From hydrogen and recycled feedstock, for example cooking oils, fats, the organic fraction of municipal waste, or biomass from land or forest waste, it will be possible to make advanced biofuels, such as hydrobiodiesel (HVO), biojet, bionaphtha and biopropane
From airplanes to tractors, via boats, private vehicles or trucks, transport will, according to estimates by the AOP (Spanish Association of Petroleum Product Operators), require liquid fuels as the main source of energy for a long time to come. The current costs of access to new technologies or the limitations of technological developments make alternatives with ever lower emissions, efficient and accessible, necessary. And this is where low carbon ecofuels come from, which come from alternative feedstocks to oil,
as forestry and agricultural residues or captured CO2
For this reason, and in the sector that may seem the most difficult to reach, Iberia has already completed its first flight on biofuel. This A330-200 MTOW 242 TN version has a maximum take-off capacity of 242 tons, consumes 15% less fuel than the fleet it replaces and is therefore more environmentally friendly. Together with two other upcoming flights, CO2 emissions into the atmosphere will be reduced by 125 tons, thanks to the improvement in the consumption efficiency of the fleet used, along with the use of sustainable biofuel.
It is in collaboration with Repsol,
pioneer in the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF, for its acronym in English) in Spain, and with the production of fuels in its industrial complexes, it anticipates the various measures taken by the Community institutions to promote the use of sustainable aviation fuels. In this sense, advanced biofuel from waste is included in the list of sustainable fuels in the European Renewable Energy Directive.
In the future, Iberia and Repsol will operate new flights with a growing percentage of biofuel mix that can reach 50%. This product will be produced in Spain’s first advanced biofuel plant, which is expected to be commissioned in Cartagena in 2023. Also in 2024, Repsol and Iberia plan to work with synthetic SAF (e-fuel) produced at the Petronor plant in Bilbao. In addition, both companies are working on a project for the use of HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil)
in vehicles for airport services
In Spain, the Repsol company has even started construction in Cartagena of the
first biofuel production plantwith the aim of producing 250,000 tons per year from 2023, 1.3 million tons of products from renewable materials by 2025 and more than 2 million by 2030. Advanced biofuels such as hydrobiodiesel (HVO), biojet, bionaphtha and biopropane can be produced from hydrogen and recycled raw materials, for example cooking oils, fats, the organic fraction of municipal waste, or biomass from agricultural or forestry residues.
The result is biofuels that can be
use without modification on current engines and that they save 900,000 tons of CO2 per year, an amount comparable to what a forest the size of 180,000 football fields would absorb. An investment of 188 million euros is involved and about 1,000 professionals will work on the construction.
Furthermore, in the port of Bilbao,
develop an innovative project worldwide synthetic fuels with no net emissions. It will use the CO2 and hydrogen captured in the refinery, which is produced with 100% renewable electricity as the only raw material. The CO2 emitted by these fuels during their entire life cycle is equal to the CO2 captured and used in production, resulting in a net balance of zero emissions.
At the European level, the eFuels Alliance has also set itself the goal of promoting environmentally friendly fuels. This organisation, in which associations and companies from sectors such as mineral oil production, the automotive and supply industry, mechanical engineering, research and science participate, aims to develop, promote and make eFuels for climate protection applicable worldwide. The next two years will be decisive, as the European Commission will review its climate targets. Among them, the legislation on cars to recognize the contribution of e-fuels to achieving the reduction of emissions.
What are synthetic fuels? Also called e-fuels, they are produced from captured CO2 and green hydrogen. For its production, the capture and use of CO2 and the adaptation of refineries for the production of green hydrogen through electrolysis with renewable electrical energy are essential.
How are advanced biofuels produced? From raw materials of biological, agricultural and forest origin. These raw materials can be processed in refineries into high-quality synthetic ecofuels (using numerous technologies.
What other low-carbon fuels are there? Other raw materials from waste of non-biological origin, such as municipal or plastic waste, are also likely to be converted into ecofuels through pyrolysis, among others.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
