(in the U.S. in 1997, cents per kWh)

coal nuclear gas oil wind solar

2.1 ¢ 2.3 ¢3.6 ¢ 3.9 ¢ 5.5 ¢

22 ¢

Nuclear Energy Institute, American Wind Energy Association, American Solar Energy Society

Today: Production Cost of Electricity

Photons to Chemicals-Overall Process

h

Building blocks: H2O and Photons

H2O

H2

O2

Photons to Chemicals-Overall Process

h

Building blocks: H2O and Photons

H2O

electricity

photovoltaic

electrolysis

O2

H2

Photons to Chemicals-Overall Process

h

Building blocks: H2O, CO2 and Photons

H2O

electricity

photovoltaic

electrolysis

O2

H2

CO2

CH3OH

[CH3OH (l) can be substituted by CH4 (g)]

Methanol synthesisreactor

Photons to Chemicals-Overall Process

h

Building blocks: H2O, CO2 and Photons

H2O

electricity

photovoltaic

electrolysis

O2

H2

CO2

CH3OH

[CH3OH (l) can be substituted by CH4 (g)]

ElectrochemicalMethanol production

Methanol synthesisreactor

Presently Possible Methanol Generation Electrochemical Cell-A Reverse Fuel Cell

Proton exchange membrane

CO2

H2O2H2O→O2(g)+4H++4e-

H+

O2 e-

CO2+6H++6e-→CH3OH+H2O

O2CO2

CH3OH+

H2O

Anode Cathode

e-

e-

e-

Catalyst-supportedelectrode

+ -

Proposed Novel Studies-First Step

Proton exchange membrane

CO2

H2O

H+

O2e-

O2 CO2

CH3OH+

H2O

Anode Cathode

e-

e-

e-

Catalyst-supportedelectrode

Proton exchange membrane

CO2

H2O

H+

O2e-

O2 CO2

CH3OH+

H2O

Anode Cathode

e-

e-

e-

Enzyme-supportedelectrodeProton

exchange membrane

CO2

H2O

H+

O2e-

O2 CO2

CH3OH+

H2O

Anode Cathode

e-

e-

e-

Photoelectrode

h

CH3OH CH4

Proposed Novel Studies-First Step

Proton exchange membrane

CO2

H2O

H+

O2e-

O2 CO2

CH3OH+

H2O

Anode Cathode

e-

e-

e-

Catalyst-supportedelectrode

Proton exchange membrane

CO2

H2O

H+

O2e-

O2 CO2

CH3OH+

H2O

Anode Cathode

e-

e-

e-

Enzyme-supportedelectrodeProton

exchange membrane

CO2

H2O

H+

O2e-

O2 CO2

CH3OH+

H2O

Anode Cathode

e-

e-

e-

Photoelectrode

h

CH3OH CH4

Research Needed• Design synthetic enzymes that

– catalyze the reaction at the right potential– increase turnover rates– have stability

• Demonstrate in a real device • Develop substantive collaborations between

chemical biologists, inorganic chemists and materials chemists