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Power-to-Liquid (PtL) plants can viably implement carbon capture and utilization technologies in Europe. In addition, local CO2 sources can be valorized to substitute oil and gas imports. This work's aim was to determine the PtL efficiency obtained by combining a solid oxide electrolyzer (SOEC) and Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. In addition, a recommended plant configuration to produce synthetic fuel and wax at pilot scale is established. The presented process configurations with and without a tail gas reformer were modeled and analyzed using IPSEpro as simulation software. A maximum mass flow rate of naphtha, middle distillate and wax of 57.8 kg/h can be realized by using a SOEC unit operated in co-electrolysis mode, with a rated power of 1 MWel.. A maximum PtL efficiency of 50.8% was found for the process configuration without a tail gas reformer. Implementing a tail gas reformer resulted in a maximum PtL efficiency of 62.7%. Hence, the reforming of tail gas is highly beneficial for the PtL plant's productivity and efficiency. Nevertheless, a process configuration based on the recirculation of tail gas without a reformer is recommended as a feasible solution to manage the transition from laboratory scale to industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to the climate crisis's looming dangers, Europe was recently affected by profoundly volatile energy markets, entailing soaring inflation and political uncertainty. Power-to-Liquid processes have the potential to curb global warming by valorizing CO 2 to produce synthetic fuels and platform chemicals while simultaneously substituting fossil energy imports. The impact of the CO 2 source, i.e., cement production, biogas upgrading and solid biomass combustion, on Power-to-Liquid plants was evaluated by implementing the designed configuration, including CO 2 capture, solid-oxide electrolyzer, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and steam reforming, in IPSEpro, a stationary equation-based process simulation tool. Maximum Power-to-Liquid efficiency of 63.8% and maximum carbon efficiency of 88.6% were obtained by exploiting CO 2 emitted by a biogas upgrading unit. Solid-oxide electrolyzers ranging from 23 MW el. (biogas) to 504 MW el. (cement) are required to process CO 2 streams from 4.5 to 100 t/h. In addition, the mass and energy balances of the three considered configurations were determined and embedded in a process flow diagram. The presented study aims to facilitate future decisions concerning carbon capture and utilization policy by assessing the CO 2 source's influence on Power-to-Liquid plants' key performance indicators. Furthermore, the underlying work supports a sustainable realization of Power-to-Liquid plants by offering a framework for exploiting CO 2 sources. [Display omitted] • A simulation study of a Power-to-Liquid plant producing FT products is presented. • Models of a solid-oxide electrolyzer, CO 2 capture and a steam reformer were established. • The CO 2 source's influence on the plant's key performance indicators was evaluated. • Power-to-Liquid efficiencies ranged from 54.7% to 63.8%. • The obtained carbon efficiencies ranged from 68.4% to 88.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]