Why the Carbon-Neutral Energy Transition Will Imply the Use of Lots of Carbon
This paper argues that electrification and gasification go hand in hand and are crucial on our pathway to a carbon-neutral energy transition. Hydrogen made from renewable electricity will be crucial on this path but is not sufficient, mainly due to its challenges related to its transport and storage...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | C |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5629/6/2/39 |
| _version_ | 1797565661512204288 |
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| author | Jan Mertens Ronnie Belmans Michael Webber |
| author_facet | Jan Mertens Ronnie Belmans Michael Webber |
| author_sort | Jan Mertens |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper argues that electrification and gasification go hand in hand and are crucial on our pathway to a carbon-neutral energy transition. Hydrogen made from renewable electricity will be crucial on this path but is not sufficient, mainly due to its challenges related to its transport and storage. Thus, other ‘molecules’ will be needed on the pathway to a carbon-neutral energy transition. What at first sight seems a contradiction, this paper argues that carbon (C) will be an important and required chemical element in many of these molecules to achieve our carbon neutrality goal. Therefore, on top of the “Hydrogen Economy” we should work also towards a “Synthetic Hydrocarbon Economy”, implying the needs for lots of carbon as a carrier for hydrogen and embedded in products as a form of sequestration. It is crucial that this carbon is taken from the biosphere or recycled from biomass/biogas and not from fossil resources. Due to efficiency losses in capturing and converting atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub>, the production of renewable molecules will increase the overall demand for renewable energy drastically. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:16:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-944e82bf08c14777b07e0f9718ae9fcd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2311-5629 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:16:10Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | C |
| spelling | doaj.art-944e82bf08c14777b07e0f9718ae9fcd2023-11-20T03:23:00ZengMDPI AGC2311-56292020-06-01623910.3390/c6020039Why the Carbon-Neutral Energy Transition Will Imply the Use of Lots of CarbonJan Mertens0Ronnie Belmans1Michael Webber2ENGIE Research, 1 pl. Samuel de Champlain, Paris-la Défense, 92930 Paris, FranceElectrical Energy and Computer Architectures, K.U. Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg, 3001 Leuven, BelgiumENGIE Research, 1 pl. Samuel de Champlain, Paris-la Défense, 92930 Paris, FranceThis paper argues that electrification and gasification go hand in hand and are crucial on our pathway to a carbon-neutral energy transition. Hydrogen made from renewable electricity will be crucial on this path but is not sufficient, mainly due to its challenges related to its transport and storage. Thus, other ‘molecules’ will be needed on the pathway to a carbon-neutral energy transition. What at first sight seems a contradiction, this paper argues that carbon (C) will be an important and required chemical element in many of these molecules to achieve our carbon neutrality goal. Therefore, on top of the “Hydrogen Economy” we should work also towards a “Synthetic Hydrocarbon Economy”, implying the needs for lots of carbon as a carrier for hydrogen and embedded in products as a form of sequestration. It is crucial that this carbon is taken from the biosphere or recycled from biomass/biogas and not from fossil resources. Due to efficiency losses in capturing and converting atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub>, the production of renewable molecules will increase the overall demand for renewable energy drastically.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5629/6/2/39carbon capture and utilizationhydrogenenergy transitionrenewable energygreen electricitygreen gas |
| spellingShingle | Jan Mertens Ronnie Belmans Michael Webber Why the Carbon-Neutral Energy Transition Will Imply the Use of Lots of Carbon C carbon capture and utilization hydrogen energy transition renewable energy green electricity green gas |
| title | Why the Carbon-Neutral Energy Transition Will Imply the Use of Lots of Carbon |
| title_full | Why the Carbon-Neutral Energy Transition Will Imply the Use of Lots of Carbon |
| title_fullStr | Why the Carbon-Neutral Energy Transition Will Imply the Use of Lots of Carbon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why the Carbon-Neutral Energy Transition Will Imply the Use of Lots of Carbon |
| title_short | Why the Carbon-Neutral Energy Transition Will Imply the Use of Lots of Carbon |
| title_sort | why the carbon neutral energy transition will imply the use of lots of carbon |
| topic | carbon capture and utilization hydrogen energy transition renewable energy green electricity green gas |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5629/6/2/39 |
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