Translating insights from progress in photovoltaics to accelerate industrial-scale CO2 electroreduction

Abstract

CO2 electroreduction (CO2E) uses electricity to produce valuable chemicals and fuels. Although much fundamental progress has been made, industrial adoption will rely on an appropriate combination of CO2E energy efficiency, capital cost and lifetime, as well as electricity and carbon price, to achieve a competitive levelized cost of chemicals/fuels. Here we discuss how a consistent set of testing conditions, third-party accreditation and intersectoral partnerships can prepare CO2E for its transition from bench-scale prototypes to industrial deployment. Drawing on lessons from photovoltaics—which progressed from the laboratory to globally deployed product once the levelized cost of electricity reached grid parity—we recommend establishing robust, transparent testing procedures, as well as objective certification frameworks. We also discuss disanalogies to photovoltaics—how standardizing CO2E feedstocks, product analysis and device configurations may be more challenging and multivariate than in photovoltaics. By quantifying technological maturity, we can better target research efforts and accelerate innovation, which will enable transparent technology comparisons, increasing investment and manufacturing readiness.