What are electrofuels?
For Sweden to achieve the necessary climate transition, solutions are also needed for sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as heavy industry, aviation, and shipping. This is where electrofuels play an important role.
Electrofuels (also known as e-fuels) are synthetic fuels produced by combining fossil-free hydrogen with carbon dioxide. The result is a fuel that is chemically similar to today's fossil alternatives, but which is completely climate neutral when produced sustainably. This makes electrofuels particularly interesting in sectors where batteries are not a realistic alternative.
If we are to succeed in the climate transition, we need to use fossil-free resources wisely. This is where electrofuels come into the picture. By taking carbon dioxide molecules from biomass that has already been consumed and then producing a new fuel, we are turning the vision of a circular economy into a practical reality.
We need to reduce our use of fossil fuels. At the same time, we will still need to travel and transport goods in the future. This means we must develop truly sustainable alternatives. Direct electrification will take us a long way toward our goal, but to get there, we also need to use indirect electrification, and that's where electrofuels come in.
Sweden's potential to become a leader in electrofuels
Sweden has unique conditions for producing sustainable electrofuels. With a fundamentally fossil-free electricity system and good access to biogenic carbon dioxide from, for example, the forestry industry, it has the technology, the raw materials, and the will.
How the technology for producing electrofuel works
The production of electrofuel takes place in three stages:
- Electrolysis of water – electricity is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen
- Capture of carbon dioxide – preferably biogenic CO₂ from, for example, the combustion of biofuels
- Synthesis – hydrogen and carbon dioxide are combined to form a new fuel, such as e-methanol or e-diesel
The fuel can then be used directly in today's engines, ships, and aircraft, without the need for new infrastructure.
Uniper's initiatives
Uniper is a partner in Liquid Wind, which develops electrofuel plants for large-scale production of e-methanol. The fuel is produced using wind power and biogenic carbon dioxide, and can replace bunker oil in international shipping.
We are also developing NorthStarH2 in Östersund – a project that aims to produce electrofuel based on Swedish fossil-free electricity and carbon dioxide from renewable sources.
In Luleå, Uniper is working with local industrial players to establish a regional hydrogen hub, which we have chosen to call BothniaLinkH2.
