E-Fuels: A Techno-Economic Assessment of European Domestic Production and Imports towards 2050

Authors

Dipl.-Ing. A. Soler, Concawe, Brussels; Dipl.-Ing. V. Gordillo, Dr. W. Lilley, Aramco Overseas Company BV, Rueil-Malmaison; Dipl.-Ing. P. Schmidt, Dipl.-Ing. W. Weindorf, Ludwig-Bölkow-Systemtechnik GmbH (LBST), Munich; Dr. T. Houghton, Dr. S. Dell‘Orco, E4tech Ltd, London:

Year

2023

Print Info

Production/Publication ÖVK

Summary

In the context of the European long-term strategy for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, electricity-derived fuels (e-fuels, power-to-x) are deemed to play an important role in the decarbonisation of the transport sector, mainly in hard-to-abate sectors such as maritime and aviation.

Concawe conducted a techno-economic study, in partnership with Aramco, and with support from LBST and E4tech consultants, to analyse different e-fuels pathways under various scenarios. The study compares domestic supply from different European countries such as Norway, Germany or Spain, with imports to Europe of e-fuels or intermediate products from other solar/wind-rich regions in the world such as Saudi Arabia, North Africa, Australia or Chile.

The results comprise life cycle analysis (GHG) of different potential pathways for e-fuels deployment in Europe, exploring the conditions for potential business cases and the impact due to the location of e-fuel facilities. Different sensitivities to key techno-economic parameters, the analysis of centralised versus decentralised production of e-fuels and a view on the requirements to meet the potential e-fuel demand in EU are also part of the scope.