Non-fossil CO2 recycling—The technical potential for the present and future utilization for fuels in Germany.

Highlights • CO 2 potential from biochemical conversion in Germany (2015–2050). • CO 2 potential from cement production in Germany (2015–2050). • Conversion pathways and H2 demand for CO 2 surplus. Abstract Apart from its negative effects on the climate, CO 2 is also a valuable resource, containing carbon – one of the most used and processed elements on Earth. Today, more than 30 Gt of CO 2 is emitted each year, with an increasing tendency. Of this, the main share results from the burning of fossil fuels; only a small fraction derives from renewable fuels. In this study the renewable sources of CO 2 are examined in terms of their current, near-term (2030) and long-term (2050) potential. Current and potential future market output is based on a literature review concerning the future energy market and policy frameworks. As a reference for the utilization of CO 2 , three promising fuel options (methanol, methane and future Fischer-Tropsch fuels) are investigated. Along with the production capacities, H 2 demand for the conversion was calculated on the basis of chemical process simulations. One aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the expected range of CO 2 recycling from non-fossil sources. It was found that quantities of non-fossil CO 2 lie far behind fossil CO 2 quantities (6.8% of fossil CO 2 provision in 2015). However, with rising demand for CO 2 -based products and a concurrent decrease in the amount and willingness to use fossil CO 2 , in the future non-fossil CO 2 will grow in importance (reaching up to 23% of fossil CO 2 provision in 2050). The study shows that CO 2 from non-fossil sources is a reliable and available source of carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]