Green Kerosine from 2024: Norsk e-Fuel presents its plans
Mosjøen, February 28, 2022
Norsk e-Fuel will build its first renewable fuel plant in Mosjøen, Norway – proving that e-Fuels can be produced economically. In this context, both of Sunfire’s electrolysis technologies play a central role.
To reduce its CO2 footprint, aviation relies on renewable synthetic fuels (e-Fuels). The Norsk e-Fuel industrial consortium – of which Sunfire is the largest shareholder – plans to commission the most innovative and efficient industrial e-Fuels production plant in 2024. In the first expansion stage, it will produce 12.5 million liters per year.
As of 2026, the plant’s production volume is expected to increase to 25 million liters of e-Fuel. At full capacity, the fuels produced reduce CO2 emissions from Norway’s five main domestic flight routes by 50 %.
“Because of the optimal conditions, we chose the Mosjøen site”, says Karl Hauptmeier, Managing Director of Norsk e-Fuel. “In the region, we can procure green power at favorable and stable prices. Our end customers will benefit from this.”
Norsk e-Fuel benefits from the advantages of various Sunfire technologies
The most efficient synthetic fuel production pathway is the power-to-liquid (PtL) process. In this process, electrolyzers first convert CO2, water and electricity from renewable energies into green synthesis gas. This is then processed into crude oil and later refined into e-Fuels in refineries.
In the PtL process, Norsk e-Fuel uses both alkaline and SOEC electrolyzers from Sunfire – because in the first industrial plant, both can leverage their strengths. On the one hand, pressurized alkaline electrolyzers, which have proven themselves for decades, reduce the technological risk. At the same time, the innovative SOEC electrolyzers score with a decisive advantage: They produce considerably more synthesis gas for the same power requirement.
SOEC electrolyzers process water vapor and CO2 into synthesis gas in a single step at operating temperatures of 850 °C. By utilizing waste heat, they achieve a significantly higher conversion efficiency than other manufacturing processes – and are thus considered the technology of the future.
Great significance for Sunfire
“From a strategic perspective, our involvement with Norsk e-Fuel is very significant for us”, says Nils Aldag, CEO of Sunfire. “We intend to demonstrate that the dream of carbon-neutral flying can come true – and prove that our electrolyzers are the best solution for synthetic fuel production plants.”
About Norsk e-Fuel
Norsk e-Fuel is the forerunner in synthetic fuels. In the industry consortium, technology pioneers Sunfire and Climeworks have joined forces with the Norwegian investment company Valinor and Paul Wurth (SMS Group) to industrialize the power-to-liquid production in Norway. As project developers, the companies jointly identify sites and subsequently plan, build and operate the production facilities. Norsk e-Fuel had already secured a suitable area in the Herøya industrial park (Norway) in 2020 with an option agreement.
More information at www.norsk-e-fuel.com