2023-04-16 19:50:36
BarcelonaGermany has achieved that, beyond 2035, there can continue to be cars with internal combustion engines, as long as they use synthetic fuels. Italy is pushing hard for this exception to be extended to advanced biofuels as well. And given the possibility that electrifying all transport is a practically unattainable milestone, the two major Spanish oil companies, Repsol and Cepsa, have already put their efforts into developing these types of fuel, with quite significant investments that suggest that both companies they believe that this business will be successful. But what are advanced biofuels and how are they obtained?
What are renewable fuels?
Renewable fuels are those produced from renewable raw materials, basically biomass, waste, or from green hydrogen and captured CO₂. In fact, they are considered a complement to the electrification of transport.
The oil companies are betting on the so-called “technological neutrality” and understand that “electrification is good, but it has its limitations”, as Claudia Esarte, Repsol’s developer of low-carbon fuels, explains to ARA. This specialist sees these fuels as suitable for aviation, ships and also some heavy road transport.
Advanced biofuels
Biofuels are a reality. In fact, at the outlet of Spanish petrol stations, the product that is dispensed has, at least, 10% biofuel. In 2021, a test was carried out in Spain by the bus company Alsa, to use exclusively renewable diesel on a dozen buses in Bilbao for four months. The emission of 300 tons of CO₂ was thus avoided. The Sesé group, which handles the logistics of Seat and Volkswagen in Spain, in collaboration with the truck manufacturer Scania, also uses this type of fuel in its vehicles.
Advanced biofuels plant
Innovative circular economy project to give a second life to organic waste and manufacture advanced biofuels
Organic waste deposits
Hydrotreatment unit
Factory of advanced biofuels from waste and hydrogen
Advanced biofuels
These biofuels will allow to reduce
– 900.000 t CO2/any
Organic waste deposits
Hydrotreatment unit
Factory of advanced biofuels from waste and hydrogen
Advanced biofuels
These biofuels will allow to reduce
– 900.000 t CO2/any
Organic waste deposits
Hydrotreatment unit
Factory of advanced biofuels from waste and hydrogen
Advanced biofuels
These biofuels will allow to reduce
– 900.000 t CO2/any
Organic waste deposits
Hydrotreatment unit
Factory of advanced biofuels from waste and hydrogen
Advanced biofuels
These biofuels will allow to reduce
– 900.000 t CO2/any
The first biofuels were obtained from crops specifically made for this function, with negative food and deforestation consequences. Now they are advanced biofuels, which are made from biomass, used oils and forestry, agricultural and livestock waste.
The option of synthetic fuels
The synthetic fuels, which Germany is betting on, are obtained from green hydrogen – which is produced by electrolysis with renewable energies – and CO₂ captured, for example, from industrial emissions. Regarding the direct use of green hydrogen, these synthetic fuels have a couple of big advantages: their transportation and logistics, since they can use all the current system of storage, transportation and outlets of today’s gasoline and diesel ; and that can be used in current engines without having to make variations, as Esarte explains.
Synthetic fuel plant
Hydrogen and captured CO2 are used as raw materials
CO2 is captured in the refinery
Through electrolysis oxygen is separated from hydrogen
The whole process is powered by renewable electricity
are obtained synthetic fuels carbon neutral that can be used in today’s engines
The whole process is powered by renewable electricity
CO2 is captured in the refinery
Through electrolysis oxygen is separated from hydrogen
Hydrogen and captured CO2 are used as raw materials
are obtained synthetic fuels carbon neutral that can be used in today’s engines
The whole process is powered by renewable electricity
Through electrolysis oxygen is separated from hydrogen
CO2 is captured in the refinery
Hydrogen and captured CO2 are used as raw materials
are obtained synthetic fuels carbon neutral that can be used in today’s engines
The whole process is powered by renewable electricity
Through electrolysis oxygen is separated from hydrogen
CO2 is captured in the refinery
Hydrogen and captured CO2 are used as raw materials
are obtained synthetic fuels carbon neutral that can be used in today’s engines
Why are they considered carbon neutral?
Current technology allows the use of biofuels to reduce emissions by 90% compared to fossil fuels. In the case of synthetic fuels, they are considered to cause net zero emissions, as they are made from captured CO₂.
Sector investments in Spain
Cepsa has teamed up with Bio-Oils, owned by the Asian oil production giant Apical, to build a biofuels plant in Palos de la Frontera (Huelva), with an investment of around 1,000 million euros.
For its part, Repsol announced an investment of 200 million in an advanced biofuels plant in Cartagena, which must start production this year, as well as the investment of more than 100 million in a synthetic fuel plant in Bilbao. In addition, Repsol is participating in the project with Enerkem and Agbar to build a methanol plant obtained from non-recyclable urban waste in Morell, with an investment of around 250 million. In addition, the oil company chaired by Antoni Brufau became a shareholder in the Canadian company Enerkem, with an investment of more than 100 million. Enerkem is one of the world leaders in technology to produce renewable fuels and chemicals.
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