It is foreseen that by 2040, the price of PV-H 2 may match that of MR-H 2
because the cost of PV devices will fall down while their lifetime and efficiency will
increase. This high cost of non-fossil H 2 explains why the conversion of CO 2 into
fuels has not been pursued with the due intensity so far; the cost of produced fuels
would have been so high that they would have not had market. But the future is
different! Installed PV is increasing at a high rate: from 51 GW in 2015, to 305 in
2017, 969 in 2025 and 3 500–4 500 GW [7] by 2040, while the cost of
PV-materials will decrease by 50%. Additionally, the direct use of solar energy for
the efficient concomitant CO 2 reduction and water oxidation has the possibility of
being developed with efficiency higher than 10% in coming years [8].
A new paradigm for CO 2 conversion [9] is in front of us: the CO 2 Revolution!
Let us make an analysis of options we have for CO 2 conversion, moving along the
energy rising slope.
9.2.2 CCU, Sustainability and Innovation
It is worth emphasizing that if the energy industry can be decarbonized, the
chemical and polymer industry cannot. One of the most exciting features of CCU is
its ability to conjugate sustainability and innovation. The use of CO 2 is per se a
new attitude that may produce
• more direct reactions with reduction of reaction steps and, thus, of waste
production;
• less use of fossil-C and general resource saving;
• lower process and separation energy, coupled to other tangible benefits such as
– safer working conditions,
– raw material diversification,
– reduction of carbon footprint,
– lower overall environmental impact (reduction of not only GHG emission,
but also reduced burden on other categories such as human toxicity, soil and
water toxicology, air pollution, acidification, etc.),
– lower overall industrial waste production (with subsequent lower CO 2
emission in waste treatment) and less toxic.
Innovative processes based on CO 2 are those which while reducing the
C-footprint of a good, do not increase the impact on other environmental categories
(see W9.1A). CO 2 reduction must be coupled to the reduction of waste and
emissions, which can negatively impact other environmental categories. Reducing CCP, while increasing the impact on other categories (see Appendix F) is not
wise as it does not represent a solution to the problem but means aggravating the
environmental burden. CCU must contribute to improving the state of our planet. In
the synthetic Chemical Industry, CO 2 represents the safer alternative to either
phosgene (COCl 2 , a toxic species, LC 50 = 3 ppm) [10] or CO (poisonous gas) [11].
Implementing safer conditions means reducing Capital Expenditure (CAPEX), as a
9.2 Carbon Dioxide Conversion (CCU)
149
because the cost of PV devices will fall down while their lifetime and efficiency will
increase. This high cost of non-fossil H 2 explains why the conversion of CO 2 into
fuels has not been pursued with the due intensity so far; the cost of produced fuels
would have been so high that they would have not had market. But the future is
different! Installed PV is increasing at a high rate: from 51 GW in 2015, to 305 in
2017, 969 in 2025 and 3 500–4 500 GW [7] by 2040, while the cost of
PV-materials will decrease by 50%. Additionally, the direct use of solar energy for
the efficient concomitant CO 2 reduction and water oxidation has the possibility of
being developed with efficiency higher than 10% in coming years [8].
A new paradigm for CO 2 conversion [9] is in front of us: the CO 2 Revolution!
Let us make an analysis of options we have for CO 2 conversion, moving along the
energy rising slope.
9.2.2 CCU, Sustainability and Innovation
It is worth emphasizing that if the energy industry can be decarbonized, the
chemical and polymer industry cannot. One of the most exciting features of CCU is
its ability to conjugate sustainability and innovation. The use of CO 2 is per se a
new attitude that may produce
• more direct reactions with reduction of reaction steps and, thus, of waste
production;
• less use of fossil-C and general resource saving;
• lower process and separation energy, coupled to other tangible benefits such as
– safer working conditions,
– raw material diversification,
– reduction of carbon footprint,
– lower overall environmental impact (reduction of not only GHG emission,
but also reduced burden on other categories such as human toxicity, soil and
water toxicology, air pollution, acidification, etc.),
– lower overall industrial waste production (with subsequent lower CO 2
emission in waste treatment) and less toxic.
Innovative processes based on CO 2 are those which while reducing the
C-footprint of a good, do not increase the impact on other environmental categories
(see W9.1A). CO 2 reduction must be coupled to the reduction of waste and
emissions, which can negatively impact other environmental categories. Reducing CCP, while increasing the impact on other categories (see Appendix F) is not
wise as it does not represent a solution to the problem but means aggravating the
environmental burden. CCU must contribute to improving the state of our planet. In
the synthetic Chemical Industry, CO 2 represents the safer alternative to either
phosgene (COCl 2 , a toxic species, LC 50 = 3 ppm) [10] or CO (poisonous gas) [11].
Implementing safer conditions means reducing Capital Expenditure (CAPEX), as a
9.2 Carbon Dioxide Conversion (CCU)
149