General technoeconomic analysis for electrochemical coproduction coupling carbon dioxide reduction with organic oxidation

TLDR

Electrochemical coupling of CO₂ reduction with organic oxidation is a promising route to clean chemicals, but economic assessments are uncertain due to product diversity and design variability. This study performs a technoeconomic analysis of CO₂R–organic oxidation coproduction, proposing economically viable combinations through conceptual process design. An automated process synthesis framework was developed to simulate 295 coproduction scenarios, enabling prediction of levelized costs and sensitivity analysis of current density, Faraday efficiency, and overpotential. The results demonstrate that coupling CO₂ reduction with value‑added organic oxidation can achieve significant economic feasibility.

Abstract

Abstract Electrochemical processes coupling carbon dioxide reduction reactions with organic oxidation reactions are promising techniques for producing clean chemicals and utilizing renewable energy. However, assessments of the economics of the coupling technology remain questionable due to diverse product combinations and significant process design variability. Here, we report a technoeconomic analysis of electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction–organic oxidation reaction coproduction via conceptual process design and thereby propose potential economic combinations. We first develop a fully automated process synthesis framework to guide process simulations, which are then employed to predict the levelized costs of chemicals. We then identify the global sensitivity of current density, Faraday efficiency, and overpotential across 295 electrochemical coproduction processes to both understand and predict the levelized costs of chemicals at various technology levels. The analysis highlights the promise that coupling the carbon dioxide reduction reaction with the value-added organic oxidation reaction can secure significant economic feasibility.