eFuels co-production: road transport is crucial for so-called sustainable aviation fuels
How the co-production of eFuels enables modern aviation
The debate on decarbonising the transport sector often focuses on individual solutions for specific areas. In aviation, e-kerosene is considered indispensable because electrifying aircraft is not technically or economically feasible. This e-kerosene is also known as SAF, the abbreviation for sustainable aviation fuel.
Co-production: inseparable production of different fuels
Refinery-based fuel production is a technical co-production process in which several products are created simultaneously from one raw material. Whether in the processing of fossil crude oil or synthetic crude oil substitute (syncrude) – different fuels are always produced in refineries:
- Diesel fuel
- Gasoline (petrol)
- Kerosene
- Other by-products
This co-production is due to technical reasons and cannot be fully controlled, meaning that a mix of different fuels is always produced. Even specialized plants can only increase the proportion of individual products to a limited extent.
FT syncrude and MTG processes: the key to sufficient e-kerosene production
Synthetic fuels can be produced using different processes, particularly Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FT syncrude) and the methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) process. Both offer opportunities to produce modern fuels on a large scale.
Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FT-Syncrude)
- Process: A synthetic crude oil is produced from hydrogen and carbon monoxide by means of catalytic reactions.
- End products: This crude oil is further processed in refineries, producing various fuels such as e-kerosene, e-diesel and e-gasoline.
- Advantages: Flexibility in the choice of raw materials (e.g. use of biomass, waste materials or COâ‚‚) and high product quality.
Methanol-to-gasoline (MTG)
- Process: Production of methanol from renewable hydrogen and COâ‚‚, which is then converted into synthetic fuels.
- End products: Mainly e-gasoline, but also by-products such as e-kerosene and e-diesel.
- Advantages: Direct conversion of methanol into fuels and existing infrastructure can be used.
Synergies between the two processes for sufficient e-kerosene production
- Co-production: Both processes yield several fuels as co-products.
- Sufficient quantities: Using FT syncrude and MTG processes in parallel to produce synthetic fuels for road transport yields sufficient quantities of e-kerosene to make domestic German aviation more future-ready.
- Optimisation: Combining the two processes can increase efficiency and the yield of the fuels required.
Anyone who wants so-called sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) must ensure that eFuels are used in road transport
Economic synergies through a holistic approach
- Cost reduction through economies of scale: Large-scale production of eFuels for road transportation leads to economies of scale that reduce production costs for all fuels, including eKerosene.
- Investment incentives: A larger market for eFuels increases the attractiveness for investors, which accelerates the expansion of production capacities.
- Secure demand: The inclusion of road transportation will ensure stable and high demand for all co-products.
Regulatory framework conditions as a success factor
Appropriate political measures are needed to realize these synergies:
- Recognition of eFuels in road traffic: Legal approvals and subsidies for eFuels in road traffic create a market for the co-products.
- Mandatory blending quotas: Mandatory quotas for blending eFuels into fossil fuels increase demand and promote production.
- Technology-neutral strategies: Instead of focusing exclusively on electromobility, an open technology policy should be pursued that also takes eFuels into account.
Summary: working together towards modern mobility
The production of e-kerosene cannot be considered in isolation. Due to the technical process of co-production, manufacturing synthetic fuels for road transport inevitably also yields sufficient quantities of e-kerosene. Promoting eFuels in road transport is therefore a decisive step towards enabling modern aviation.
Conclusion:
- Interdependence of fuels: e-kerosene, e-diesel and e-petrol are technically and economically interconnected.
- A holistic approach is required: Successfully decarbonising the transport sector requires solutions that include all areas.
- Policy action is needed: Without suitable regulatory frameworks, sustainable aviation fuels (so-called SAF) are blocked.
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