Fuelling A Clean Future: A Systematic Review of Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Assessments in E-Fuel Development
Md. Alhaz Uddin, Feng Wang
Abstract
The transition towards sustainable energy sources has ushered in the era of electrofuels or synthetic fuels (e-fuels), which are produced/synthesised with electricity from renewable sources, water, and CO2, and are a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. This paper presents a systematic review of the techno-economic (TEA) and life cycle assessments (LCA) pertaining to e-fuel production. We critically evaluate the advancements in production technologies, economic feasibility, environmental implications, and potential societal impacts. Our findings indicate that while e-fuels offer a promising solution to reduce carbon emissions, their economic viability remains contingent on the optimization of production processes and the cost of input materials. The LCA underlines the importance of sourcing renewable energy for hydrogen production to ensure genuine sustainability of e-fuels. The review further identifies knowledge gaps, recommending areas for future research and policy intervention for e-fuels. As the world steers towards a greener future, understanding the holistic implications of e-fuels becomes paramount, and this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview to guide stakeholders in their decision-making processes.