Locked in on RFNBOs – Will EU mandates for drop-in synthetic aviation fuels lead to decreased energy- and cost-efficiency?
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Decarbonization of the transportation sector implies that fossil fuels must be substituted with sustainable alternatives. Current EU policies incentivize large-scale deployment of synthetic aviation fuel production that can be classified as Renewable Fuel of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO). Synthetic aviation fuel can be produced from methanol and this work presents a techno-economic assessment of three pathways (two combustion-based and one gasification-based) to produce synthetic methanol from biomass residues and renewable hydrogen. The results show that the gasification-based pathway can produce methanol at a lower cost (140 €/MWh methanol) and higher energy efficiency (46%) compared to combustion-based options (180-255 €/MWh methanol and ~37% efficiency). The gasifier route requires less renewable hydrogen, resulting in a 30% lower electricity demand. However, only 55% of the gasification-based methanol is compliant with the RFNBO definition, since the regulation stipulates that biofuel cannot be counted towards the drop-in quotas. Furthermore, the findings indicate that RFNBO policies that favor production using CO2 from combustion processes that supply energy to utility systems (e.g., district heating) risk leading to lock-in in inefficient systems, as electrification of heat supply could be a more efficient option. This work identifies such regulatory inconsistencies that increase risk related to investment decisions.
Source: Fuel
Authors: Johanna Beiron, Simon Harvey, Henrik Thunman
Institution: Chalmers University of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Catalysis
Field: Chemical Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,330
Award: G4375665845
OpenAlex ID: W4415377143