Aramco, a Global integrated energy and chemicals company, Aramco and NEOM’s energy and water company, ENOWA have announced the signing of a joint development agreement to construct and establish a first-of-its-kind synthetic electro fuel (e-fuel) demonstration plant.
It will be located in ENOWA’s hydrogen innovation and development center (HIDC) and aims to demonstrate technical feasibility and commercial viability by producing 35 barrels per day of low-carbon, synthetic gasoline from renewable-based hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide (CO2).
The e-fuel technology has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by over 70% on a complete life cycle basis, compared to conventional fuels.
Once complete, the integrated facility will generate 12 tons (10.8 tonnes) of synthetic methanol per day from green hydrogen and CO2, using proprietary technologies developed by ThyssenKrupp Uhde. The synthetic methanol will then be converted into low-carbon gasoline using ExxonMobil’s Fluidized-Bed Methanol-to-Gasoline (MtG) technology.
Through a joint development agreement, NEOM will oversee the construction of the plant, while Aramco and ENOWA will jointly oversee operations and investment in relevant research programs.
Ahmad O. Al Khowaiter, Aramco executive VP of technology and innovation, says: ‘Synthetic fuels can play an important role to accelerate the decarbonisation of the global vehicle fleet. We are excited to be working alongside our partners to demonstrate a potential path towards realizing this vision.’
Peter Terium, ENOWA CEO says: ‘ENOWA is looking forward to collaborating with Aramco in the development of a state-of-the-art facility for e-fuels in NEOM, which will drive innovation and promote the economic implementation of future clean energy supplies.’
The integrated e-fuel facility will demonstrate technical feasibility and commercial viability of a synthetic gasoline value-chain and is a flagship project that falls within Aramco’s wider research, development and demonstration efforts with low-carbon, synthetic fuels.
