How much greener are these synthetic fuels?

CS: “Since these are synthetic fuels, it is not a matter of this conglomerate of different chemicals, as we see when we refine fossil gasoline or fossil oil into gasoline or diesel. So when we burn these e-fuels, they burn much cleaner than traditional fossil fuels. So there is a certain advantage, especially in relation to particles or other things. “

SS: “There is a whole audit trail, a kind of proof of sustainability. It’s like a little mini life cycle analysis for the fuels themselves, where you can check the entire production path. “

PL: “One of the interesting things about fossil crude oil is that when you get a barrel of oil you are drilling. You have to use everything; We can’t throw in the river what you don’t want. So what you find is that the existing standards for fuels put the entire barrel into one or more of these buckets. And that’s why we have ships that burn the most appalling filthy fuels: because there’s a lot left of that.

“The fascinating thing about synthetic fuels is that chemistry there has a whole new future because we can produce completely new fuels. The cost of making a bad molecule is the same as it is to make a good molecule, so we’ll be making some incredibly good fuels in the future. A whole new life in combustion, with a high octane number, clean combustion and without sulfur. “

What about the cost of synthetic fuels?

CS: “We have to be very clear. Gasoline diesel was produced in large quantities using industrial processes that made businesses profitable and gave us the fuel we need. Now we are making a complete technology change. We’re starting a new industry here with new technologies, but never before has it been on such a large scale. And that means it needs investments. And that also means that the cost may be higher in the beginning, and it will be higher than the current cost of raw gasoline. But with economies of scale and progress in the process, these costs will decrease. ”