Alternative Fuels

Zero-Emission TechnologyAlternative FuelsRow 1
Written By Vincent Doedee

This page is all about alternative fuels, biofuels, synthetic fuels and power-to-X. Do you have questions or would you like to contribute ideas? Scroll down to join the discussion @Mr. Communability, the community for a sustainable offshore industry.

 

Key Lessons

Key Insights
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions

Which alternative fuels are available? Why are they more sustainable? Where can I buy this stuff? Is there even enough biomass available? This, and more!

 

Our finest selection of blogs, movies and podcasts

Stories
How can the world kick its oil habit?
How can the world kick its oil habit?

The world runs on oil, whether we like it or not. How then, do we transition from fossil-based oil towards a sustainable future? This blog reveals why we are addicted, and provides the two forms of methadone needed to transform the transportation, buildings and industry sector.

What is carbon insetting?
What is carbon insetting?

Reducing carbon emissions in the shipping sector can be hard and expensive. Carbon insetting is a way to compensate for emissions that you are unable to mitigate within your normal operations - or are too costly to mitigate - but can be mitigated at other places in your fleet or the sector. Carbon insetting is simple, scalable and perhaps most importantly: almost all vessels can do it without the need for retrofitting or upfront investment costs.

How to build a green hydrogen refinery for the maritime industry in Rotterdam
How to build a green hydrogen refinery for the maritime industry in Rotterdam

Over 20% of all Dutch emissions are coming from the Port of Rotterdam, of which the production of grey hydrogen from fossil feedstock is one of the main culprits. This article explores what is needed to build a green hydrogen refinery. It provides an overview of the existing fossil infrastructure and fuel consumption, which technologies are required to transform, how much it would cost and who are actually working on it.

It is oil over. Or is it?
It is oil over. Or is it?

An interview with Daniel Yergin, author of 'the Prize'. In this interview he claims that ‘the oil age will not be over for a long time’. Three weeks after this interview, Shell and BP announced they have reached peak oil.

Investors pivot from Fossil to Green
Investors pivot from Fossil to Green

2021 will be the first year in which investments in European offshore wind will equal investments in oil and gas. Investors in the energy sector are increasingly opting for companies with a green profile. The pressure on fossil companies to limit their CO₂ emissions is now called an 'investment risk'. Moreover, the non-fossil energy companies such as Ørsted have structurally outperformed traditional companies such as Exxon-Mobil.

Heliogen - Replacing Fuel with Sunlight
Heliogen - Replacing Fuel with Sunlight

Heliogen, backed by Bill Gates, makes fuel out of thin air and sunlight. It simply costs a lot of energy.

The Future(s) of Fossil Fuels - 2020
The Future(s) of Fossil Fuels - 2020

2020 is already the worst year for the oil industry ever. Even major oil and gas CEOs agree there might be no recovery after this crisis, certainly not to the ‘good-old-days’. The transition is among us. Grossly speaking, there are two transition pathways for the industry to follow: a gradual or a rapid transition. A sudden collapse of the industry - called a carbon crunch - could lead to economic disaster of epic proportions.

Making the Impossible Possible
Making the Impossible Possible

This blog sketches a vision on how to convert the largest crane vessel in the world - Sleipnir - owned by Heerema Marine Contractors, to a zero-emission vessel. Several promising carbon reduction measures are combined which are technically viable and based on matured technology, although scaling of existing technologies and cooperation with key partners is required. Key technologies include electrification, on-board batteries, solar panels, synthetic fuels, carbon capture and storage and possibly hydrogen.

Power in the 21st century
Power in the 21st century

Oil fueled the 20th century—its cars, its wars, its economy and its geopolitics. Now the world is in the midst of an energy shock that is speeding up the shift to a new order. The main risks of this transition that have the potential to destabilize geopolitics, are petro-states dependent on oil lashing out as they lose income and influence.

Is There Enough Biomass to Fuel the World? Part III
Is There Enough Biomass to Fuel the World? Part III

Up to 20% of our energy needs could be met by sustainably harvested biomass, in particular food and agricultural waste, as well as manure. Biomass could serve a crucial role in the energy transition by replacing gas and petroleum in (chemical) industry, aviation and maritime shipping.

Is There Enough Biomass to Fuel the World? Part II
Is There Enough Biomass to Fuel the World? Part II

How much energy do we need and what do we use it for? In this part, it is determined that the world needs 435 TWh per day, of which 87% comes from fossil fuels. This energy is needed in 3 sectors for 3 different purposes (3x3 energy rule). The sectors are transportation, industry and buildings. The purposes are heating, transport and electricity. Depending on the region, most of our energy is required in the transportation sector and for heating purposes.

Is There Enough Biomass to Fuel the World? Part I
Is There Enough Biomass to Fuel the World? Part I

How much biomass is produced each year and how much can we sustainably harvest? In the first part of this series, we find that the annual global production of land-based biomass is 50 billion tons, of which roughly 8 billion tons of biomass can be sustainably harvested each year. This is determined by dividing biomass into four distinct groups suitable for energy production: wood, agriculture, food waste and manure. For each group, the amount of annual ‘production’ and the amount suitable for sustainable ‘harvest’ is determined, adhering to the ‘food, feed, fiber first’ principle.

Creative Destruction: the COVID-19 Economic Crisis is Accelerating the Demise of the Fossils
Creative Destruction: the COVID-19 Economic Crisis is Accelerating the Demise of the Fossils

A new “wave” of economic disruption and societal change is upon us, driven by renewable energy technologies. Covid-19 acts as an catalyst for this transformation.

The Sky Is The Limit For Clean Energy Subsidies In Europe
The Sky Is The Limit For Clean Energy Subsidies In Europe

Europe and China double-down on renewables, investing hundreds of billions into electric vehicles, solar, wind and hydrogen. Not despite the corona crisis, but fueled by it.

Roaring Twenty-Twenties: Accelerating Energy Transition
Roaring Twenty-Twenties: Accelerating Energy Transition

It is summer 2020. We have ‘survived’ the first wave of Corona. The future is uncertain. There is much talk about impending economic doom. As the eternal optimist however, I present a different view. One that can propel us to a sustainable all-time economic high. If we play our cards right, I believe we could create another “roaring twenties” in the coming decade.

The Future(s) of Fossil Fuels - 2018
The Future(s) of Fossil Fuels - 2018

This article takes a deep-dive into the technical, economic and social trends that are transforming the energy market. In particular, how do human population growth and the rise of renewables play into the fossil fuel market, and what can we expect from exotic new technologies that have just entered the scene?

How to make chemicals and fuel from plants
How to make chemicals and fuel from plants

Easier than you might think. Seaport Groningen wants to create ‘Chemport Europe’, providing chemicals and fuels to the entire industry in the North of the Netherlands based on agricultural waste.

Technological Disruption for Oil and Gas
Technological Disruption for Oil and Gas

Captain Hindsight is at it again; the rate of change and the technological disruptions that the Fossils faced was already undeniable in 2016. It has only gotten worse for the Fossils.

Underestimation of Fossil Decline
Underestimation of Fossil Decline

Even with examples abound from history, we underestimate the rate of change that can happen. The decline of the Fossils has a striking resemblance with the decline of the whaling industry.

 

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Vincent Doedee
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