Electrofuel
[2]: 9–13 The primary targets are methanol, and diesel, but include other alcohols and carbon-containing gases such as methane and butane.
Subsequently, during regeneration of the sorbent, or desorption, the carbon dioxide is separated by the addition of thermal energy and prepared for further use or storage.
The synthesis of e-fuels requires very large amounts of electricity and is characterized by conversion losses.
Three of the regions examined provided excellent conditions and had the potential to significantly reduce the price.
Examples of projects funded under this program include OPX Biotechnologies’ biodiesel effort led by Michael Lynch[8] and Derek Lovley's work on microbial electrosynthesis at the University of Massachusetts Amherst,[9] which reportedly produced the first liquid electrofuel using CO2 as the feedstock.
[10][11] The first Electrofuels Conference, sponsored by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers was held in Providence, RI in November 2011.
[16] Stellantis (Important brands: are Alfa Romeo, Peugeot, Opel, Citroen and Chrysler) announced in September 2023 that it would approve the use of 28 million vehicles in Europe with Electofuels.
[17] 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.
This similar efficiency is ensured by increased electricity production in favorable locations (more full-load hours of renewable power plants per year), which is harnessed through power-to-fuel applications.
[22] Through cogeneration (combined cycle gas turbines or stationary fuel cells), electrofuels can be reconverted into electricy with the opportunity to use waste heat for the heating of buildings,[23] combining the advantage of efficient renewable energy generation in favorable regions with the advantage of efficient energy use in the demand region.
[25] By 2021, the European Federation for Transport and Environment, an advocacy group, advised the aviation sector needs e-kerosene to be deployed as it could substantially reduce their climate impact,[26] and similarly for shipping.
[27] It also stated that electrofuel usage in cars emits two significant greenhouse gases beyond the 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.
[28] Europe defines a class of electrofuels called "Renewable Liquid and Gaseous Transport Fuels of Non-Biological Origin" (RFNBO), chemically the same as e-fuels in general, but with stricter requirements.
[30] Ren-Gas has several synthetic methane production projects in Tampere, Lahti, Kotka, Mikkeli and Pori in Finland.
[31] Towards the end of 2020, Porsche announced its investment in electrofuels, including the Haru Oni project in Chile, creating synthetic methanol from wind power.
