This work addresses the issue of the transition of the petrochemical industry to a net zero scenario. The chemical industry is responsible for 10% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when both direct and indirect emissions are considered. This industry plays a key role in mitigating global warming due to its sheer size, and its links to many other sectors. Because of the need for carbon atoms as feedstock, all solutions aim to achieve a net-zero carbon footprint rather than full decarbonization. A comprehensive literature review of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) is used to identify the status and challenges of this industry, followed by a discussion of the applicability and performance of various practical solutions. As a general result obtained by different studies, Demand Side Measures (DSM) and Supply Chain Management (SCM) are the most effective and efficient mitigation strategies. Thanks to high circularity, the consumption of fossil fuels for short-lived plastics could decrease towards zero, thereby reducing the generated impact. E-fuels and e-chemicals are only a viable option if they employ 100% renewable energy and Direct Air Capture (DAC). Power-to-X is an important application area for these technologies, likely be dominated by chemicals with simple molecules (H2, NH3, CH4). Biofuels and bio-chemicals should be used to promote Waste-to-X, and bioenergy carbon capture and storage concepts to achieve the highest gains without burden shifting. Drop-in alternatives should be prioritized in hard-to-abate sectors and are an effective tool in the short and medium term. The second part of the work focuses on the analysis of four different sustainable aviation fuels production systems by applying a simplified LCSA. The results are consistent with the literature; e-jet fuel is four times more expensive than fossil jet fuel with 93% lower GHG emissions on a Cradle to Grave (CtG) basis. These technologies are capital expenditure (CAPEX) intensive, with the cost of electricity accounting for more than two-thirds of the final production cost. Solid Oxide Electrolysis (SOE) remains the most promising technology, enabling a reduction in production cost of nearly 2.4 c€/MJ. Finally, the price has been identified as the main obstacle to these technologies, necessitating strong and smart policy (Research and development). Nonetheless, if alternative technologies are not well-designed and deployed in the right place at the right time, they could lead to higher impacts than traditional ones.
Il presente lavoro di tesi è incentrato sulla transizione dell’industria petrolchimica, responsabile del 10% delle emissioni globali di gas serra. In particolare, vengono discusse una serie di tecnologie alternative che mirano a raggiungere la carbo-neutralità di questo settore data l’inevitabile necessità di carbonio come input dell’industria. La prima parte di questa tesi si focalizza sulla disamina di molteplici articoli scientifici riguardo Life Cycle Sustainability Assessments di alternative praticabili nel breve e medio periodo. Il modo più efficace per ridurre l’impatto generato da questo settore è la diminuzione della domanda tramite Demand Side Measures e Supply Chain Management come il riciclo di plastiche definite a breve termine. Per quanto riguarda gli e-fuels, essi necessitano energia rinnovabile e DAC per essere considerati sostenibili. Power-to-X è una famiglia di tecnologie che si svilupperanno attorno a e-chemicals semplici (H2, NH3, CH4). Biofuels nascondono una serie di problemi legati all’uso del suolo e al consumo di acqua, e per questo le applicazioni di queste tecnologie che generano l’impatto minore sono Waste-to-X e BioEnergy Carbon Capture and Storage. Infine, grazie a drop-in tecnologies e process integration è possibile abbattere costi ed emissioni. La seconda parte della tesi riguarda un LCSA eseguito su 4 sistemi di produzione di SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuels). I risultati ottenuti sono in linea con I valori riscontrati durante la prima fase del lavoro. Il costo di produzione del e-jet fuel si è rilevato quattro volte maggiore del costo del carburante da fonti fossili. E-fuels sono tecnologie ad alta intensità di capitale, derivante per più di due terzi dal costo dell’energia rinnovabile. Le emissioni generate sono all’incirca il 93% inferiori su base CtG (Cradle to Grave). SOE (Solid Oxide Electrolysis) è una tecnologia innovativa col potenziale di ridurre i costi di produzione fino a 2.4 c€/MJ. Un altro risultato importante è il ruolo del costo di produzione come principale ostacolo verso la distribuzione su larga scala; perciò, sono richieste politiche mirate e ben designate per garantire una transizione efficace ed equilibrata.
Carbon neutral fuels and chemicals: techno-economic and environmental assessment of novel technologies and processes' integration
Santoro, Giuseppe
2022/2023
Abstract
This work addresses the issue of the transition of the petrochemical industry to a net zero scenario. The chemical industry is responsible for 10% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when both direct and indirect emissions are considered. This industry plays a key role in mitigating global warming due to its sheer size, and its links to many other sectors. Because of the need for carbon atoms as feedstock, all solutions aim to achieve a net-zero carbon footprint rather than full decarbonization. A comprehensive literature review of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) is used to identify the status and challenges of this industry, followed by a discussion of the applicability and performance of various practical solutions. As a general result obtained by different studies, Demand Side Measures (DSM) and Supply Chain Management (SCM) are the most effective and efficient mitigation strategies. Thanks to high circularity, the consumption of fossil fuels for short-lived plastics could decrease towards zero, thereby reducing the generated impact. E-fuels and e-chemicals are only a viable option if they employ 100% renewable energy and Direct Air Capture (DAC). Power-to-X is an important application area for these technologies, likely be dominated by chemicals with simple molecules (H2, NH3, CH4). Biofuels and bio-chemicals should be used to promote Waste-to-X, and bioenergy carbon capture and storage concepts to achieve the highest gains without burden shifting. Drop-in alternatives should be prioritized in hard-to-abate sectors and are an effective tool in the short and medium term. The second part of the work focuses on the analysis of four different sustainable aviation fuels production systems by applying a simplified LCSA. The results are consistent with the literature; e-jet fuel is four times more expensive than fossil jet fuel with 93% lower GHG emissions on a Cradle to Grave (CtG) basis. These technologies are capital expenditure (CAPEX) intensive, with the cost of electricity accounting for more than two-thirds of the final production cost. Solid Oxide Electrolysis (SOE) remains the most promising technology, enabling a reduction in production cost of nearly 2.4 c€/MJ. Finally, the price has been identified as the main obstacle to these technologies, necessitating strong and smart policy (Research and development). Nonetheless, if alternative technologies are not well-designed and deployed in the right place at the right time, they could lead to higher impacts than traditional ones.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/215147