A Gross‐Margin Model for Defining Technoeconomic Benchmarks in the Electroreduction of CO2
Abstract
We introduce a gross‐margin model to evaluate the technoeconomic feasibility of producing different C 1–C 2 chemicals such as carbon monoxide, formic acid, methanol, methane, ethanol, and ethylene through the electroreduction of CO 2. Key performance benchmarks including the maximum operating cell potential (Vmax), minimum operating current density (jmin), Faradaic efficiency (FE), and catalyst durability (tcatdur) are derived. The Vmax values obtained for the different chemicals indicate that CO and HCOOH are the most economically viable products. Selectivity requirements suggest that the coproduction of an economically less feasible chemical (CH 3 OH, CH 4, C 2 H 5 OH, C 2 H 4) with a more feasible chemical (CO, HCOOH) can be a strategy to offset the Vmax requirements for individual products. Other performance requirements such as jmin and tcatdur are also derived, and the feasibility of alternative process designs and operating conditions are evaluated.
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Industrial water electrolyzers have demonstrated stable performance with operation times over 60,000-80,000 hours.
“Industrial water electrolyzers have demonstrated stable performance with operation times over 60,000-80,000 hours, and a similar bar will be applied to CO2 electrolyzers.[19]”
From Electrochemical CO <sub>2</sub> Reduction into Chemical Feedstocks: From Mechanistic Electrocatalysis Models to System Design (2019) · cites this paper as [19]
Electricity costs are the determining factor for the economic feasibility of CO2RR products in most technoeconomic models.
“As in hydrogen production from water electrolysis, electricity costs are the determining factor for the economic feasibility of CO2RR products in most technoeconomic models.[17][18][19]26,27]”
From Electrochemical CO <sub>2</sub> Reduction into Chemical Feedstocks: From Mechanistic Electrocatalysis Models to System Design (2019) · cites this paper as [19]
Through solvent and process design improvements, the cost of CO2 capture could be reduced to as much as $44 USD per ton CO2.
“Through solvent and process design improvements, the cost of capture could be reduced to as much as $44 USD per ton CO2.78”
From General Techno-Economic Analysis of CO <sub>2</sub> Electrolysis Systems (2018) · cites this paper as [78]
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- Authors
- Verma, S., Kim, B., Jhong, H. “., Ma, S., & Kenis, P. J. A.
- Affiliations
- Kyushu University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Kenis, Paul J. A.
- Venue
- ChemSusChem
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2016-06-27
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 15
- Pages
- 1972-1979
- ISSN
- 1864-5631 (ISSN-L)
- 1864-564X
- OpenAlex
- W2465907233
- Cited by
- 655
- References
- 57
- Citations by year
- 2026: 31 · 2025: 66 · 2024: 96 · 2023: 70 · 2022: 83 · 2021: 112 · 2020: 92 · 2019: 54 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 9.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- ChemSusChem (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- International Institute for Carbon Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I2CNER)
- Japanese Ministry for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
- Physical Sciences › Chemical Engineering › Catalysis › Catalysts for Methane Reforming
- Physical Sciences › Chemical Engineering › Process Chemistry and Technology › Carbon dioxide utilization in catalysis
- Keywords
- electrochemical CO2 reduction, techno-economic analysis, carbon monoxide, formic acid, methanol, methane, ethanol, ethylene, Faradaic efficiency, catalyst stability, process design
- MeSH terms
- Ethanol, Methanol, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Electric Conductivity, Electrochemistry, Ethylenes, Formates, Methane, Models, Theoretical, Oxidation-Reduction, Benchmarking
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