU.

Adapting Technology Learning Curves for Prospective Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Assessments of Emerging Carbon Capture and Utilization Pathways

Comparisons of emerging carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies with equivalent incumbent technologies are necessary to support technology developers and to help policy-makers design appropriate long-term incentives to mitigate climate change through the deployment of CCU. In particular, early-stage CCU technologies must prove their economic viability and environmental reduction potential compared to already-deployed technologies. These comparisons can be misleading, as emerging technologies typically experience a drastic increase in performance and decrease in cost and greenhouse gas emissions as they develop from research to mass-market deployment due to various forms of learning. These changes complicate the interpretation of early techno-economic assessments (TEAs) and life cycle assessments (LCAs) of emerging CCU technologies. The effects of learning over time or cumulative production themselves can be quantitatively described using technology learning curves (TLCs). While learning curve approaches have been developed for various technologies, a harmonized methodology for using TLCs in TEA and LCA for CCU in particular is required. To address this, we describe a methodology that incorporates TLCs into TEA and LCA to forecast the environmental and economic performance of emerging CCU technologies. This methodology is based on both an evaluation of the state of the art of learning curve assessment and a literature review of TLC approaches developed in various manufacturing and energy generation sectors. Additionally, we demonstrate how to implement this methodology using a case study on a CO2 mineralization pathway. Finally, commentary is provided on how researchers, technology developers, and LCA and TEA practitioners can advance the use of TLCs to allow for consistent, high-resolution modeling of technological learning for CCU going forward and enable holistic assessments and fairer comparisons with other climate technologies.

Scenario assessment of implementing methanation considering economic feasibility and regional characteristics

Reducing CO2 emissions is essential for mitigating the effects of climate change. Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) has been considered as a potential strategy for mitigating CO2 emissions, and methanation is one of the most promising CCU technologies which should be investigated for implementation in Japan. In this study, the economic feasibility and CO2 reduction potential of the methanation process in Japan was comprehensively evaluated, considering the country’s regional energy characteristics. Herein, process simulation was employed to optimize a methanation process that can improve the energy efficiency of the entire process, contributing to total CO2 emission reduction. Moreover, to identify the most suitable conditions for the implementation of the methanation in Japan, energy carrier types, CO2 emission sources, plant scales and locations, and international trading partners were comprehensively evaluated. The results show that liquefied CO2 is more economically efficient than liquefied H2 as an energy carrier. Indonesia was identified as Japan’s optimal trading partner. When introducing methanation in Japan, CO2 capture should first be introduced at liquid natural gas (LNG)-fired power plants at a CO2 reduction cost of 474.6–479.8 USD·tCO2−1. In the medium–long term, coal fired power plants is predicted to be the most effective if H2 production cost decrease. A maximum CO2 reduction potential of 293.7 (Mt·y−1) occurs when conducting methanation by CO2 from coal-, BFG-, and LNG-fired power plants in Japan. However, as the domestic supply of renewable energy in Japan is limited, international cooperation is necessary to introduce methanation at a large scale.

Coupling carbon capture and utilization with the construction industry: Opportunities in Western Germany

Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) is an essential method to sequester unavoidable CO2 emissions in regions with insufficient geological storage capacities. Nonetheless, there are several uncertainties and knowledge gaps in terms of the future value chains of some CCU technologies (e.g. carbonation). This paper analyzes the potentials of coupling CCU with the supply chains of the construction industry by means of carbonating the concrete products and waste concrete in the German federal state of North Rhine–Westphalia. Based on extensive data and statistical analyses, the locations and outputs of the concrete and recycling plants have been determined in order to quantify their CO2 sequestration capacities. Location-allocation models have been applied to allocate the carbon sources to the potential carbon sinks and calculate the minimum transportation costs.The analysis shows that the total annual sequestration capacity is up to 1 Mt CO2 with an average transportation distance of 37.4 km (8.3 EUR/ton). Nonetheless, some emission sources have a clear comparative advantage in terms of their proximity to the carbon sinks as the distance ranges between 0.7 km and 99.7 km. Also, some carbon sinks have a comparative advantage in terms of capacities and technology readiness levels. Therefore, the paper also presents models for the different products in order to display the potentials of each category separately and offer more flexibility to the stakeholders.