Method for the preparation of synthesis gas

1. A method for the preparation of synthesis gas comprising the steps of

(a) providing a hydrocarbon feed stock;

(b) preparing a separate carbon monoxide containing stream and a separate oxygen containing stream by electrolysis of carbon dioxide;

(c) optionally tubular steam reforming at least a part of the hydrocarbon feed stock from step (a) to a tubular steam reformed gas upstream step (c);

(d)autothermal reforming in an autothermal reformer the hydrocarbon feed stock or the optionally tubular steam reformed gas with at least a part of the oxygen containing stream obtained by the electrolysis of carbon dioxide in step (b) to an autothermal reformed gas stream comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide;

(e) introducing at least part of the separate oxygen containing stream from step (b) into the autothermal reformer (f) introducing at least part of the separate carbon monoxide containing stream from step (b) into the autothermal reformed gas stream from step (d); and

(g) withdrawing the synthesis gas.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the H2/CO ratio is less than 2.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising the further step of heat exchange reforming at least a part of the hydrocarbon feed stock from step (a) to a heat exchange reformed gas using at least part of the autothermal reformed gas stream from step (d) in combination with the heat exchange reformed gas as heating source for the heat exchange reformer to provide a reformed gas.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising the further step of separating air into a separate stream containing oxygen and into a separate stream containing nitrogen and introducing at least a part of the separate stream containing oxygen into the autothermal reformer in step (d).

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a part of the hydrocarbon feed stock from step (a) is bypassed the optional tubular steam reforming in step (c) and introduced to the autothermal reformer in step (d).

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon feed stock comprises natural gas, methane, LNG, naphtha or mixtures thereof either as such or pre-reformed and/or steam reformed and/or desulfurized.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrolysis of carbon dioxide in step (b) is powered at least in part by renewable energy.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the separating of air is powered at least in part by renewable energy.

9. The method of claim 1 , comprising the further step of introducing substantially pure carbon dioxide upstream step (c), and/or upstream of step (d), and/or downstream step (d).

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrolysis is operated such that all of the separate carbon monoxide containing stream from step (b) is added to the autothermal reformed gas stream downstream step (d) to provide a module M=(H 2 —CO 2 )/(CO+CO 2 ) in the synthesis gas withdrawn from step (f) of between 1.9 and 2.2.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the module M=(H 2 —CO 2 )/(CO+CO 2 ) in the synthesis gas withdrawn in step (f) is in the range from 2 to 2.1.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the synthesis gas withdrawn in step (g) is in a further step converted to a methanol product.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrolysis is operated such that all of the separate carbon monoxide containing stream from step (b) is added to the autothermal reformed gas stream downstream step (d) to provide a module H2 to CO (H2/CO) in the synthesis gas withdrawn from step (g) of between 1.9 and 2.2.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the synthesis gas withdrawn in step (g) is in a further step converted to a Fischer-Tropsch product.