Wang & He (2025): Synergy mapping-informed learning rate estimation for bipolar membrane electrodialysis in carbon dioxide removal
Ruoqing Wang and Wei He, IN: Applied Energy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.127058
Delivering cost-effective carbon dioxide removal (CDR) will require rapid cost declines in emerging options that still face large technical and market uncertainty. The authors develop a synergy mapping framework that turns this uncertainty into a set of managed risks by making explicit where bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED) for CO₂ removal can co-learn and co-scale with more mature electrochemical systems, notably electrodialysis and electrolyzers, and where BMED needs bespoke innovation. The authors use two complementary estimates to manage uncertainty: a top-down inversion sets LR targets consistent with a 100 $/tCO₂ levelized cost under established net-zero scenarios, while a bottom-up aggregation, informed by synergy mapping, estimates the achievable LR from transferable components.