Environmental and Economic Performance of CO2-Based Methanol Production Using Long-Distance Transport for H2 in Combination with CO2 Point Sources: A Case Study for Germany

The use of CO2-based hydrocarbons plays a crucial role in reducing the climate footprint for several industry sectors, such as chemical industry. Recent studies showed that regions which are favorable production from an energy perspective often do not provide concentrated point sources CO2, leads to increased environmental impact due higher demand direct air capture processes. Thus, producing H2 with high renewable power potential and transporting it industrialized CO2 could options whole process chain. aim this study is analyze compare pathways produce methanol Germany using local source combination import per pipeline or ship well produced Germany. economic performance assessed life cycle assessment cost analysis. As indicators, climate, material, water, land footprints were calculated. pathway uses electricity offshore wind parks shows least impacts, whereas via best results among importing pathways. costs lowest now near future. Import only cost-efficient status quo if waste heat available, but be more competitive future regional distribution available. It shown mitigation effect cost-effective domestically imported pipeline. Compared methanol, analyzed show comparable (pipeline) worse (ship).