Power to liquid through waste as a carbon source: A technical and economic assessment

The combination of a power to methanol process with the use of waste for carbon supply turns out to be a cleaver solution for sustainable chemical production and waste management as well as long-term energy storage. In the current work, an innovative scheme which integrates waste and energy conversion to produce methanol is addressed. Within the proposed configuration syngas is produced from waste gasification and enriched with hydrogen produced through water electrolysis, in order to accomplish methanol synthesis requirements. A techno-economic and environmental analysis of the hybrid scheme is proposed together with its comparison with waste to methanol and direct power to methanol technologies. Direct waste conversion into methanol is today the most attractive solution. In a near future, however, considering the increase of the renewable share of power and reduction of power cost, the hybrid scheme may become a quite attractive solution. •A power to methanol process combined with MSW gasification is a feasible innovative solution.•The hybrid PtM process perfectly suits with energy transition goal and circular economy concept.•Carbon included in the MSW is valorized reducing fossil fuel dependency.•Direct power to methanol process can not yet stand an economic feasibility.