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Sustainability assessment of the CO2 methanation value chain: environmental impacts and socio-economic drivers and barriers

Description

This project aims at evaluating the sustainability of the joint project’s “Reduction and reuse of CO2” value chain, i.e. the carbon dioxide methanation value chain – from the production of hydrogen through photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting (partner project 2), through the methanation of carbon dioxide from the cement industry with renewable hydrogen using a catalyst (partner project 1), to using the methane generated as fuel for electricity generation in novel stationary and mobile fuel cells (partner projects 3 and 4). Achieving the potential benefits of such a hydrogen/methane system requires careful integration of production, storage and end-use components with minimised cost and maximised efficiency, and a strong understanding of environmental impacts and opportunities. System models combined with comprehensive sustainability assessments, including life cycle assessments and technology assessments, provide a platform for comparisons of energy systems for specific applications. Environmental, economic and social benefits and drawbacks will be demonstrated for the different technologies mentioned above along the value chain.

Key Data

Project team

Rino Anniballo, Jens Baier, Adrian Burri, Evelyn Lobsiger-Kägi, Luis Lopez de Obeso, Diego Sanchez, Gabriel Schneider, Matthias Stucki, Sarah Wettstein

Project partners

Paul Scherrer Institut PSI; Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne EPFL; Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt EMPA

Project status

completed, 01/2015 - 01/2018

Funding partner

NFP 70 «Energiewende»