Intermittent CO2 electrolysis needs its time in the sun

Abstract

Taking advantage of the potentially low-cost and environmentally friendly nature of renewable energy sources like wind and photovoltaics has long been the aim of the CO₂ electrolysis field. However, there have been sparse reports on the economic and performance implications of coupling these two systems. In this perspective, we present lessons that can be taken from work done in water electrolysis, summarize the progress that has been made in coupling electrochemical CO₂ reduction systems to intermittent renewable energy sources, and perform a brief economic analysis on energy versus product storage in intermittent systems. Finally, we recommend future research directions, including rigorous studies on the effects of dynamic operation on electrolyzer components, strategies for integrating with continuous downstream processes, synergistic post-product processing via electrification technologies, and leveraging of artificial intelligence and automation to mitigate the unpredictability of CO₂ electrolysis.