Cork, Ireland-based floating wind developer Simply Blue Group is investigating the role floating wind projects might play powering large-scale e-fuel production facilities onshore
An e-fuel or ‘electrofuel’ is a synthetic fuel, made using renewable electricity, water and air. For example, carbon dioxide from the air can be captured and combined with green hydrogen gas made from water using renewable electricity. Because they are produced in this way, e-fuels are carbon-neutral fuels and can be used to power ships and aircraft.
E-fuels like e-kerosene, e-methanol, green hydrogen and green ammonia are all fuels produced from renewable or decarbonised electricity, water, and air. These raw materials differentiate them from biofuels produced from biomass.
Speaking about Simply Blue Group’s focus on the integration of e-fuels production with floating offshore wind, director of hydrogen and sustainable fuels Michael Galvin said, “A focus on e-fuel development is a natural progression for Simply Blue Group as we harness the abundant energy from our offshore projects.
“The concept of integrating large-scale floating offshore wind with large onshore e-fuel production facilities offers many advantages.
“These e-fuel production plants will be very flexible, meaning they can respond rapidly to available wind energy and increase or decrease e-fuel production to suit the weather conditions.
“For example, e-jet fuel production for the aviation sector can be varied to stabilise the electricity grid due to changing wind conditions or due to changes in electrical demand on the grid.”
Mr Galvin noted that, in a number of countries, most notably in Europe, targets are set for renewable fuels use with some specific sub mandates for electrofuels due to take effect shortly.
“The electrification of many parts of our energy system won’t be possible, and for these instances we can electrify the fuel, and produce carbon neutral e-fuels,” said Mr Galvin.
“Integration of e-fuel production with our energy system will provide a huge demand-side response, which can ensure we have electricity on our grid when we need it while also decarbonising our transport sector.”
