Synthetic Fuel Proposal

[mwstewart]

I was reading this afternoon's oil news and I came across this article which links to a proposal by some of Europe's refiners to cut over to a synthetic fuel replacement - the most ambitious goal being replacement of existing fossil based liquid fuels by 2050. It requires huge investment but on the face of it seems to be of interest to us petrolheads.

Do any other PHers know more - is it a potential reality? This is the first I've heard it mentioned so need to read the proposal in full.

[A1VDY]

Germany produced 11 million litres of synthetic fuel per day at its plant in Politz by the company IG Farben between 1927 - 45.
12 plants in total across Germany/Poland.
It was a very clear fuel free of sulphur and aromatics.
All info available on wiki but something I've followed ref production for a while..

[Mining Subsidence Man]

A1VDY said:

Germany produced 11 million litres of synthetic fuel per day at its plant in Politz by the company IG Farben between 1927 - 45.
12 plants in total across Germany/Poland.
It was a very clear fuel free of sulphur and aromatics.
All info available on wiki but something I've followed ref production for a while..

Methyl tertiary butyl ether.

It's got a ridiculous octane rating as well.

Sadly it's made out of petrochemicals.

[Skyedriver]

Aspen alkylate ?

I have used Aspen 4 in a 4 stroke strimmer, it is supposed to reduce hydrocarbons by 99% as well as not gum up the machinery like modern pump petrol.
Downside it was 4 times the price.

[A1VDY]

Mining Subsidence Man said:

A1VDY said:

Germany produced 11 million litres of synthetic fuel per day at its plant in Politz by the company IG Farben between 1927 - 45.
12 plants in total across Germany/Poland.
It was a very clear fuel free of sulphur and aromatics.
All info available on wiki but something I've followed ref production for a while..

Methyl tertiary butyl ether.

It's got a ridiculous octane rating as well.

Sadly it's made out of petrochemicals.

Yes unfortunately they used coal as the base material but produced something very refined.

[lostmotel]

Unlikely to make much of a difference for land based transport as hydrogen fuel cells and battery electric are feasible. But for aviation, the gravimetric density of Jet-A is incredibly hard to beat so a carbon-neutral synthetic alternative is attractive.

Here's what the boss says... https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/rolls-royce-c...

There's various "building blocks" that can be used for the overall system, other companies are proposing renewables for the power source for example.

Here's a good primer https://royalsociety.org/-/media/policy/projects/s...

[A1VDY]

lostmotel said:

Unlikely to make much of a difference for land based transport as hydrogen fuel cells and battery electric are feasible. But for aviation, the gravimetric density of Jet-A is incredibly hard to beat so a carbon-neutral synthetic alternative is attractive.

Here's what the boss says... https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/rolls-royce-c...

There's various "building blocks" that can be used for the overall system, other companies are proposing renewables for the power source for example.

Here's a good primer? https://royalsociety.org/-/media/policy/projects/s...

Some very interesting stuff there

[motco]

Wasn't National Benzole a synthetic too - here in UK.

[Glasgowrob]

4 times the pricey eh?

Just as well 76% of the cost of a litre of fuel is duty and vat.

Government wants a nice clean fuel drop the tax and vat and let people use the new clean stuff

[A1VDY]

Skyedriver said:

Aspen alkylate ?

I have used Aspen 4 in a 4 stroke strimmer, it is supposed to reduce hydrocarbons by 99% as well as not gum up the machinery like modern pump petrol.
Downside it was 4 times the price.

I'm pretty sure it reduces hydrocarbon use by around 50% (stand to be corrected).
At £7 per litre they're not going to sell much though.
How did the strimmer run compared to reg unleaded?

[Mort7]

I use Aspen red (2-stroke) in my Stihl Kombi. Runs well, burns clean (for a 2-stroke) and doesn't gum up over Winter when left fully-fuelled.

No experience of the blue (4-stroke) as I tend to use Briggs & Stratton Fuel Fit with 95 RON as it's much cheaper.

[stogbandard]

This makes promising reading.

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/06/20200610-...