26 October 2023; MEMO: Saudi Aramco and Enowa, Neom’s energy and water subsidiary, have signed a joint development agreement to construct and establish a synthetic electro-fuel (e-fuel) demonstration plant, Middle East Business Intelligence reports.
According to the report, the plant will be in Enowa’s Hydrogen Innovation and Development Centre (HIDC).
The plant aims to demonstrate the technical feasibility and commercial viability of e-fuel by producing 35 barrels a day of low-carbon, synthetic gasoline from renewable-based hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide (CO2).
The e-fuel technology, which supports a circular carbon economy approach, has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by over 70 per cent on a complete life cycle basis, compared to conventional fuels, Aramco said in a statement.
The report said the integrated facility will generate 12 tonnes of synthetic methanol a day from green hydrogen and CO2, using proprietary technologies developed by Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Uhde.
According to Aramco, the innovation centre being created by Enowa will showcase the region’s potential to generate and use wind and solar power commercially.
Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter, Aramco executive Vice-President of Technology and Innovation, said: “Synthetic fuels can play an important role in accelerating the decarbonisation of the global vehicle fleet.”
Aramco’s Transport Technologies R&D, with a presence in Paris, Detroit and Shanghai and the headquarters in Dhahran, is advancing multiple technologies that aim to enable a more reliable, affordable and sustainable transport future, the Saudi energy firm said.
