Economics of CO2 Utilization: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

The economics of CO2 utilization are discussed from a critical perspective, with a concise analysis of the state-of-the-art of economics in power-to-X (methanol, methane). The main elements of the analysis of the economics are commented to provide guidelines on how to interpret the techno-economic results in the area of CO2 utilization. It remarks the need of a careful analysis of the specific context, and of the limits of the evaluation, in order to go beyond the just use of the results without a proper analysis of how the data support the conclusions, their limits and applicability. Case examples discussed in a more detail regard the CO2 to methanol or methane conversion, from the perspective of highlighting possible issues or limits rather than to indicate which results are more valuable, which is out of the scope of this contribution.