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Steam cracking and methane to olefins: Energy use, CO2 emissions and production costs

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  • Ren, Tao
  • Patel, Martin K.
  • Blok, Kornelis

Abstract

While most olefins (e.g., ethylene and propylene) are currently produced through steam cracking routes, they can also possibly be produced from natural gas (i.e., methane) via methanol and oxidative coupling routes. We reviewed recent data in the literature and then compared the energy use, CO2 emissions and production costs of methane-based routes with those of steam cracking routes. We found that methane-based routes use more than twice as much process energy than state-of-the-art steam cracking routes do (the energy content of products is excluded). The methane-based routes can be economically attractive in remote, gas-rich regions where natural gas is available at low prices. The development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) may increase the prices of natural gas in these locations. Oxidative coupling routes are currently still immature due to low ethylene yields and other problems. While several possibilities for energy efficiency improvement do exist, none of the natural gas-based routes is likely to become more energy efficient or to lead to less CO2 emissions than steam cracking routes do.

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  • Ren, Tao & Patel, Martin K. & Blok, Kornelis, 2008. "Steam cracking and methane to olefins: Energy use, CO2 emissions and production costs," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(5), pages 817-833.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:33:y:2008:i:5:p:817-833
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2008.01.002
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    5. Xiang, Dong & Qian, Yu & Man, Yi & Yang, Siyu, 2014. "Techno-economic analysis of the coal-to-olefins process in comparison with the oil-to-olefins process," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 639-647.
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    7. Yaser Khojasteh Salkuyeh & Thomas A. Adams II, 2015. "Co-Production of Olefins, Fuels, and Electricity from Conventional Pipeline Gas and Shale Gas with Near-Zero CO 2 Emissions. Part II: Economic Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-13, April.
    8. Alshammari, Yousef M., 2021. "Scenario analysis for energy transition in the chemical industry: An industrial case study in Saudi Arabia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    9. Ding, Bingqing & Makowski, Marek & Nahorski, Zbigniew & Ren, Hongtao & Ma, Tieju, 2022. "Optimizing the technology pathway of China's liquid fuel production considering uncertain oil prices: A robust programming model," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    10. Xu, Zhongming & Zhang, Yaru & Fang, Chenhao & Yu, Yadong & Ma, Tieju, 2019. "Analysis of China's olefin industry with a system optimization model – With different scenarios of dynamic oil and coal prices," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    11. Jalid, Fatima & Khan, Tuhin Suvra & Haider, M. Ali, 2021. "Exploring bimetallic alloy catalysts of Co, Pd and Cu for CO2 reduction combined with ethane dehydrogenation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    12. Xu, Zhongming & Fang, Chenhao & Ma, Tieju, 2020. "Analysis of China’s olefin industry using a system optimization model considering technological learning and energy consumption reduction," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    13. Zhao, Zhitong & Chong, Katie & Jiang, Jingyang & Wilson, Karen & Zhang, Xiaochen & Wang, Feng, 2018. "Low-carbon roadmap of chemical production: A case study of ethylene in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 580-591.
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    16. Rebekka Volk & Christoph Stallkamp & Justus J. Steins & Savina Padumane Yogish & Richard C. Müller & Dieter Stapf & Frank Schultmann, 2021. "Techno‐economic assessment and comparison of different plastic recycling pathways: A German case study," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(5), pages 1318-1337, October.
    17. Ren, Tao & Daniëls, Bert & Patel, Martin K. & Blok, Kornelis, 2009. "Petrochemicals from oil, natural gas, coal and biomass: Production costs in 2030–2050," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 53(12), pages 653-663.
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