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. 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 fuels. Existing transport, distribution and fuel infrastructures (especially filling stations) can also continue to be used.

 

eFuel production

eFuel production is based on the extraction of hydrogen. This happens by means of an electrolysis process that breaks down water (e.g. seawater from desalination plants) into its components of hydrogen and oxygen. For this process and further production steps, electricity is required.

In a second step, with the aid of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, the hydrogen is combined with CO2 extracted from the air and converted into a liquid energy carrier: eFuel. Under high pressure using a catalyst, the hydrogen binds with the CO2. Because electricity is used for the production of eFuels, the procedure is known as a power-to-liquid process: electricity is converted into a synthetic liquid that is easy to store and simple to transport.

After refinery processing is complete, the eFuel produced can be used as ePetrol, eDiesel, eHeating oil and eKerosene – and can completely replace conventional fuels. Thanks to their drop-in capability, eFuels can also be blended with conventional fuels in any desired ratio. The existing logistics, distribution and tank infrastructure such as tank farms, tank lorries, pipelines and filling stations can stay in place – there is no need for an expensive change of technologies.

The climate neutrality of eFuels derives from the fact that, on the one hand, electricity from renewable energies is used in their production and, on the other hand, only as much CO2 is emitted during use as was previously bound during production. eFuels can therefore make a climate-neutral contribution in all sectors where conventional fuels are currently used (e.g. transport or heating in buildings).

eFuels can solve two challenges of the energy transition: the problems of storing and transporting renewable energies. Thanks to the high energy density of eFuels, and because they can be transported at room temperature and pressure, renewable energies can be generated easily and economically around the world and transported anywhere they are needed using existing technologies.

Energy density - a big advantage.

Compared to other energy carriers, liquid fuels such as petrol, diesel and kerosene have a particularly high energy density. They can also be stored under room pressure and at room temperature. These qualities also make it technically feasible to transport liquid energy carriers – a clear advantage over other forms of energy carriers.

Having the same chemical composition means that all these advantages also apply to eFuels products.

Source: https://www.frontier-economics.com/media/2504/frontier-iw-studie_ptx_markt_und_beschaeftigungsperspektiven.pdf

Applications

By using eFuels – initially as an admixture to conventional fuels, ultimately as a replacement for them – we create a climate-neutral solution for several sectors. eFuels are therefore suitable for all vehicles and means of transport, represent a climate-neutral alternative to conventional heating oil and can also be used as intermediate refinery products in the chemical industry.

 

Energy transition in road traffic thanks to eFuels

This is the sector with the greatest potential for eFuels: they can be used as eDiesel and ePetrol (initially as an admixture to conventional fuels, ultimately as a replacement for them)  as well as in all internal combustion engines.

A large part of the global vehicle population will continue to be powered by conventional petrol or diesel engines beyond 2030. This applies to passenger cars as well as light commercial vehicles – and above all, to road haulage, agricultural, forestry and construction industry vehicles for which electrification is not an economically or technically viable option. eFuels offer a climate-neutral solution here, as they can be reliably used in modern internal combustion engines and under very different geographical and climatic conditions throughout the world.

With eFuels, cars with conventional diesel and petrol engines could already be CO2-neutral today. And there is a further advantage: by using the existing network of filling stations, refineries, tank farms and tank lorries, eFuels can be introduced quickly to the market and thus made easily available to consumers. There is no need to build a new, expensive infrastructure. eFuels can therefore make a valuable contribution to significantly reducing CO2 emissions from road traffic.

By using eFuels, heavy construction and production machinery (e.g. for forestry and agriculture) that is currently fuelled by conventional fuels can continue to be used in a climate-neutral manner.

 

Shipping: entering a climate-friendly future
with eFuels

Due to stricter limits and the ambitious climate protection goals of the IMO (a 50% CO2 reduction by 2050 as compared to 2008), the shipping industry has embarked on a path to a climate-friendly future. Currently, about 90% of world trade is transported by sea using large container ships. However, to transport large loads over long international routes, what is needed is an energy carrier with a low deadweight and a high energy density. In the long term, it is hard to envisage an international maritime sector that doesn’t rely on climate-neutral fuels. Heavy fuel oil, which shipping uses almost exclusively at present, can be replaced by climate-neutral eFuels in future.

 

eFuels in aviation

Instead of relying on conventional kerosene, in future aircraft can be refuelled with climate-neutral eFuels, thus making climate-neutral flight possible. For aviation, where long distances and weight restrictions are often key factors, a basic requirement is that the fuel must have a high energy density.

As drop-in fuel, eFuels can easily replace conventional kerosene – initially as an admixture and then as a replacement. This does not require any adjustment to aviation engines.

 

eFuels instead of
heating oil

Substantial CO2 reductions can also be achieved in the building sector and in home heating, initially by means of an admixture of greenhouse gas-neutral liquid fuels to conventional heating oil and then carrying on through to the complete replacement of conventional heating oil.

This is all possible without any conversion costs, since eFuels can be used both in efficient modern oil-powered condensing boilers and in connection with renewable energies. Homeowners can continue to use their existing modern heating systems while synthetic liquid fuel contributes to climate protection.

 

eFuels in the
chemical industry

Mineral oil is not only used in the transport and heating markets: it’s also the most important raw material for the chemical industry. For example, German refineries supply more than 70% of the source materials for use in the chemical industry. This corresponds to about 20% of the total mineral oil demand in Germany. If the use of mineral oil is to be done away with in the future, these raw materials for the chemical industry can only be produced synthetically using the production process for eFuels.

By using eFuels instead of oil-based raw materials, entire industrial sectors can benefit from this climate-neutral conversion.

 

Key arguments:
that support eFuels

eFuels are environmentally and climate-friendly.

  • eFuels allow the global potential of solar and wind power to be unleashed around the world.
  • eFuels are produced by using renewable electricity as well as atmospheric CO2 from the air and hydrogen from water.
  • eFuels are climate-neutral; no additional greenhouse gases are produced while they are in use.
  • eFuels can be easily stored and transported over long distances without any energy loss. They solve one central problem of the energy transition: the inability to feed renewable energy into the grid continuously and thus have it permanently available.
  • eFuels emit significantly less nitrogen oxide and particulate matter than conventional fuels.
  • eFuels do not cause any disposal or recycling issues.
  • eFuels can be used in today’s engines and heating systems and thus allow the sustainable use of existing infrastructure in the transport and heating sectors.

eFuels are versatile and quick to deploy.

  • eFuels are compatible with conventional internal combustion engines and efficient condensing boilers. They can thus be deployed in the approximately 1.3 billion vehicles around the world and supply heat efficiently through around 20 million heating systems in the EU that run on liquid fuels.
  • eFuels can reach the market quickly via existing flexible distribution networks and are therefore easily available to the consumer.
  • eFuels can easily be added to conventional fuels (drop-in capability from 1 to 100%).
  • eFuels are suitable for all modes of transport: passenger cars, heavy-duty vehicles, airplanes and ships. In addition, they can also be used as a substitute for crude oil in the chemical industry.
  • There is no reasonable technological alternative to using eFuels in aviation, shipping, construction, agriculture, forestry and large segments of heavy goods traffic.

eFuels are user-friendly and convenient.

  • Thanks to eFuels, there is no need for an expensive change of technologies in the transport and heating sector. The disposal or conversion of existing infrastructure throughout the world is thus avoided. For the consumer, this means no switching costs, no need for reorientation towards different technologies and an easy and familiar handling process of a safe energy carrier. This promotes a high-level of acceptance for E-Fuels.
  • eFuels can be comprehensively distributed via existing infrastructure and are thus easily available to consumers.
  • eFuels combine all the advantages of conventional liquid energy sources: a short refuelling process as well as high energy density, which enables a long vehicle range.
  • As studies by renowned research institutes prove, eFuels can be produced in the medium-term for approximately 1 euro per litre. This keeps fuels affordable for consumers.

eFuels help to secure Europe’s primacy as an industrial location and strengthen international energy cooperation.

  • Both the EU and several states around the world have already committed themselves to using hydrogen and hydrogen-based derivative products within their hydrogen strategies in order to make parts of the economy and transport system climate-neutral.
  • However, most industrialised countries such as Germany cannot meet their energy requirements using their own climate-neutral energy sources and are therefore completely dependent on the import of renewable energies.
  • Areas of the world that get plenty of sun and wind can generate large quantities of renewable energies and produce corresponding quantities of eFuels.
  • eFuels can be imported from these sunny and windy regions and used around the world. In this way, less developed countries can also establish a climate-neutral energy supply. This also promotes international cooperation.
  • Europe’s world-leading expertise in engine and plant construction – including medium-sized supply-chain companies – will be maintained; hundreds of thousands of jobs will be secured.
  • European engineers are world leaders in the development of Power-to-X technology, which is used to produce eFuels. This strengthens the European export economy and creates over 470,000 additional jobs in Germany alone.

Outlook and costs

eFuels have been extensively researched – the scientific and technical expertise for a market ramp-up is available. However, the necessary political framework that is required to enable eFuel production on an industrial scale is lacking. For example, there is no CO2-based taxation policy for fuels that acknowledges the role eFuels can play in making road traffic climate-neutral.

If the market conditions and production rules are right, eFuels can start to be produced in 2025 and steadily ramped-up to allow the complete replacement of conventional fuels in 2050.

With increased quantities of eFuels being added gradually to conventional fuels, and production costs falling owing to economies of scale, eFuels would be affordable for consumers in every phase of the market ramp-up.

 

While the production costs for one litre of eFuel in 2025 with a 4% blending rate with conventional fuels are estimated to be between EUR 1.61 and EUR 1.99, by 2050 they may decrease from anywhere between EUR 0.70 to EUR 1.33 per litre of eFuel with a 100% blending rate.

This means that in 2025, diesel will cost EUR 1.22 for customers at filling station. In 2050, eDiesel will cost between EUR 1.38 and EUR 2.17 (according to current taxes and duties). In 2025, petrol with an eFuels admixture will cost between EUR 1.34 and EUR 1.36; in 2050, prices for ePetrol are expected to be between EUR 1.45 and EUR 2.24 (also according to current taxes and duties). 

Climate neutrality thus remains affordable for everyone.

 

Increasing admixture of eFuels and simultaneously decreasing production costs until 2050 lead to affordable end consumer prices:

Fuel price development at the filling station: consistently affordable prices for the end user

Source: UNITI-informiert_Bezahlbarer_Klimaschutz_EFuels.pdf