CO₂ Electrolysis Technologies: Bridging the Gap toward Scale-up and Commercialization

CO₂ electroreduction (CO₂E) converts CO₂ into carbon-based fuels and chemical feedstocks that can be integrated into existing chemical processes. After decades of research, CO₂E is approaching commercialization with several startups, pilot plants, and large initiatives targeting different products. Here, we analyze the global efforts in scaling up CO₂E, addressing implementation challenges and proposing methods for acceleration. We present a comparative analysis of key performance indicators (KPIs) between laboratory and industrial settings and suggest a stepwise technoeconomic analysis (TEA) framework, supported by industrial data, exploiting interactions within the academic and industrial communities. We identify the lack of systems-oriented standardization and durability as the main bottlenecks slowing down progress in the lab-to-prototype-to-market pathway of CO₂E technologies. Inspired by electrolysis and fuel cell technologies, we outline protocols to advance fundamental research and aid catalyst development progress in performance, upscaling, and technology readiness level of CO₂E.