Today is Friday, November 10, 2023.
Saudi Aramco and ENOWA have signed a joint development agreement to construct and establish a first-of-its-kind synthetic electro fuel (e-fuel) demonstration plant. According to the press release, 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).
Signture happened during "The New Compass: 7th Edition of the Future Investment Initiative", in Riyadh. Click here for the "Best of #FII7 in 10 Minutes", on YouTube.
And at the image below for the press release.
"The e-fuel technology, built on a circular carbon economy approach, has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by over 70 percent on a complete life cycle basis, compared to conventional fuels. Once complete, the integrated facility will generate 12 tons 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.".
Proprietary technologies ...
Sounds similar to what we reported last may, efuels project plant already operating in Punta Arenas, Chile, in a partnership of large German, Chilean, Chinese, Italian and American companies, among them the same ExxonMobil with its MtG process mentioned above. In that same article, it was also mentioned that "without modifications to engines and infrastructure" a Porsche 911 ran normally after being loaded with synthetic fuel.
Saudi Arabia and key companies are very active not only in the energy transition process but also carbon management as a whole.
You may recall this post from last September mentioning not only Saudi Arabia's expanding its carbon credit trading activities in Africa and Middle East, but also the construction of the the world’s largest USD 8.4 Billion green hydrogen plant.
Last year we also reported about Saudi Aramco's huge plans for carbon capture and storage.
Last but not least, the Arabic Peninsula is also facing surprising natural events, remember? "Weather of Arabia: the rain turning the desert green, causing floods and even impacting a rally".
It might be worth following the next rally's edition starting January 5, 2024. Not only to relax watching electric vehicles being tested at extreme conditions but, maybe, also to see more rain greening the desert?
