Location Planning for the Production of CO₂‐Based Chemicals Using the Example of Olefin Production

Abstract

A methodology for identifying suitable locations for the CO2‐based production of olefins in Germany is presented. Based on electricity and CO2 requirements, locations are identified that can provide sufficient CO2 and renewable energy for the conversion of CO2 to olefins. In addition, the use of existing infrastructures is taken into account. The regional, technical renewable energy potential in Germany is sufficient to produce ∼ 800 kt of olefins from CO2‐based methanol per year in one plant. But the currently available CO2 point sources with high CO2 concentrations of around 100 % are not sufficient to meet the CO2 requirement of an 800 kt a−1 methanol‐to‐olefins plant. If existing refineries are preferred due to existing infrastructure services, locations in the north of Cologne, in Lower Saxony, and in Brandenburg are particularly suitable. A full substitution of fossil olefins by CO2‐based olefins is possible in Germany. The challenge is to provide sufficient renewable electricity for the production of H2 with a low CO2 intensity.

Impact of COVID‐19 on the Renewable Energy Sector and Mitigation Strategies

“…Such environmental impacts resulted in serious health problems and critical climate changes. Efforts have been devoted worldwide to reduce or eliminate the consumption of fossil fuel through improving the efficiency of the current energy conversion processes 3 , developing efficient environmentally friendly energy conversion devices 4 , 5 , using environmentally friendly materials 6 , 7 , and developing renewable energy (RE) resources such as biomass 8 , wind 9 , geothermal 10 , and solar 11 . Additionally, hybrid RE resources have been widely described for improved energy sustainability 12 .…”

Sustainable Dimethyl Carbonate Production from Ethylene Oxide and Methanol

“…Firstly, a wide range of reactor volumes from 50 to 1000 m 3 was investigated, and then a narrower volume range was tried. The final volume range was assumed to change from 160 to 230 m 3 . The objective function was chosen to be ROR or ROI which is reasonably comprehensive to take all the active economic factors into account.…”

“…Even though the pressure reduction is unfavorable in terms of the reaction rate and the primary product selectivity [25], it improves the economy on the whole. Accordingly, the optimum point is V = 210 m 3 and P = 50 bar with ROI = 13.19 %.…”

“…Hence, it is necessary to accelerate studying various physical and chemical CO 2 utilization processes as elaborated in 2. Some chemical and petrochemical production plants, e.g., for methanol (MeOH), urea, and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) production, utilize CO 2 as feedstock 3. However, the global CO 2 generation is far more than CO 2 utilization 4.…”