Confronting Climate Gridlock by Daniel S. Cohan

Author:Daniel S. Cohan [Cohan, Daniel S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 9780300251678
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Synthetic Fuels

Despite its many merits, hydrogen has shortcomings. It doesn’t pack much energy per volume. It’s tough to transport. And it can’t be used in most existing engines. However, hydrogen can be transformed into denser synthetic fuels that are more readily transported and used.

Synthetic hydrocarbons could take their hydrogen from electrolysis and their carbon from carbon capture or biomass, making them nearly net-zero fuels. Green hydrogen and the synthetic fuels made from it are collectively known as “electrofuels,” or the “X” of “Power to X,” since their production is powered by electricity.

Synthetic fuels can be designed for “drop-in” use in engines that would normally burn petroleum-based fuels. For example, synthetic n-octane could replace jet fuel, and other synthetic fuels could replace diesel or marine fuel. Synthetic methanol or ammonia could be used in fuel cells or engines. All these fuels pack much more energy per volume than gaseous hydrogen, enabling them to power heavy modes of transportation.46

Rather than using it to synthesize liquid fuels, hydrogen could instead be reacted with carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide to form methane gas in a process known as methanation. That would enable it to be distributed and used in traditional gas systems. However, the inefficiencies of electrolysis and methanation mean that over half of the energy is lost in the conversions. “Methanation is so expensive energy-wise,” Webber said. Yet based on his experience at Engie, a utility that provides both gas and electricity, Webber advocates synthetic methane in locations where heating cannot be easily electrified. “It’s going to be a lot cheaper to leverage what we’ve already invested in natural gas systems rather than replace them with hydrogen,” said Webber. “If we go to hydrogen, the pipelines, compressors, storage tanks, appliances—everything is more expensive.” Still, given the inefficiency of producing it, the leaks from transporting it, and the pollution from burning it, synthetic methane is a poor substitute for electric heating in all but the coldest regions.47

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