IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v242y2025ics0960148125000503.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Techno-economic evaluation of pyrolysis and electrolysis integration for methanol and char production

Author

Listed:
  • Nogueira Nakashima, Rafael
  • Nami, Hossein
  • Nemati, Arash
  • Butera, Giacomo
  • de Oliveira Junior, Silvio
  • Vang Hendriksen, Peter
  • Frandsen, Henrik Lund

Abstract

The pyrolysis technology enables the conversion of biomass into different products, such as char, oil, and synthesis gas. These products can play an important role in the decarbonization of agriculture, industry, and transportation, but are challenged by the availability of biomass and low fuel productivity. Electrolysis technologies, such as alkaline or solid oxide electrolysis, can help to overcome these drawbacks by supplying hydrogen derived from renewable sources. This paper focuses on providing the modeling, methods, and analysis necessary to pinpoint the benefits and challenges of this process concept. Integrating electrolysis with pyrolysis greatly improves the carbon conversion efficiency from 65 % to 97.1–97.8 % by increasing the methanol production by 2.7 times. For instance, the integration of co-electrolysis (i.e., CO2 and H2O electrolysis) and pyrolysis can increase carbon conversion from 65 % up to 98 %, while attaining a maximum energy efficiency of 67 % (for methanol production). Moreover, projected methanol production costs are estimated to vary between 706 and 922 USD/t for current technology prices. Char plays an important role in abating biomass costs and enabling net negative emissions in methanol production (−0.62 to −1.02 tCO2/tCH3OH). Further improvements can be achieved by optimizing electrolysis operating conditions and by reducing energy consumption in distillation and CO2 capture.

Suggested Citation

  • Nogueira Nakashima, Rafael & Nami, Hossein & Nemati, Arash & Butera, Giacomo & de Oliveira Junior, Silvio & Vang Hendriksen, Peter & Frandsen, Henrik Lund, 2025. "Techno-economic evaluation of pyrolysis and electrolysis integration for methanol and char production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:242:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125000503
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.122388
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148125000503
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2025.122388?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Clausen, Lasse R., 2015. "Maximizing biofuel production in a thermochemical biorefinery by adding electrolytic hydrogen and by integrating torrefaction with entrained flow gasification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 94-104.
    2. Pérez-Fortes, Mar & Schöneberger, Jan C. & Boulamanti, Aikaterini & Tzimas, Evangelos, 2016. "Methanol synthesis using captured CO2 as raw material: Techno-economic and environmental assessment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 718-732.
    3. Zhang, Hanfei & Wang, Ligang & Pérez-Fortes, Mar & Van herle, Jan & Maréchal, François & Desideri, Umberto, 2020. "Techno-economic optimization of biomass-to-methanol with solid-oxide electrolyzer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    4. Wang, Ligang & Chen, Ming & Küngas, Rainer & Lin, Tzu-En & Diethelm, Stefan & Maréchal, François & Van herle, Jan, 2019. "Power-to-fuels via solid-oxide electrolyzer: Operating window and techno-economics," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 174-187.
    5. Voll, Philip & Klaffke, Carsten & Hennen, Maike & Bardow, André, 2013. "Automated superstructure-based synthesis and optimization of distributed energy supply systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 374-388.
    6. Ali, Shahid & Sørensen, Kim & Nielsen, Mads P., 2020. "Modeling a novel combined solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) - Biomass gasification renewable methanol production system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 1025-1034.
    7. Blumberg, Timo & Morosuk, Tatiana & Tsatsaronis, George, 2017. "Exergy-based evaluation of methanol production from natural gas with CO2 utilization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 2528-2539.
    8. Wang, Ligang & Rao, Megha & Diethelm, Stefan & Lin, Tzu-En & Zhang, Hanfei & Hagen, Anke & Maréchal, François & Van herle, Jan, 2019. "Power-to-methane via co-electrolysis of H2O and CO2: The effects of pressurized operation and internal methanation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 1432-1445.
    9. Gadsbøll, Rasmus Østergaard & Clausen, Lasse Røngaard & Thomsen, Tobias Pape & Ahrenfeldt, Jesper & Henriksen, Ulrik Birk, 2019. "Flexible TwoStage biomass gasifier designs for polygeneration operation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 939-950.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ma, Qian & Chang, Yuan & Yuan, Bo & Song, Zhaozheng & Xue, Jinjun & Jiang, Qingzhe, 2022. "Utilizing carbon dioxide from refinery flue gas for methanol production: System design and assessment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    2. Butera, Giacomo & Fendt, Sebastian & Jensen, Søren H. & Ahrenfeldt, Jesper & Clausen, Lasse R., 2020. "Flexible methanol production units coupling solid oxide cells and thermochemical biomass conversion via different gasification technologies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    3. Zhang, Hanfei & Desideri, Umberto, 2020. "Techno-economic optimization of power-to-methanol with co-electrolysis of CO2 and H2O in solid-oxide electrolyzers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    4. Wang, Ligang & Zhang, Yumeng & Li, Chengzhou & Pérez-Fortes, Mar & Lin, Tzu-En & Maréchal, François & Van herle, Jan & Yang, Yongping, 2020. "Triple-mode grid-balancing plants via biomass gasification and reversible solid-oxide cell stack: Concept and thermodynamic performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    5. Kim, Dongin & Han, Jeehoon, 2020. "Techno-economic and climate impact analysis of carbon utilization process for methanol production from blast furnace gas over Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    6. Lim, Dongjun & Lee, Boreum & Lee, Hyunjun & Byun, Manhee & Lim, Hankwon, 2022. "Projected cost analysis of hybrid methanol production from tri-reforming of methane integrated with various water electrolysis systems: Technical and economic assessment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    7. Zhang, Hanfei & Wang, Ligang & Van herle, Jan & Maréchal, François & Desideri, Umberto, 2020. "Techno-economic evaluation of biomass-to-fuels with solid-oxide electrolyzer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    8. Li, Zheng & Zhang, Hao & Xu, Haoran & Xuan, Jin, 2021. "Advancing the multiscale understanding on solid oxide electrolysis cells via modelling approaches: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    9. Hermesmann, M. & Grübel, K. & Scherotzki, L. & Müller, T.E., 2021. "Promising pathways: The geographic and energetic potential of power-to-x technologies based on regeneratively obtained hydrogen," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    10. Zhang, Hanfei & Wang, Ligang & Van herle, Jan & Maréchal, François & Desideri, Umberto, 2020. "Techno-economic comparison of green ammonia production processes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    11. Yih-Hang Chen & David Shan-Hill Wong & Ya-Chien Chen & Chao-Min Chang & Hsuan Chang, 2019. "Design and Performance Comparison of Methanol Production Processes with Carbon Dioxide Utilization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-18, November.
    12. Detchusananard, Thanaphorn & Wiranarongkorn, Kunlanan & Im-orb, Karittha, 2024. "Techno-economic performance analysis of biomass-to-methanol with solid oxide electrolyzer for sustainable bio-methanol production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    13. Raillard--Cazanove, Quentin & Rogeau, Antoine & Girard, Robin, 2025. "Decarbonisation modelling for key industrial sectors focusing on process changes in a cost-optimised pathway," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 382(C).
    14. Dossow, Marcel & Dieterich, Vincent & Hanel, Andreas & Spliethoff, Hartmut & Fendt, Sebastian, 2021. "Improving carbon efficiency for an advanced Biomass-to-Liquid process using hydrogen and oxygen from electrolysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    15. Qi, Meng & Park, Jinwoo & Landon, Robert Stephen & Kim, Jeongdong & Liu, Yi & Moon, Il, 2022. "Continuous and flexible Renewable-Power-to-Methane via liquid CO2 energy storage: Revisiting the techno-economic potential," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    16. Tabibian, Seyed Shayan & Sharifzadeh, Mahdi, 2023. "Statistical and analytical investigation of methanol applications, production technologies, value-chain and economy with a special focus on renewable methanol," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    17. Demirhan, C. Doga & Tso, William W. & Powell, Joseph B. & Pistikopoulos, Efstratios N., 2021. "A multi-scale energy systems engineering approach towards integrated multi-product network optimization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    18. Mohammed Bin Afif & Abdulla Bin Afif & Harry Apostoleris & Krishiv Gandhi & Anup Dadlani & Amal Al Ghaferi & Jan Torgersen & Matteo Chiesa, 2022. "Ultra-Cheap Renewable Energy as an Enabling Technology for Deep Industrial Decarbonization via Capture and Utilization of Process CO 2 Emissions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-15, July.
    19. Hanfei Zhang & Ligang Wang & Jan Van herle & François Maréchal & Umberto Desideri, 2019. "Techno-Economic Optimization of CO 2 -to-Methanol with Solid-Oxide Electrolyzer," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-15, September.
    20. Freire Ordóñez, Diego & Shah, Nilay & Guillén-Gosálbez, Gonzalo, 2021. "Economic and full environmental assessment of electrofuels via electrolysis and co-electrolysis considering externalities," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:242:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125000503. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.