The cost-effectiveness of electrofuels in comparison to other alternative fuels for transport in a low carbon future
Paper in proceeding, 2016

In future, a complement to biofuels, which also can originate from biomass, is electrofuels. Electrofuels are synthetic hydrocarbons, e.g. methane or methanol, produced from carbon dioxide (CO2) and water with electricity as primary energy source. The CO2 can be captured from e.g. biofuel production plants and thereby potentially provide an opportunity for biofuel producers to increase the yield from the same amount of biomass. This project assesses if there are conditions under which electrofuels are cost-effective compared to other fuels for transport in order to reach climate targets. Energy systems analysis are conducted using a well-established energy-economic long-term global energy systems model developed to include also electrofuels as transportation fuels. In this initial assessment, the results indicate that electrofuels is not the most cost-efficient option for road transport. It may become a complement to other alternatives if assuming very high cost for fuel cells and batteries. In future studies it would be interesting to analyze the impact from assuming that carbon capture and storage technologies will be large scale available, the effect of fluctuating electricity prices, and the role of electrofuels in the aviation and shipping sectors.

long-term

cost analysis

CO2 recycling

electricity

modelling

alternative fuels

power-to-gas

Author

Maria Grahn

Chalmers, Energy and Environment, Physical Resource Theory

Selma Brynolf

Chalmers, Energy and Environment, Physical Resource Theory

Julia Hansson

Chalmers, Energy and Environment, Physical Resource Theory

Maria Taljegård

Chalmers, Energy and Environment, Physical Resource Theory

European Biomass Conference and Exhibition Proceedings

22825819 (eISSN)

Vol. 2016 24thEUBCE 1472-1478

24th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition EUBCE 2016
Amsterdam, Netherlands,

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Areas of Advance

Transport

Energy

Subject Categories

Energy Systems

Environmental Sciences

More information

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1/3/2024 9