Power-to-Liquid pathways based on high-temperature electrolysis and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Review of integrated concepts and prospects for MCE-FT systems

Power-to-Liquid (PtL) technologies that convert CO 2 and H 2 O into synthetic hydrocarbons represent a promising pathway toward carbon-neutral fuels for aviation, shipping, and heavy-duty transport. Among the available configurations, high-temperature co-electrolysis using Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOEC) coupled with Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis has attracted significant attention due to its high energy efficiency and potential for carbon recycling. Although several techno-economic studies and experimental demonstrations have explored SOEC-FT systems, a comprehensive review of existing integration strategies, system architectures, and performance limitations remains lacking. This article reviews the current state of PtL system integration based on SOEC-FT pathways, with a focus on process design, energy and thermal integration, gas composition control, and economic viability. Identified system layouts are classified and compared with respect to energy efficiency, key cost drivers, and scalability. Furthermore, this work draws attention to the absence of research on coupling Molten Carbonate Electrolysis (MCE) with FT synthesis — a potentially advantageous approach in terms of thermal compatibility and syngas tailoring. A conceptual MCE-FT pathway is proposed and its technical challenges are outlined to guide future modeling and experimental research.