Electrofuel

Last updated
Electrofuels from renewable energy could replace fossil fuels. Fossil fuel and wind power.jpg
Electrofuels from renewable energy could replace fossil fuels.

Electrofuels, also known as e-fuels, a class of synthetic fuels, are a type of drop-in replacement fuel. They are manufactured using captured carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide, together with hydrogen obtained from water split by sustainable electricity sources such as wind, solar and nuclear power. [1] : 7 

Contents

The process uses carbon dioxide in manufacturing and releases around the same amount of carbon dioxide into the air when the fuel is burned, for an overall low carbon footprint. Electrofuels are thus an option for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport, particularly for long-distance freight, marine, and air transport. [1] : 9–13 

The primary targets are methanol, and diesel, but include other alcohols and carbon-containing gases such as methane and butane.

Research

A primary source of funding for research on liquid electrofuels for transportation was the Electrofuels Program of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), headed by Eric Toone. [2] ARPA-E, created in 2009 under President Obama’s Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, is the Department of Energy’s (DOE) attempt to duplicate the effectiveness of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, DARPA. Examples of projects funded under this program include OPX Biotechnologies’ biodiesel effort led by Michael Lynch [3] and Derek Lovley’s work on microbial electrosynthesis at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, [4] which reportedly produced the first liquid electrofuel using CO2 as the feedstock. [5] [6]

The first Electrofuels Conference, sponsored by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers was held in Providence, RI in November 2011. [7] At that conference, Director Eric Toone stated that "Eighteen months into the program, we know it works. We need to know if we can make it matter." Several groups are beyond proof-of-principle, and are working to scale up cost-effectively. Porsche is currently considered to be the leader on these projects with their estimated cost per gallon of efuel at forty-five dollars per gallon. [8]

Electrofuels have the potential to be disruptive if carbon-neutral electrofuels are cheaper than petroleum fuels, and if chemical feedstocks produced by electrosynthesis are cheaper than those refined from crude oil. Electrofuels also has significant potential in altering the renewable energy landscape, as electrofuels allows renewables from all sources to be stored conveniently as a liquid fuel.

As of 2014, prompted by the fracking boom, ARPA-E's focus has moved from electrical feedstocks to natural-gas based feedstocks, and thus away from electrofuels. [9]

Towards the end of 2020, Porsche announced its investment in electrofuels, including the Haru Oni project in Chile, creating synthetic methanol from wind power. [10] As of 2023 this facility can successfully produce 34,340 gallons a year with commercial applications coming later down the line. [11] In 2021, Audi announced that it was working on e-diesel and e-gasoline projects. [12] British company Zero, which was founded in 2020 by former F1 engineer Paddy Lowe, has developed a process it terms 'petrosynthesis' to create sustainable fuel and has set up a development plant in Bicester Heritage business centre near Oxford. [13]

By 2021, the European Federation for Transport and Environment, an advocacy group, advised the aviation sector was needing e-kerosene to be deployed as it could substantially reduce the climate impact of aviation. [14] It was also observing electrofuel usage in cars emits two significant greenhouse gases beyond CO2 captured for the production: methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O); local air pollution was still a concern, and it was five times less efficient than direct electrification. [15]

The eFuel Alliance, another advocacy group, states that "the perspective of the lack of efficiency of Electrofuels is misleading as what is critical for global energy transition is not the degree of efficiency of electricity’s end usage, but rather how efficiently electricity can be produced from renewable energies, and then made usable". [16]

In 2023, a study published by the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence, concluded that e-fuels offer one of the most promising decarbonization pathways for military mobility across the land, sea and air domains. [17]

Applications

Electrofuels are largely seen as a supplement and eventual replacement for fuels used in transport, such as jet fuel, diesel fuel, and fuel oil. [1] The most basic electrofuel is hydrogen produced from water, [18] though it is hampered by difficulties in effective storage and transportation. [19] Hydrogen is often further processed into methane or syngas via reaction with carbon dioxide produced through a variety of renewable means, which can then be processed further to produce the more easily handled gasoline, kerosene or diesel liquid fuels through the Fischer–Tropsch process. [20] [21] Catalytic synthesis routes have been used to produce methanol as an e-fuel from syngas produced in this way. [22]

Some current processes that claim to produce electrofuels are powered by electricity generated by non-renewable fossil fuels; academics have acknowledged the necessity of these methods in the early stages of electrofuel production despite their counterintuitive nature. [21]

Projects

In September 2022, the Finnish company Q Power sold P2X Solutions a synthetic methane production unit to be delivered in 2024 in Harjavalta, Finland, next to its 20 MW green hydrogen production plant. [23] Ren-Gas has several synthetic methane production projects in Tampere, Lahti, Kotka, Mikkeli and Pori in Finland. [24] In December 2022, Porsche and Chilean company Highly Innovative Fuels opened the Haru Oni pilot plant in Punta Arenas, Chile, based on wind power and producing ~130 m3 of eFuel per year in the pilot phase, scaling to 55,000 m3 per year by the mid-2020s, and 550,000 m3 after another two years, to be exported through its port. [25]

See also

Related Research Articles

Syngas, or synthesis gas, is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, in various ratios. The gas often contains some carbon dioxide and methane. It is principally used for producing ammonia or methanol. Syngas is combustible and can be used as a fuel. Historically, it has been used as a replacement for gasoline, when gasoline supply has been limited; for example, wood gas was used to power cars in Europe during WWII.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gasification</span> Form of energy conversion

Gasification is a process that converts biomass- or fossil fuel-based carbonaceous materials into gases, including as the largest fractions: nitrogen (N2), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), and carbon dioxide (CO2). This is achieved by reacting the feedstock material at high temperatures (typically >700 °C), without combustion, via controlling the amount of oxygen and/or steam present in the reaction. The resulting gas mixture is called syngas (from synthesis gas) or producer gas and is itself a fuel due to the flammability of the H2 and CO of which the gas is largely composed. Power can be derived from the subsequent combustion of the resultant gas, and is considered to be a source of renewable energy if the gasified compounds were obtained from biomass feedstock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alternative fuel</span> Fuels from sources other than fossil fuels

Alternative fuels, also known as non-conventional and advanced fuels, are fuels derived from sources other than petroleum. Alternative fuels include gaseous fossil fuels like propane, natural gas, methane, and ammonia; biofuels like biodiesel, bioalcohol, and refuse-derived fuel; and other renewable fuels like hydrogen and electricity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liquid fuel</span> Liquids that can be used to create energy

Liquid fuels are combustible or energy-generating molecules that can be harnessed to create mechanical energy, usually producing kinetic energy; they also must take the shape of their container. It is the fumes of liquid fuels that are flammable instead of the fluid. Most liquid fuels in widespread use are derived from fossil fuels; however, there are several types, such as hydrogen fuel, ethanol, and biodiesel, which are also categorized as a liquid fuel. Many liquid fuels play a primary role in transportation and the economy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydrogen economy</span> Using hydrogen to decarbonize sectors which are hard to electrify

The hydrogen economy is an umbrella term that draws together the roles hydrogen can play alongside renewable electricity to decarbonize those sectors and activities which may be technically difficult to decarbonize through other means, or where cheaper and more energy-efficient clean solutions are not available. In this context, hydrogen economy encompasses hydrogen's production through to end-uses in ways that substantively contribute to avoiding the use of fossil fuels and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Methanol economy</span>

The methanol economy is a suggested future economy in which methanol and dimethyl ether replace fossil fuels as a means of energy storage, ground transportation fuel, and raw material for synthetic hydrocarbons and their products. It offers an alternative to the proposed hydrogen economy or ethanol economy, although these concepts are not exclusive. Methanol can be produced from a variety of sources including fossil fuels as well as agricultural products and municipal waste, wood and varied biomass. It can also be made from chemical recycling of carbon dioxide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Synthetic fuel</span> Fuel from carbon monoxide and hydrogen

Synthetic fuel or synfuel is a liquid fuel, or sometimes gaseous fuel, obtained from syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, in which the syngas was derived from gasification of solid feedstocks such as coal or biomass or by reforming of natural gas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biomass to liquid</span>

Biomass to liquid is a multi-step process of producing synthetic hydrocarbon fuels made from biomass via a thermochemical route.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gas to liquids</span> Conversion of natural gas to liquid petroleum products

Gas to liquids (GTL) is a refinery process to convert natural gas or other gaseous hydrocarbons into longer-chain hydrocarbons, such as gasoline or diesel fuel. Methane-rich gases are converted into liquid synthetic fuels. Two general strategies exist: (i) direct partial combustion of methane to methanol and (ii) Fischer–Tropsch-like processes that convert carbon monoxide and hydrogen into hydrocarbons. Strategy ii is followed by diverse methods to convert the hydrogen-carbon monoxide mixtures to liquids. Direct partial combustion has been demonstrated in nature but not replicated commercially. Technologies reliant on partial combustion have been commercialized mainly in regions where natural gas is inexpensive.

Renewable natural gas (RNG), also known as biomethane, is a biogas which has been upgraded to a quality similar to fossil natural gas and has a methane concentration of 90% or greater. By removing CO2 and other impurities from biogas, and increasing the concentration of methane to a level similar to fossil natural gas, it becomes possible to distribute RNG via existing gas pipeline infrastructure. RNG can be used in existing appliances, including vehicles with natural gas burning engines (natural gas vehicles).

Hydrogen gas is produced by several industrial methods. Fossil fuels are the dominant source of hydrogen. As of 2020, the majority of hydrogen (~95%) is produced by steam reforming of natural gas and other light hydrocarbons, and partial oxidation of heavier hydrocarbons. Other methods of hydrogen production include biomass gasification and methane pyrolysis. Methane pyrolysis and water electrolysis can use any source of electricity including renewable energy.

Renewable Fuels are fuels produced from renewable resources. Examples include: biofuels, Hydrogen fuel, and fully synthetic fuel produced from ambient carbon dioxide and water. This is in contrast to non-renewable fuels such as natural gas, LPG (propane), petroleum and other fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Renewable fuels can include fuels that are synthesized from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar. Renewable fuels have gained in popularity due to their sustainability, low contributions to the carbon cycle, and in some cases lower amounts of greenhouse gases. The geo-political ramifications of these fuels are also of interest, particularly to industrialized economies which desire independence from Middle Eastern oil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ze-gen</span>

Ze-gen, Inc. was a renewable energy company developing advanced gasification technology to convert waste into synthesis gas. Founded in 2004, Ze-gen was a venture-backed company based in Boston, Massachusetts.

Carbon dioxide reforming is a method of producing synthesis gas from the reaction of carbon dioxide with hydrocarbons such as methane with the aid of noble metal catalysts. Synthesis gas is conventionally produced via the steam reforming reaction or coal gasification. In recent years, increased concerns on the contribution of greenhouse gases to global warming have increased interest in the replacement of steam as reactant with carbon dioxide.

Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is a form of microbial electrocatalysis in which electrons are supplied to living microorganisms via a cathode in an electrochemical cell by applying an electric current. The electrons are then used by the microorganisms to reduce carbon dioxide to yield industrially relevant products. The electric current would ideally be produced by a renewable source of power. This process is the opposite to that employed in a microbial fuel cell, in which microorganisms transfer electrons from the oxidation of compounds to an anode to generate an electric current.

Carbon Recycling International (CRI) is an Icelandic limited liability company which has developed a technology designed to produce renewable methanol from carbon dioxide and hydrogen, using water electrolysis or, alternatively, hydrogen captured from industrial waste gases. The technology is trademarked by CRI as Emissions-to-Liquids (ETL) and the renewable methanol produced by CRI is trademarked as Vulcanol. In 2011 CRI became the first company to produce and sell liquid renewable transport fuel produced using only carbon dioxide, water and electricity from renewable sources.

Carbon-neutral fuel is fuel which produces no net-greenhouse gas emissions or carbon footprint. In practice, this usually means fuels that are made using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a feedstock. Proposed carbon-neutral fuels can broadly be grouped into synthetic fuels, which are made by chemically hydrogenating carbon dioxide, and biofuels, which are produced using natural CO2-consuming processes like photosynthesis.

Power-to-gas is a technology that uses electric power to produce a gaseous fuel. When using surplus power from wind generation, the concept is sometimes called windgas.

E-diesel is a synthetic diesel fuel created by Audi for use in automobiles. Currently, e-diesel is created by an Audi research facility in partnership with a company named Sunfire. The fuel is created from carbon dioxide, water, and electricity with a process powered by renewable energy sources to create a liquid energy carrier called blue crude which is then refined to generate e-diesel. E-diesel is considered to be a carbon-neutral fuel as it does not extract new carbon and the energy sources to drive the process are from carbon-neutral sources. As of April 2015, an Audi A8 driven by Federal Minister of Education and Research in Germany is using the e-diesel fuel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power-to-X</span> Storing surplus electricity production in chemical form

Power-to-X are electricity conversion, energy storage, and reconversion pathways from surplus renewable energy. Power-to-X conversion technologies allow for the decoupling of power from the electricity sector for use in other sectors, possibly using power that has been provided by additional investments in generation. The term is widely used in Germany and may have originated there.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Sustainable synthetic carbon based fuels for transport" (PDF). royalsociety.org. The Royal Society. September 2019. ISBN   978-1-78252-422-9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 September 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  2. ↑ "ELECTROFUELS: Microorganisms for Liquid Transportation Fuel". ARPA-E. Archived from the original on October 10, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Novel Biological Conversion of Hydrogen and Carbon Dioxide Directly into Free Fatty Acids". ARPA-E. Archived from the original on October 10, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Electrofuels Via Direct Electron Transfer from Electrodes to Microbes". ARPA-E. Archived from the original on October 10, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  5. ↑ “ARPA-E Project | Biofuels from Solar Energy and Bacteria.” Arpa-E.energy.gov, 2014, https://arpa-e.energy.gov/technologies/projects/biofuels-solar-energy-and-bacteria. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.‌
  6. ↑ Descriptions of all ARPA-E Electrofuels Program research projects can be found at the ARPA-E Electrofuels Program website.
  7. ↑ "SBE's Conference on Electrofuels Research". American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  8. ↑ Markus, Frank. “Future Fuel: Porsche Sponsors Major EFuel Initiative—at $45/Gallon.” MotorTrend, MotorTrend, 20 Dec. 2022, https://www.motortrend.com/features/porsche-supercup-efuel-direct-air-carbon-capture/#:~:text=Future%20Fuel%3A%20Porsche%20Sponsors%20Major%20eFuel%20Initiative%E2%80%94at%20%2445%20a%20Gallon. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.‌
  9. ↑ Biello, David (March 20, 2014). "Fracking Hammers Clean Energy Research". Scientific American. Retrieved April 14, 2014. The cheap natural gas freed from shale by horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (or fracking) has helped kill off bleeding-edge programs like Electrofuels, a bid to use microbes to turn cheap electricity into liquid fuels, and ushered in programs like REMOTE, a bid to use microbes to turn cheap natural gas into liquid fuels.
  10. ↑ Patrascu, Daniel (2020-12-03). "Future Porsche Cars to Run on eFuels, Motorsport Machines Included". autoevolution. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  11. ↑ AG, Porsche. “EFuel for Thought.” Porsche Newsroom, 14 Feb. 2023, https://newsroom.porsche.com/en_US/2023/company/porsche-efuels-pilot-plant-haru-oni-chile-synthetic-fuels-behind-the-scenes-31244.html ‌
  12. ↑ "Audi advances e-fuels technology: new "e-benzin" fuel being tested". Audi MediaCenter. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  13. ↑ Calderwood, Dave (2022-10-05). "Zero Petroleum to produce synthetic fuels at Bicester". FLYER. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  14. ↑ "FAQ: the what and how of e-kerosene" (PDF). European Federation for Transport and Environment. February 2021.
  15. ↑ Krajinska, Anna (December 2021). "Magic green fuels" (PDF). Transport & Environment.
  16. ↑ It is the answer of the question "How efficient is the use of eFuels compared to direct electricity?" https://www.efuel-alliance.eu/faq
  17. ↑ Trakimavicius, Lukas (December 2023). "Mission Net-Zero: Charting the Path for E-fuels in the Military". NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence.
  18. ↑ Ababneh, Hani; Hameed, B.H. (February 2022). "Electrofuels as emerging new green alternative fuel: A review of recent literature". Energy Conversion and Management. 254: 115213. doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2022.115213.
  19. ↑ Jensen, J.O.; Vestbø, A.P.; Li, Q.; Bjerrum, N.J. (October 2007). "The energy efficiency of onboard hydrogen storage". Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 446–447: 723–728. doi:10.1016/j.jallcom.2007.04.051.
  20. ↑ van der Giesen, Coen; Kleijn, René; Kramer, Gert Jan (2014-06-17). "Energy and Climate Impacts of Producing Synthetic Hydrocarbon Fuels from CO 2". Environmental Science & Technology. 48 (12): 7111–7121. doi:10.1021/es500191g. ISSN   0013-936X.
  21. 1 2 Masri, A.R. (2021). "Challenges for turbulent combustion". Proceedings of the Combustion Institute. 38 (1): 121–155. doi:10.1016/j.proci.2020.07.144.
  22. ↑ Matzen, Michael; Alhajji, Mahdi; Demirel, Yaşar (December 2015). "Chemical storage of wind energy by renewable methanol production: Feasibility analysis using a multi-criteria decision matrix". Energy. 93: 343–353. doi:10.1016/j.energy.2015.09.043.
  23. ↑ "P2X Solutions procures synthetic methane production technology from the Finnish Q Power" (Press release). Q Power. 2022-09-15.
  24. ↑ "Projects". Ren-Gas Oy. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  25. ↑ "eFuels pilot plant in Chile officially opened" (Press release). Porsche. 2022-12-20.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.