Core Power released its latest white paper “Powering Progress: E-Fuels for Sustainable Shipping” in regards to the alternative marine fuel landscape and e-fuel production.
The whitepaper examines the alternative marine fuel landscape and demonstrates why advanced nuclear technology deployed in floating power plants is uniquely able to scale electrofuel (e-fuel) production.
E-fuels are synthetic liquid fuels created through industrial processes that use electricity to drive chemical reactions, converting basic components like water and carbon dioxide (CO2) into products that can replace conventional fossil fuels.
The industrial production of e-fuels demands enormous amounts of electrical energy. Current projections indicate that by 2050, e-fuel production alone will require approximately 20,000 TWh per year.
Hydrogen production methods:
- Grey hydrogen: Produced through steam methane reforming, where natural gas reacts with water to release hydrogen. This process generates significant CO2 emissions, both from the chemical reaction itself and from burning fossil fuels to power the process.
- Blue hydrogen: Uses the same steam methane reforming process but incorporates carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to reduce CO2 emissions.
- Green hydrogen: Created through water electrolysis powered by renewable electricity sources, producing only hydrogen and oxygen as outputs.
- Pink hydrogen: Produced through water electrolysis powered by nuclear energy, offering another zero-emission pathway.
Types of maritime e-fuels:
E-ammonia: As a potential marine fuel, e-ammonia has emerged as a promising candidate. It has also drawn significant interest from other hard-to-electrify sectors.
E-methanol: The maritime industry has shown strong interest in methanol as an alternative fuel. Its higher physical density and energy density compared to ammonia make it particularly attractive for shipping applications.
E-diesel: E-diesel has attracted significant attention in both maritime and aviation sectors. Its higher physical and energy density than ammonia and methanol make it particularly attractive as a ’drop-in‘ fuel, meaning it can be used in existing engines and fuel tanks without modification.
E-methane: The maritime industry uses methane widely, in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for propulsion. E-methane production at scale, however, faces several challenges. The process is still in early commercial development and requires significant capital investment for production facilities.
