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

Apart from its negative effects on the climate, CO2 is also a valuable resource, containing carbon-one of the most used and processed elements on Earth. Today, more than 30 Gt of CO2 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 CO2 are examined in terms of their current, nearterm (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 CO2, 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 CO2 recycling from non-fossil sources. It was found that quantities of non-fossil CO2 lie far behind fossil CO2 quantities (6.8% of fossil CO2 provision in 2015). However, with rising demand for CO2-based products and a concurrent decrease in the amount and willingness to use fossil CO2, in the future non-fossil CO2 will grow in importance (reaching up to 23% of fossil CO2 provision in 2050). The study shows that CO2 from non-fossil sources is a reliable and available source of carbon.