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TECHNO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

# The challenges of electrolytic valorization of carbon dioxide

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Electroreduction of carbon dioxide is an enabling technology that can produce valuable chemicals, notably C1 (for example, formic acid and carbon monoxide) and C2 chemicals (for example, ethylene and ethanol), with a minimal or even negative carbon footprint. Now, a techno-economic analysis shows that only the C1 products can achieve competitive prices, while substantial improvements in process economics are needed for C2.

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from$8.99 All prices are NET prices. ## References 1. 1. Peters, M. S., Timmerhaus, K. D. & West, R. E. Plant Design and Economics for Chemical Engineers 254–256 (McGraw Hill, 2003). 2. 2. Patience, G. S. & Boffito, D. C. J. Adv. Manuf. Process. 2, e10039 (2020). 3. 3. Weber, R. S., Askander, J. A. & Barclay, J. A. J. Adv. Manuf. Process. 3, e10074 (2020). 4. 4. Shin, H., Hansen, K. U. & Jiao, F. Nat. Sustain. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-021-00739-x (2021). 5. 5. Nitopi, S. et al. Chem. Rev. 119, 7610–7672 (2019). 6. 6. Grim, R. G. et al. Energy Environ. Sci. 13, 472–494 (2020). 7. 7. Jouny, M., Luc, W. & Jiao, F. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 57, 2165–2177 (2018). 8. 8. Jouny, M., Luc, W. & Jiao, F. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 59, 8121–8123 (2020). 9. 9. Weber, R. S. ACS Catal. 9, 946–950 (2019). 10. 10. Bushuyev, O. S. et al. Joule 2, 825–832 (2018). 11. 11. Petroleum & Other Liquids (US Energy Information Agency, 2021); https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_cons_psup_dc_nus_mbblpd_a.htm 12. 12. Holladay, J. E., Male, J. L., Rousseau, R. & Weber, R. S. Energy Fuels 34, 15433–15442 (2020). 13. 13. Renewable Capacity Statistics 2020 (International Renewable Energy Agency, 2020); https://irena.org/publications/2020/Mar/Renewable-Capacity-Statistics-2020 14. 14. GDP (Current US$) (World Bank, 2021); https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD

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## Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Technology Transitions and the DOE, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office. PNNL is a multiprogram national laboratory operated for the US Department of Energy by Battelle under contract DE-AC05-76RL01830.

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Correspondence to Robert S. Weber.

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The author declares no competing interests.

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Weber, R.S. The challenges of electrolytic valorization of carbon dioxide. Nat Sustain (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-021-00748-w