eFuels:
sustainable in two ways
eFuels are produced with the help of electricity from renewable energy sources, water and CO2 from the air. In contrast to conventional fuels, they do not release additional CO2 but are climate neutral in the entire balance. Thanks to their compatibility with today’s internal combustion engines, eFuels can also power vehicles, airplanes and ships, thus allowing them to continue to operate but in a climate-friendly manner. The same applies to all heating systems that use liquid and gaseous fuels. Existing transport, distribution and fuel/gas infrastructures can also continue to be used.
Everything about eFuels
What are eFuels?
eFuels are produced with electricity from renewable sources, water and CO2 and are a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. eFuels can be used in existing infrastructure and thus decisively and affordably reduce CO2 emissions in the transport and heating market – all the way to climate neutrality.
Although the share of renewables in global electricity generation is growing steadily, it was only 23.2% in 2019.
Global Energy Potentials & Efficiency
Compared to direct electrification in Germany, eFuels, including transport, are similarly efficient (factor 1.7). It is clear that eFuels should not be produced in Germany. Sustainable solar and wind energy generated abroad is crucial to make eFuels production efficient. There is sufficient renewable energy potential worldwide that can be stored with eFuels and distributed via existing infrastructure. Since Germany and the EU import most of their energy, eFuels offer a sustainable and necessary alternative to fossil energy carriers.
Energy security
The supply of secure, sustainable and affordable energy is a major challenge for the EU. Reserves of fossil fuels are largely concentrated in a few regions of the world, which increases dependence on individual states. The potential of renewable energies, on the other hand, is much more diversely distributed. Storage by means of eFuels makes these potentials usable and distributable. eFuels can therefore contribute to a sustainable and diverse energy system.
Costs & Outlook
Currently, the necessary political framework conditions are lacking to enable eFuels production on an industrial scale, such as CO2-based taxation of fuels, or the crediting of eFuels as a climate-neutral fuel in road transport. Given the right market and production conditions, eFuels production can start in 2025 and thus the market ramp-up to the point of complete replacement of conventional fuels in 2050.
Applications
Existing means of transport and heating can be converted environmentally friendly by using eFuels. For example, means of transport such as trucks or airplanes, as well as construction machinery and oil-fired heating systems, for which there is not yet a sensible technical alternative as a means of propulsion, can be operated in a climate-neutral manner. eFuels can also be used in the offroad sector or in industry.
Advantages
eFuels offer many ecological and economic benefits. They are climate-friendly, compatible with conventional engines and easy to use. Their usage does not require any conversion and they can be distributed via existing tank and distribution infrastructures. Energy cooperation in the production of eFuels generates value added in partner countries, leads to technology exports and diversifies the EU's energy imports.