However, one can foresee that the CO 2 utilization in the synthesis of chemicals
that can rise from actual ca. 200 Mt to ca. 927–1058 Mt by 2040. Assuming a ratio
avoided/used = 2.8, it can be calculated that 2.6–2.9 Gt of CO 2 can be avoided. The
way to assess the benefit of using CO 2 is the LCA methodology [9, 10], which has
been more recently used to assess the synthesis of C1 molecules from CO 2 [11]; it
has been shown that, among all others, the benefit is maximized for formic acid that
has the smaller market (600–800 kt/y). One can argue that such application will
have only a small impact on CC: indeed, any contribution of the size of 1 Mt/y can
be worth to be considered in making the overall balance.
Microalgae, grown for the production of chemicals and fuels, would greatly
contribute to CO 2 fixation (ca. 1.8–2.2 t CO2 per t of dry biomass) and conversion
into fine chemicals (see Chap. 11) and fuels, with significant emission reduction.
Products derived from microalgae find application as fine chemicals, food and feed,
and fuels [12]; their production from CO 2 will reduce the emission and organic
waste that would be generated using classic chemical routes.
Finally, it is the conversion of CO 2 into fuels that have a market 15 times higher
than chemicals, which attracts attention as it would be responsible for a major CO 2
conversion and reduction of CO 2 emissions.
It is not realistic to believe that the energy sector will in future be totally based
on synthetic fuels. As we have discussed before, fuels derived from CO 2 hydrogenation can be made for some specific transport sectors such as avio, navy, and
urban. The CO 2 hydrogenation to fuels will slowly grow until 2040 when the
installed PV power will reach >3500 GW installed (with respect to ca. 300 today),
and the price of PV-H 2 should be comparable to that of MR-H 2 , large-scale and
durable electrolysers will be available, together with new technologies such as
high-pressure electrolysis (for making H 2 under pressure ready for direct utilization
in chemical units) and high temperature (solid-state) electrolysis for making
hydrogen at the utilization temperature in chemical processes.
Concurrently, catalysts for the selective conversion of CO 2 into liquid fuels
(HCn), methanol, and methane should be developed so that all such options will be
available allowing large-scale fuels production. The use of Concentrators of Solar
Power (CSP) may make use of the simultaneous recovery from the atmosphere of
CO 2 and H 2 O, with thermal-catalyzed water and CO 2 splitting with production of
“Syngas” that would generate “air diesel.” Such fuels are much above the market
price today.
By integrating catalysis and biotechnology (see Chap. 11) and developing the
exploitation of new BES, a consistent bunch of technologies should be available by
2040 for the conversion of several Gt/y of CO 2 into useful products, avoiding
consistent amount of fossil-C extraction and use. All such options are summarized
in Scheme 12.1.
12.2 The Carbon Dioxide Revolution
225
that can rise from actual ca. 200 Mt to ca. 927–1058 Mt by 2040. Assuming a ratio
avoided/used = 2.8, it can be calculated that 2.6–2.9 Gt of CO 2 can be avoided. The
way to assess the benefit of using CO 2 is the LCA methodology [9, 10], which has
been more recently used to assess the synthesis of C1 molecules from CO 2 [11]; it
has been shown that, among all others, the benefit is maximized for formic acid that
has the smaller market (600–800 kt/y). One can argue that such application will
have only a small impact on CC: indeed, any contribution of the size of 1 Mt/y can
be worth to be considered in making the overall balance.
Microalgae, grown for the production of chemicals and fuels, would greatly
contribute to CO 2 fixation (ca. 1.8–2.2 t CO2 per t of dry biomass) and conversion
into fine chemicals (see Chap. 11) and fuels, with significant emission reduction.
Products derived from microalgae find application as fine chemicals, food and feed,
and fuels [12]; their production from CO 2 will reduce the emission and organic
waste that would be generated using classic chemical routes.
Finally, it is the conversion of CO 2 into fuels that have a market 15 times higher
than chemicals, which attracts attention as it would be responsible for a major CO 2
conversion and reduction of CO 2 emissions.
It is not realistic to believe that the energy sector will in future be totally based
on synthetic fuels. As we have discussed before, fuels derived from CO 2 hydrogenation can be made for some specific transport sectors such as avio, navy, and
urban. The CO 2 hydrogenation to fuels will slowly grow until 2040 when the
installed PV power will reach >3500 GW installed (with respect to ca. 300 today),
and the price of PV-H 2 should be comparable to that of MR-H 2 , large-scale and
durable electrolysers will be available, together with new technologies such as
high-pressure electrolysis (for making H 2 under pressure ready for direct utilization
in chemical units) and high temperature (solid-state) electrolysis for making
hydrogen at the utilization temperature in chemical processes.
Concurrently, catalysts for the selective conversion of CO 2 into liquid fuels
(HCn), methanol, and methane should be developed so that all such options will be
available allowing large-scale fuels production. The use of Concentrators of Solar
Power (CSP) may make use of the simultaneous recovery from the atmosphere of
CO 2 and H 2 O, with thermal-catalyzed water and CO 2 splitting with production of
“Syngas” that would generate “air diesel.” Such fuels are much above the market
price today.
By integrating catalysis and biotechnology (see Chap. 11) and developing the
exploitation of new BES, a consistent bunch of technologies should be available by
2040 for the conversion of several Gt/y of CO 2 into useful products, avoiding
consistent amount of fossil-C extraction and use. All such options are summarized
in Scheme 12.1.
12.2 The Carbon Dioxide Revolution
225