Finnish researchers use CO₂ to produce e-fuel for diesel engines

This novel electrofuel, produced from green hydrogen and carbon dioxide, is aimed at vehicles that have traditionally proved difficult to electrify. Compared to alcohol fuel additives (that can be found on Amazon) which merely reduce tailpipe emissions, an e-fuel alternative to diesel can potentially eliminate greenhouse gases from heavy engines.

We have seen hydrogen-based fuels before, but those systems have typically been experimental. To develop this paraffinic e-fuel, the VTT Technical Research Center utilized carbon-capture techniques, high-temperature electrolysis and hydrocarbon synthesis. In a media statement by VTT professor Juha Lehtohen, the fuel has the potential to replace fossil diesel in shipping and heavy machinery. 

The VTT's E-fuel project has already produced hundreds of kilograms of electrofuel. The synthesized hydrocarbons were sent to oil refining company Neste for further processing into a viable diesel alternative.

The refined product is what was tested at the Linnavuori plant on a diesel-powered tractor earlier this month. The test drive measured the constituents of the exhaust fumes as well as the fuel consumption of the diesel engine. According to AGCO Power's director of engineering, the e-diesel from VTT is expected to meet the quality requirements of paraffinic diesel prescribed by the British EN 15940 standard. 

For the VTT Technical Research Center, the next step is field testing of the electrofuel in real-world conditions. If successful, this would mark a new dawn for sustainable fuels in heavy engines.