Carbon Dioxide Recycling by High Temperature Co-electrolysis and Hydrocarbon Synthesis

Abstract

The materials used in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) can be used to produce synthesis gas from inputs of carbon dioxide, steam, and electricity. Carbon dioxide can be recovered from concentrated sources, such as fossil power plants. The electricity should come from a non-carbon based energy source (i.e. nuclear, solar, wind, biomass, or hydropower). Ceramatec and the Idaho National Laboratory have demonstrated high temperature co-electrolysis of CO2 and steam to produce synthesis gas. If a source of high temperature process heat is available, the endothermic electrolysis reactions can utilize both thermal and electrical inputs such that the conversion efficiency within the solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) is 100%. The synthesis gas produced at Ceramatec in a SOEC has been fed through a Fischer Tropsch reactor to produce hydrocarbon fuels. Widespread implementation of synthetic fuel production from CO2 will enable greater use of intermittent renewable energy sources.