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The urgent need to decarbonize the energy and chemical sectors necessitates innovative pathways that integrate renewable energy with carbon utilization. This study presents a novel Power-to-Methanol (PtM) system. It uniquely combines solar-driven hydrogen supply via a thermochemical method, flexible operation tied to electricity markets, and detailed techno-economic modelling, distinguishing it from previous e-methanol integration research. The CO 2 utilized in the methanol synthesis unit is sourced from a retrofitted oxy-fuel power plant. Among the evaluated configurations, the best option achieves a capture rate of 350. 1 kg CO2 /MWh, with an associated efficiency penalty of 6. 7%. Despite these promising features, the standalone carbon capture approach yields a high CO 2 avoidance cost of 217. 4/t CO2, making it economically unviable. This study investigates the conversion of captured CO 2 into methanol to improve economic feasibility, thereby creating financial incentives for the adoption of advanced capture technologies. A detailed commercial-scale modular e-methanol production unit (750 t MeOH /day) is presented. The system operates dynamically, adapting to fluctuations in electricity markets to improve economic returns through flexible grid interaction. Required hydrogen and oxygen are supplied via a solar-driven Copper–Chlorine (Cu–Cl) thermochemical cycle. Multi-objective optimization identifies the optimal design, achieving a Levelized Cost of Methanol (LCOM) of 1, 190/t MeOH, an overall efficiency of 11. 8%, and a specific avoided CO 2 of 1. 2 t CO2 /t MeOH. The produced e-methanol remains non-competitive with grey methanol. However, future projections for 2050 indicate that, under anticipated CO 2 incentive schemes and reductions in critical cost components, the LCOM could decrease significantly to 745/t MeOH.
Akbari et al. (Sat,) studied this question.