Synthetic Diesel Production as a Form of Renewable Energy Storage

Mahrokh Samavati, Andrew Martin, Massimo Santarelli and Vera Nemanova
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Mahrokh Samavati: Department of Energy, Polytechnic University of Turin (POLITO), Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy
Andrew Martin: Department of Energy Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Brinellvägen 68, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
Massimo Santarelli: Department of Energy, Polytechnic University of Turin (POLITO), Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy
Vera Nemanova: Department of Energy Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Brinellvägen 68, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 5, 1-21

Abstract: Production of synthetic hydrocarbon fuels as a means for renewable energy storage has gained attention recently. Integration of solid oxide co-electrolysis of steam and carbon dioxide with the Fischer-Tropsch process to transform renewable electricity into Fischer-Tropsch diesel is one of the promising suggested pathways. However, considering the intermittency of produced renewable electricity such integration will have a low capacity factor. Besides, locating a reliable source of carbon dioxide near the installed integrated system may prove to be difficult. A novel integration for production of Fischer-Tropsch diesel from various renewable sources is suggested in this study. The proposed integrated system includes solid oxide electrolysis, entrained gasification, Fischer-Tropsch process and an upgrading system. Gasification is assumed to have a continuous operation which increases capacity factor of the integrated system. Carbon dioxide supplied via gasification of biomass provides a reliable source for on-site co-electrolysis. Technical capabilities of the proposed integrated system examined by investigating performance in relation with electricity, and diesel demand of four different European cities. Results show that the proposed system is capable of supplying Fischer-Tropsch diesel of between 0.9–32% of the annual diesel demand for road transportation respective to the location of installation, with a high emission savings (around 100%). Cost of produced diesel is not competitive with conventional diesel for all cases, even when all the other by-products were assumed to be sold to the market.

Keywords: solid oxide electrolyser; entrained gasification; Fischer-Tropsch; synthetic fuel production; renewables; emission; economic analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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