Global demand analysis for carbon dioxide as raw material from key industrial sources and direct air capture to produce renewable electricity-based fuels and chemicals

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production 2022-11, Vol.373, p.133920, Article 133920
• Main Authors: Galimova, Tansu, Ram, Manish, Bogdanov, Dmitrii, Fasihi, Mahdi, Khalili, Siavash, Gulagi, Ashish, Karjunen, Hannu, Mensah, Theophilus Nii Odai, Breyer, Christian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon dioxide direct air capture; Carbon dioxide point sources; Carbon dioxide utilisation; Electro-chemicals; Electro-fuels; Energy transition
• ISSN: 0959-6526
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.133920

Defossilisation of the current fossil fuels dominated global energy system is one of the key goals in the upcoming decades to mitigate climate change. Sharp reduction in the costs of solar photovoltaics, wind power, and battery technologies enables a rapid transition of the power and some segments of the transport sectors to sustainable energy resources. However, renewable electricity-based fuels and chemicals are required for the defossilisation of hard-to-abate segments of transport and industry. The global demand for carbon dioxide as raw material for the production of e-fuels and e-chemicals during a global energy transition to 100% renewable energy is analysed in this research. Carbon dioxide capture and utilisation potentials from key industrial point sources, including cement mills, pulp and paper mills, and waste incinerators, are evaluated. According to this study's estimates, the demand for carbon dioxide increases from 0.6 in 2030 to 6.1 gigatonnes in 2050. Key industrial point sources can potentially supply 2.1 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide and thus meet the majority of the demand in the 2030s. By 2050, however, direct air capture is expected to supply the majority of the demand, contributing 3.8 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Sustainable and unavoidable industrial point sources and direct air capture are vital technologies which may help the world to achieve ambitious climate goals. •By 2050, 43,251 TWhth of renewable electricity based fuels and chemicals are needed.•Global demand for carbon dioxide will reach 6076 MtCO2 annually in 2050.•Key industrial point sources cover 96% of the carbon dioxide demand in 2030.•Direct Air Capture covers 63% of the carbon dioxide demand in 2050.•Cement mills and waste incinerators are major suppliers of carbon dioxide.