Electrified steam cracking for a carbon neutral ethylene production process: Techno-economic analysis, life cycle assessment, and analytic hierarchy process

Abstract

Electrification is regarded as one of the solutions for decarbonization. To reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide from the steam cracking which is a conventional ethylene production process, the electrical heating furnace can be applied to the steam cracking called the electrified furnace. Here, to determine whether the electrified steam cracking is proper for carbon neutrality, the techno-economic analysis, life cycle assessment, and the analytic hierarchy process were implemented. The analysis was proceeded by the fourteen cases divided according to steam cracking, electrified steam cracking, and seven electricity generation methods. As a result, considering the technology development level, economic feasibility, and environmental impact, the best case was the steam cracking with hydropower, and the electrified steam cracking with hydropower, solar power, and wind power had high potential. As improving the technology development of the electrified furnace, the electrified steam cracking can be expected to become the proper ethylene production process to achieve carbon neutrality.