Lindsey Ye
Research Mentor: Volker Sick
Mentor Department: Mechanical Engineering, Engineering
Author(s): Lindsey Ye
Session: Session 7 (4:00 PM – 4:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 11
Abstract
There is a global push toward decarbonization, and CO2-based routes have gained lots of attention over traditional petrochemical processes. However, the question now arises of whether or not CO2-based routes have economic viability. Over the course of this report, there will be an evaluation of CO2-derived olefin production by screening key economic metrics: Carbon Intensity and Total Energy Demand. These parameters serve as primary indicators for operational feasibility within the competitive market. There will be an assessment of three main pathways: conventional fossil naphtha cracking, natural gas-based production, and renewable carbon (more specifically, the methanol-to-olefins route). Preliminary research indicates that while CO2-based routes can achieve very low to neutral carbon intensities, they require significantly higher energy inputs than fossil routes. Although these published values vary, they consistently show that while the CO2 route performs well on emissions, its high energy demand adds operating costs that limit competitiveness relative to fossil pathways. At the same time, hydrogen costs remain the dominant driver of overall economics, and today’s elevated crude prices are accelerating interest in CO2-based fuels far sooner than expected, creating a strategic opening for low-carbon alternatives.
