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Review
. 2023 Dec 29;9(1):288-297.
doi: 10.1021/acsenergylett.3c02446. eCollection 2024 Jan 12.

Renewable Syngas Generation via Low-Temperature Electrolysis: Opportunities and Challenges

Andrés Raya-Imbernón  1 , Angelika A Samu  2   3 , Stefan Barwe  1 , Giuseppe Cusati  1 , Tamás Fődi  2 , Balázs M Hepp  2 , Csaba Janáky  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Renewable Syngas Generation via Low-Temperature Electrolysis: Opportunities and Challenges

Andrés Raya-Imbernón et al. ACS Energy Lett. .

Abstract

The production of syngas (i.e., a mixture of CO and H2) via the electrochemical reduction of CO2 and water can contribute to the green transition of various industrial sectors. Here we provide a joint academic-industrial perspective on the key technical and economical differences of the concurrent (i.e., CO and H2 are generated in the same electrolyzer cell) and separated (i.e., CO and H2 are electrogenerated in different electrolyzers) production of syngas. Using a combination of literature analysis, experimental data, and techno-economic analysis, we demonstrate that the production of synthesis gas is notably less expensive if we operate a CO2 electrolyzer in a CO-selective mode and combine it with a separate PEM electrolyzer for H2 generation. We also conclude that by the further decrease of the cost of renewable electricity and the increase of CO2 emission taxes, such prepared renewable syngas will become cost competitive.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare the following competing financial interest(s): eChemicles is scaling up its patented CO2 electrolyzer technology to provide an environmentally and economically sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-based chemicals. Air Liquide offers and operates large-scale PEM water electrolysis solutions for the production of low-carbon hydrogen.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Long-term prediction of the syngas market size (own estimation based on the growth of the key market segments, see section S5 in the Supporting Information).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Illustration of the three different syngas production scenarios analyzed in this Perspective.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Illustrative electrochemical data for the formation of CO and syngas formation. (A, B) An optimized zero-gap electrolyzer cell; (C, D) nonoptimal carbon GDLs. Results were obtained with a zero-gap electrolyzer cell with Ag cathode, Ir anode, and PiperION anion exchange membrane, using 0.05 M (A) or 0.1 M (B–D) CsHCO3 anolyte.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Syngas (H2:CO = 2:1) TCO [€/kg] for CO2-CO (A), CO2-SG-50 (B), and CO2-SG (C) cases in 2030.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Syngas (H2:CO = 2:1) TCO [€/kg] for CO2-CO in the pessimistic, base, and optimistic cases.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Sensitivity of syngas TCO [€/kg] to electricity (A) and CO2 (B) purchase price.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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