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Technoenergetic and Economic Analysis of CO2 Conversion

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An Economy Based on Carbon Dioxide and Water

Abstract

Mere improvements in energy efficiency and development of alternative energy sources may not be sufficient and timely to reverse the continuing rise of the CO2 emissions before it crosses dangerous levels. Given the mixed feelings on the geological sequestration of captured CO2 and the scale of worldwide CO2 emissions, the idea of utilizing CO2 to produce fuels and chemicals is receiving increasing attention as a potential long-term solution to this problem. The source of hydrogen is vital for producing fuels and chemicals from CO2. We consider both renewable (i.e., solar) and nonrenewable (i.e., fossil fuels) sources of hydrogen and identify several fuels and chemicals that can be produced from CO2 while meeting the hard constraint of net zero CO2 emission. Taking a small, geologically disadvantaged, and developed city-state of Singapore as an example, we analyze and compare thermodynamically feasible production of fuels/chemicals, whose global demands can make a significant dent in CO2 emissions. We also identify the hydrogen source and the cost at which it will make economic sense under various carbon tax regimes.

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Acknowledgements

(1) This work is an extension of a project carried out by an NUS team for the Energy Technology Roadmapping exercise, partially supported by NCCS/NRF. (2) The authors would like to thank Professor Rakesh Agrawal (Purdue University) for the insightful discussions during the course of the roadmap development. (3) We dedicate this work to the late Professor Michael C.G. Quah who contributed immensely to this project. His dynamism, intellect, sense of humor, and laughter are greatly missed to this day.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117585, Singapore

    Suraj Vasudevan, Shilpi Aggarwal, Shamsuzzaman Farooq, Iftekhar A. Karimi & Michael C. G. Quah

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  1. Suraj Vasudevan
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  2. Shilpi Aggarwal
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  3. Shamsuzzaman Farooq
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  4. Iftekhar A. Karimi
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  5. Michael C. G. Quah
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Correspondence to Suraj Vasudevan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. IC²R srl, Lab H124, Tecnopolis, Valenzano, Italy

    Michele Aresta

  2. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Iftekhar Karimi

  3. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Sibudjing Kawi

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Vasudevan, S., Aggarwal, S., Farooq, S., Karimi, I.A., Quah, M.C.G. (2019). Technoenergetic and Economic Analysis of CO2 Conversion. In: Aresta, M., Karimi, I., Kawi, S. (eds) An Economy Based on Carbon Dioxide and Water. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15868-2_12

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