# Techno-Economic Potential of Plasma-Based CO\({}_{2}\) Splitting in Power-to-Liquid Plants
## 6 Conclusions  
In the present work, a PTL plant with plasma-based CO\({}_{2}\) splitting was modeled and techno-economically evaluated. Two different technology types, the dielectric barrier discharge plasma (DBD) and the gliding arc discharge plasma (GA), were modeled in different scenarios. With a defined plant capacity of \(P_{tot}=300\) MW, which is largely distributed between the plasma reactor and electrolysis components, the process efficiencies for the individual scenarios range from \(\eta_{process}=16.5\%\) for scenario 2018/20 to \(\eta_{process}=24.4\%\) for scenario 2050 for the DBD plant. For the GA plant, the process efficiency ranges from 22.7% to 27.5%. The differences between the individual scenarios are based on improved characteristic values of individual components as well as on changed parameters used in the calculations. The total capital investment \(CAPEX\) in the considered process is estimated at 1350 Mio EUR or scenario 2018/20, 650 Mio EUR for scenario 2030, and 560 Mio EUR for scenario 2050. The main cost driver is the gas diffusion electrode (GDE) for oxygen separation, which accounts for between 30% (2050 scenario) and 70% (2018/20 scenario) of the \(CAPEX\). Including all annual costs, the net production cost (\(NPC\)) for the generated product ranges from \(NPC=\) EUR 8.5/L for scenario 2018 to \(NPC=\) EUR 3.8/L for scenario 2050 for the DBD plasma plant and EUR 7.3/L to EUR 3.5/L for the GA plasma plant. From sensitivity analyses to the scenarios, dependencies of \(\eta_{process}\) and \(NPC\) to variations of technical sizes are considered. Especially the conversion rate and energy efficiency of the plasma reactor have a great impact on the results due to relatively low values. Reaching higher performance, the influence of value increase has a lower impact because of the power requirements of supporting components like the GDE or compressors. Downscaling the modeled process to \(P_{tot}=3\) MW, without adjusting other parameters, increases costs by \(\Delta NPC=\) EUR 7/L for scenario 2018/20 and by \(\Delta NPC=\) EUR 2.1/L for scenario 2050. The reason for this is non-linearly scaling equipment costs. If cheaper electricity is used, as assumed, for example, in a study by the ICCT for 2050 with a direct connection to a renewable energy system such as photovoltaics, a fuel price of approx. EUR 2/L can be achieved in the scenarios examined. At low values of both \(\eta_{CO_{2}}\) and \(\chi_{CO_{2}}\), unilateral optimization does not have a large impact on the overall performance and, thus, on the \(NPC\). Until EUR 5/L, there is a high slope of cost development. This limit can be undercut when reaching \(\eta_{CO_{2}}=\chi_{CO_{2}}=25\%\). To get below EUR 3/L cost, efficiencies of at least 45% and revenues of at least 40% must be achieved. By optimizing the GDE and using more efficient compressors and pumps, the efficiency can theoretically be further increased and, thus, \(NPC<\) EUR 2.4/L can also be achieved. The present work provides an extension to previous studies on the techno-economics of PtL processes. By looking at the scenarios, it is moreover possible to distinguish between the different development levels of plasma and GDE technology. The sensitivity analysis illustrates the significant influence of component optimization on existing values. The techno-economic potential, shown in Figure 15, highlights the benchmarks of conversion and efficiency. In addition, the processing by gas separation is emphasized, which in this work is carried out by the GDE and is currently very energy- and cost-intensive. The variations made, and the mapping of the potential furthermore provide an extension to economic studies like the work of [PERSON] et al., in which the economics of a DBD plasma reactor is investigated. The results of the present study reflect the direction of further development of plasma-based CO\({}_{2}\) splitting for use in PtL plants.