This could be the beginning of a new revolution for biogas technology and the fuel industry.
GAS WORLD, 01/04/2024
Set to produce up to two million litres of sustainable fuel, the biofuel plant is the "first of its kind".
Sustainable fuel produced (using cutting edge patented technology developed by T2C Energy (T2C) with the support of NASA and the US Department of Energy in the US) is expected to replace petrol aviation fuel and diesel and cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 97%.
The plant is estimated to have cost $11.4m to get done and will convert biogas from a landfill site in Craigmore, near Randalstown, into biofuel.
Renovare Fuels, are excited to be starting operations in Northern Ireland, said Matthew Stone, Chairman of Renovare Fuels. "This crucial investment will ensure we play a leading role in creating a sustainable future for the transport sector.”
T2C uses its patented TRIFTS process which uses chemical reactions to transform rough biogas – containing methane and carbon dioxide (CO2) – into a high-grade synthesis gas. This gas is then selectively transformed into hydrocarbon chains to produce clean fuel.
The biofuel will act as a ‘drop-in’ replacement for diesel and aviation fuel, with no requirement for engine modifications.
Biofuels can play a major role in decarbonizing transport by providing a low-carbon solution for existing technologies.
Demand for the fuel in 2022 reached a record high of 4.3 exa
oules (EJ) – or 170 billion litres – surpassing levels seen in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Nonetheless, the IEA highlights the ‘significant increase’ in production needed to get on track with the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 (NZE) Scenario and deliver the associated emission reductions.
To reach over 10 EJ by 2030 as outlined in the NZE Scenario, biofuel production needs to scale up to an average growth of around 11% per year.
The IEA adds that advanced feedstock usage must also expand, with biofuels produced from waste and residues and nonfood energy crops meeting over 40% of total biofuel demand by 2030.
Further investment will play a key role in scaling up biofuel production. Renovare has said it expects the fuel will qualify for extra support under the Department for Transport’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation.
For more information:
Comments