What Are Synfuels?
Synfuel is a liquid fuel made from syngas. Syngas is a synthesis gas made using hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The 3 main Sources include natural gas, heavy liquid hydrocarbons, and pulverized coal. It is also worth noting that syngas can be used to make hydrogen, generate power, synthetic natural gas, Fisher-Tropsch reactions, and methanol. Some of the main syngas production technologies include steam methane reforming, naphtha reforming, auto thermal reforming, oxygen secondary reforming, and partial oxidation of heavy hydrocarbons, petroleum coke, and coal.
Why Synfuels?
Synfuels can be a method in which combustion engines can continue to be used with lower emissions and are considered carbon neutral depending on the inputs used in the syngas production method. Also, the infrastructure required to transport and store synfuels is the same as conventional fuels. This poses as a substantial advantage over implementing hydrogen and electrical fueling stations.
Heard of the “Advanced Clean Cars II” rule?
The California Air Resource Board issued a policy stating that the sale of all new passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs sold in California will be zero emissions (different from carbon neutral) 2035. The real key here is to see how synfuels can shape this policy and allow combustion engines (run on synfuels) to continue being produced and sold (or not). Synfuels can be used in the same combustion engines as conventional fuels. The infrastructure required to transport and store the fuels is the same as well. As technology advances, carbon dioxide can be taken directly from the air combined with hydrogen and produced into syngas, and ultimately synfuels. Imagine, a company can then take its carbon emissions, capture them, combine them with hydrogen, and produce synfuels onsite. This would provide predictable fuel pricing and supply.
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