(397a) An Electrofuel Revolution: How Direct Carbon Reduction Can Electrify the Future

While solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources promise affordable electricity with minimal carbon emissions, electricity cannot replace all of the functions of liquid fuels. Liquid fuels remain the most effective means to store energy for significant durations at small to medium scale. Therefore, there remains a need for liquid fuels but ones without a significant carbon footprint. One such route, whether through chemical, electrochemical, or biochemical means, is to use carbon dioxide (CO₂) as the feedstock to produce those fuels rather than petroleum. Historically, CO₂ upgrading has been performed in capital-intensive, large-scale reverse water gas shift reactors to generate more functional carbon monoxide for further processing. Recently, however, researchers have begun investigating electrocatalysts that can convert carbon dioxide to valuable fuel additives and chemical precursors directly at, or near, ambient conditions with reduced emissions and capital requirements. Unlike hydrogen, ammonia, or batteries, electrofuels, and other carbon-neutral fuels, can serve as drop-in replacements to conventional petrochemical fuels without significant change to the end-use infrastructure.

This talk will highlight the opportunities and challenges for electrofuel production, and how the evolving regulatory environment may incentivize widespread adoption.