(103e) Industrial-Scale Sustainable Electrochemical Systems

Replacing incumbent fossil fuel-based thermochemical processes with electrochemical technologies powered by renewable electricity is an emerging strategy for decarbonization of the chemical industry through electrification. Several chemistries (e.g., water electrolysis, carbon dioxide reduction, nitrogen reduction) have been thoroughly studied with a focus on new catalyst development, developing scalable reactor designs, and identifying the optimal operating conditions. Recent studies have also focused on understanding the underlying catalytic mechanisms and performing process systems analysis to understand economic and lifecycle feasibility. Improving electrode durability and system performance stability over time is still an active area of research. However, a systems thinking approach to understand what it would take for electrochemical systems to replace thermochemical systems is still missing – process design considerations, scaling rules, and sustainability aspects are integral for the development and deployment of industrial scale sustainable electrochemical systems. This talk will highlight the important process considerations, learnings that can be leveraged from allied fields (e.g., chlor-alkali process), and the key open questions and pressing research needs. Moreover, research on electrochemical systems has been mostly led by academia and national labs but the importance and urgency of academia-national labs-industry collaborations needed for technology maturation will also be highlighted.