Global Potentials and Costs of Synfuels via Fischer–Tropsch Process

Patrick Buchenberg (), Thushara Addanki, David Franzmann, Christoph Winkler, Felix Lippkau, Thomas Hamacher, Philipp Kuhn, Heidi Heinrichs and Markus Blesl
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Patrick Buchenberg: Chair of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems, Technical University of Munich, Arcisstraße 21, 80333 Munich, Germany
Thushara Addanki: Chair of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems, Technical University of Munich, Arcisstraße 21, 80333 Munich, Germany
David Franzmann: Institute of Techno-Economic Systems Analysis (IEK-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428 Jülich, Germany
Christoph Winkler: Institute of Techno-Economic Systems Analysis (IEK-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428 Jülich, Germany
Felix Lippkau: Institute of Energy Economics and Rational Energy Use (IER), University of Stuttgart, 70565 Stuttgart, Germany
Thomas Hamacher: Chair of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems, Technical University of Munich, Arcisstraße 21, 80333 Munich, Germany
Philipp Kuhn: Chair of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems, Technical University of Munich, Arcisstraße 21, 80333 Munich, Germany
Heidi Heinrichs: Institute of Techno-Economic Systems Analysis (IEK-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428 Jülich, Germany
Markus Blesl: Institute of Energy Economics and Rational Energy Use (IER), University of Stuttgart, 70565 Stuttgart, Germany

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 4, 1-18

Abstract: This paper presents the potentials and costs of synthetic fuels (synfuels) produced by renewable energy via PEM water electrolysis and the subsequent Fischer–Tropsch process for the years 2020, 2030, 2040, and 2050 in selected countries across the globe. The renewable energy potential was determined by the open-source tool pyGRETA and includes photovoltaic, onshore wind, and biomass. Carbon dioxide is obtained from biomass and the atmosphere by direct air capture. The potentials and costs were determined by aggregating minimal cost energy systems for each location on a state level. Each linear energy system was modelled and optimised by the optimisation framework urbs. The analysis focused on decentralised and off-grid synthetic fuels’ production. The transportation costs were roughly estimated based on the distance to the nearest maritime port for export. The distribution infrastructure was not considered since the already-existing infrastructure for fossil fuels can be easily adopted. The results showed that large amounts of synthetic fuels are available for EUR 110/MWh (USD 203/bbl) mainly in Africa, Central and South America, as well as Australia for 2050. This corresponds to a cost reduction of more than half compared to EUR 250/MWh (USD 461/bbl) in 2020. The synfuels’ potentials follow the photovoltaic potentials because of the corresponding low levelised cost of electricity. Batteries are in particular used for photovoltaic-dominant locations, and transportation costs are low compared to production costs.

Keywords: potentials; costs; synthetic; green; fuels; synfuels; global; Fischer–Tropsch (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: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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