Angol
Carbon dioxide is considered the epitome of the climate problem. But what if CO2 were not only avoided, but also used in a targeted manner? What if the end point of industrial processes became a key raw material for a post-fossil fuel economy?
This book is dedicated to the direct conversion of CO2 into synthetic fuels and chemical energy carriers-so-called e-fuels-and examines their realistic contribution to the defossilization of those sectors that cannot be directly electrified. The focus is on highly integrated conversion processes such as the co-electrolysis of CO2 and water, electrochemical direct reduction, and thermocatalytic one-pot and hybrid processes, which are contrasted with classic, multi-stage power-to-liquid approaches.
Based on the physical and chemical properties of CO2 as a thermodynamically stable end product of combustion, the book analyzes the energetic, material, and systemic requirements for its conversion into usable molecules. Efficiency, scalability, material requirements, process stability, and service life are examined critically, as are questions of CO2 sources, electricity origin, and system integration into existing industrial structures.
Going beyond a purely technological perspective, the book places direct CO2 conversion in a broader energy, industrial, and climate policy context. It discusses life cycle analyses, cost developments, regulatory frameworks, and global production and trade structures for synthetic fuels-including their geopolitical implications. Particular attention is paid to distinguishing between useful fields of application such as aviation, shipping, and the chemical industry, and areas in which direct electrification remains superior in terms of energy efficiency.
This book does not view e-fuels as a universal solution or a technological dead end. It shows them for what they are: a specialized, context-dependent tool in a broader CO2 management system that combines emission avoidance, recycling, and industri
