ADI prioritized nine CO2-to-value pathways, ranging from carbon mineralization for cement to electrochemical routes for circular fuels. The work assessed the energy intensity and technology readiness of photocatalysis and chemo-enzymatic conversion. Analytical modeling of breakeven costs was conducted to identify the most commercially attractive products in the near-term.
The client
Global investment firm
The situation
Uncertainty over which CO2 conversion technologies offer the best combination of technical feasibility and market materiality.
ADI’s contributions
Technical feasibility screening
Compared pathways using thermodynamic properties, energy intensity (kWh/kg), and single-pass conversion rates.
Market materiality analysis
Quantified the global market size for platform chemicals like methane, methanol, and ethylene produced from CO2.
Startup competitive landscaping
Profiled the positioning of 11 startups and large players like Siemens in the catalytic and biological conversion sectors.
Energy-to-product modeling
Modeled the sensitivity of carbon neutrality to the origin of power resources and optimization of electrochemical processes.
Key outcomes
- Prioritization of mineralization and thermochemical pathways for immediate investment based on market size and scalability.
More insights
Article
CBAM puts a new price tag on emissions
On April 7, 2026, the European Commission announced the first official Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) certificate price for Q1 2026 at €75.36 per tonne of CO2 equivalent (~$88/t CO2e), marking the EU’s first explicit carbon price applied to imported goods. This rate will be applied to the embedded emissions in CBAM-covered imports and is […]
Article
Cooling fluids are becoming a constraint in AI data centers
Immersion cooling fluids are taking on more importance as data‑center operators deploy higher‑power artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) systems. Rack densities are increasing faster than traditional air systems can accommodate, and liquid cooling is now part of the design discussion for many new builds and retrofits. In that context, fluid properties affect reliability, […]
Premium content
Implications of UAE’s exit from OPEC
Part of ADI Analytics’ ongoing coverage of the implications of the Iran conflict across oil & gas, LNG, refined products, and chemicals. The UAE’s exit from OPEC (see our prior blog) in late April 2026 reflects a decisive shift toward a volume‑driven strategy focused on monetizing its hydrocarbon resource base ahead of the global energy […]