Recent developments on carbon neutrality through carbon dioxide capture and utilization with clean hydrogen for production of alternative fuels for smart cities

This review comprehensively evaluates the integration of solar-powered electrolytic hydrogen (H2) production and captured carbon dioxide (CO2) management for clean fuel production, considering all potential steps from H2 production methods to CO2 capture and separation processes. It is expected that the near future will cover CO2-capturing technologies integrated with solar-based H2 production at a commercially viable level, and over 5 billion tons of CO2 are expected to be utilized potentially for clean fuel production worldwide in 2050 to achieve carbon-neutral levels. The H2 production out of hydrocarbon-based processes using fossil fuels emits greenhouse gas emissions of 17-38 kg CO2/kg H2. On the other hand, . renewable energy based green hydrogen production emits less than 2 kg CO2/kg H2 which makes it really clean and appealing for implementation. In addition, capturing CO2 and using for synthesizing alternative fuels with green hydrogen will help generate clean fuels for smart cities. In this regard, the most sustainable and promising CO2 capturing method is post-combustion with an adsorption-separation-desorption processes using monoethanolamine adsorbent with high CO2 removal efficiencies from flue gases. Consequently, this review article provides perspectives on the potential of integrating CO2-capturing technologies and renewable energy-based H2 production systems for clean production to create sustainable cities and communities.