e-Fuel or synthetic fuel is a liquid fuel, similar to what we know today. The big difference is that it does not come from fossil energy sources. It is obtained from a chemical process based on hydrogen and the energy used for its manufacture is renewable. Thus, it is a 100% clean fuel.
Synthetic fuels are born as a real alternative to the problems of limited autonomy of current batteries due to their higher energy density. If a manufacturing process is found that allows the development of these synthetic fuels without high costs, combustion engines could become totally carbon neutral.
Let’s talk in figures according to Bosch data. The net result could be a reduction of 2.8 gigatons of CO2 in Europe by 2050 – a figure that represents three times Germany’s emissions in 2016. Best of all, e-Fuels can be used in multiple applications, not just for cars.
Let’s think that cars account for only a small proportion of CO2 emissions. Even if they were all electric, planes, ships or trucks would still use gasoline or diesel. Since we are talking about an artificial fuel, it is important to note that engineers can ‘play’ with its different properties to use it for various purposes.
How is synthetic fuel obtained?
The most curious thing about e-Fuels is their manufacturing method. The process captures CO2 instead of releasing it. To create the e-Fuels, the greenhouse gas itself acts as a feedstock. The first step is to acquire hydrogen from water by separating them using the electrolysis technique. This is done using energy from renewable sources.
Coal is then added to generate a liquid fuel. This carbon can be obtained either by recycling it in industrial processes or by capturing it from the air using special filters. When we combine hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2) we obtain synthetic fuel (methane). This can be gasoline, diesel, gas or even kerosene.
In addition, these fuels can be designed to burn the mixture without generating soot. This reduces exhaust gas treatment costs. Like fossil fuels, they can be transported and stored safely and for extended periods of time. In addition, the entire existing distribution and storage network can be utilized.
Does synthetic fuel have a future?
Pilot projects are currently underway to market synthetic diesel, gasoline and natural gas in Norway and Germany. Bosch has made it clear that “considerable efforts will be needed before synthetic fuels become fully established”. The reality is that setting up synthetic fuels processing facilities is a big outlay.
At present, producing e-Fuel on a large scale is inefficient. Barely half of the electrical energy invested is used. Moreover, such energy must be completely renewable (hydroelectric, solar, wind or nuclear) to be carbon neutral. As you can imagine, not all countries and companies will find the investment profitable.
How much is it going to cost us?
Some studies suggest that tariffs could range from 1.0 to 1.4 euros per liter in the long term. However, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) says that, with significant demand, by 2030 the manufacturing cost would be between 3 and 4 euros per liter.
It is important to note a major difference with respect to biofuels. If renewable energies are used for their manufacture, synthetic fuels can be produced without the volume limitations of biofuels. The limitations of the latter are due to factors such as the space available for their production or deforestation.
Are there any European regulations on this issue?
Although many of us thought that synthetic fuels were part of the future and that they could give life to the wildest internal combustion engines ever made, Europe has recently put an end to it.
The European Parliament’s Environment Committee recently approved a ban on the sale of new cars that emit polluting gases in European Union member countries from 2035 onwards. Although the result has yet to be ratified by the European Parliament, things are starting to get very serious.
In essence, the EU has given preliminary approval to put an end to the future of synthetic fuels to save long-term problems and tackle the problem of pollution from internal combustion engines no matter what fuel they use. Of course, a new hurdle for automakers.
Car companies now have three possible ways out. Either they electrify completely, or they turn to the hydrogen fuel cell, or to hydrogen combustion itself. Japan, on the other hand, is betting on these synthetic fuels or biofuels.