A gross-margin model for defining technoeconomic benchmarks in the electroreduction of CO₂

We introduce a gross-margin model to evaluate the technoeconomic feasibility of producing different C₁–C₂ chemicals such as carbon monoxide, formic acid, methanol, methane, ethanol, and ethylene through the electroreduction of CO₂. Key performance benchmarks including the maximum operating cell potential (Vmax), minimum operating current density (jmin), Faradaic efficiency (FE), and catalyst durability (tcatdur) are derived. The Vmax values obtained for the different chemicals indicate that CO and HCOOH are the most economically viable products. Selectivity requirements suggest that the coproduction of an economically less feasible chemical (CH₃OH, CH₄, C₂H₅ OH, C₂ H₄) with a more feasible chemical (CO, HCOOH) can be a strategy to offset the V_max requirements for individual products. Other performance requirements such as jmin and tcatdur are also derived, and the feasibility of alternative process designs and operating conditions are evaluated.