Abstract

Fuels based on hydrocarbons, taken together with the processing of raw hydrocarbons into chemicals, account for about half of the United States’ CO2 emissions. Efforts to lessen the CO2 footprint of these activities have the potential to make a significant impact on total greenhouse emissions. We focus on taking CO2 and – with energy supplied by low carbon/renewable electricity – turning it into fuels and fuel additives such as methane, ethanol, and propanol. I will update on progress in the energy efficiency and intensity (activity) of these processes. We also seek to advance the electrosynthesis of renewable chemicals such as ethylene and – more recently on the anodic side – ethylene glycol and ethylene oxide.