ECO2DES: Python Framework for the Eco-Design of Industrial Processes

More than 80% of the costs and environmental impacts of a new process are defined in the design phase, often without being properly assessed. ECO2DES is a new methodological approach for the eco-design of industrial processes (chemical, petrochemical, energetic, bio-based…), integrated in a Python framework. ECO2DES allows for maximising economic parameters such, as the net present value, and minimising environmental impacts by the integration and automation of modelling, process simulation, life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing assessment (LCC) and multi-objective optimisation algorithms (MOOA). This new methodology does not only design the optimal process from and sustainable point of view, but also reduces the workload accelerating the time-to-market of research and innovative projects in the process industry. In order to illustrate the potential of the framework, the methanation process for energy storage will be evaluated. The outputs of the ECO2DES framework clearly mark the way for the detailed engineering in the development of this process.