Production of Sustainable Methanol from Industrial Exhaust Gases

Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) is part of the European Union (EU)’s strategy to become climate-neutral by 2050. CO₂ is needed as a feedstock for the production of climate-friendly base chemicals and sustainable fuels. Although CO₂ capture from industrial point sources is technically feasible and requires less energy than direct air capture, its integration into the circular economy is challenging due to only the temporary recognition of fossil CO₂ as a source for the production of climate-friendly renewable fuels. In this article, CO₂ sources such as waste incineration plants, lime production, and steel production are analyzed based on process simulation in terms of their energy demand for CCU and compliance with current EU legislation on renewable fuels over the service life of a CCU plant.