E-fuels
Renewable fuels to reduce carbon emissions
E-fuels are non-fossil, renewable fuels produced by means of an artificial chemical synthesis process using renewable sources.
The process converts a gas made of electrolytic hydrogen (H2) and a carbon containing molecule, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) coming from biogenic waste material.
Methanation process produces e-methane, a renewable gas virtually identical to the natural gas we know. This has many advantages, including the possibility of storing electricity in the form of renewable methane in gas infrastructures, capturing carbon dioxide for later use, and replacing a fossil source as it can be directly used in heating or vehicles as a drop-in replacement fuel.
Pietro Fiorentini’s technological solution relies on a biological methanation process to generate renewable methane.
The biology for this process is developed by MicroPyros BioEnerTec GmbH™, part of Pietro Fiorentini Group.
MicroPyros’ biological heritage also covers the area of carbon monoxide (CO) methanation.
Expertise areas
Biomethane
Unlike other renewables, biomethane requires limited investment in terms of infrastructure. Moreover, regarding emissions, it is considered to be neutral as it is produced via the digestion of biomass from by-products, industrial processing waste and organic material.
Specific incentives promoted at the European level are making its use economically sustainable, and as a result production and use of this source are being strongly encouraged.
Cathodic protection
When iron and steel come into contact with an electrolyte, such as soil, a phenomenon called electrolytic corrosion occurs in any infrastructure made of metal.
Electrolytic corrosion cannot be completely eliminated, but specific measures can be taken in the design and construction phases to significantly reduce its effects.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen combustion does not release carbon dioxide, but rather steam, and it is easier to transport and store than electricity. This makes hydrogen the ideal ally for renewable energy production.
Today, hydrogen can only be injected into the pipeline network and blended with natural gas up to certain percentages: we are commited to creating systems and devices that can overcome this limit.
Power-to-gas
Managing ‘green electrons’ over time and space is important to obtain as much energy as possible when renewable sources such as the sun and the wind are available.
Power-to-gas, a technology that transforms surplus electricity into gas molecules that can be transported over long distances at low cost and can offer the possibility to seasonally store renewable energy, is the answer.
Water
Water is a primary resource, a basic necessity for life, and as such requires proper management from all points of view: institutional, environmental and economic.
The sector’s current objective is to automate the process through the digitalisation of water networks, thereby optimising resources and data management to optimise management and minimise the loss of unaccounted-for water, whether through leaks or fraud.
Gas smart grids
Smart Grids, which integrate different types of energy and make autonomous decisions to optimise energy distribution, are an ambitious project that will, in the very near future, manage energy through networks capable of instantaneously regulating multiple, discontinuous and bidirectional flows.
