Quantification of economic uncertainty for synthetic natural gas production in a H2O permeable membrane reactor as simultaneous power-to-gas and CO2 utilization technologies

Economic uncertainty analysis of employing a membrane reactor (MR) equipped with H2O separation membranes for a synthetic natural gas (SNG) production as simultaneous power-to-gas and CO2 utilization technologies was carried out. Based on previously reported reaction kinetics, process simulation models were created for a conventional packed-bed reactor (PBR) and an MR. Deterministic economic analysis showed the unit SNG production cost of 1.67 $ kgSNG−1 in an MR compared to 1.82 $ kgSNG−1 in a PBR for a SNG production capacity of 1000 kg d−1, showing about 8% cost reductions in the MR. From sensitivity analysis, raw material and labor were identified as the key economic factors to affect a unit SNG production cost for all cases studied. Stochastic economic analysis using a Monte-Carlo simulation method provided better insights for economic-uncertainty associated with premature technology like a SNG production in an MR using H2O separation membranes by presenting a wide range of SNG production costs and their probability. •A H2O permeable membrane reactor (MR) was proposed to improve SNG yield.•Deterministic and stochastic economic analysis for SNG production were performed.•For industrial-scale plant, the MR showed about 8% cost saving of a unit SNG cost.•Uncertainty analysis presented a wide range of a unit cost from 1.01 to 2.28 $ kg−1.