Neste and VTT researchers explore e-Fuels demonstrating high temperature electrolysis

In Finland, renewable hydrogen produced by green electricity and carbon capture and utilization (CCU) play an important role in combating climate change. Low-emission e-fuels produced using these technologies are particularly suitable for segments that are difficult to electrify, such as aviation and marine. The joint E-Fuel research project demonstrating high temperature electrolysis (SOEC), carbon capture, and hydrocarbon synthesis technologies has now come to its successful end. During the three-year project, the development of synthetic e-fuels towards commercial scale production was accelerated.

The E-fuel research project that has been funded by Business Finland and consortium partners and coordinated by VTT is part of the Neste Veturi ecosystem. The project consortium of 15 partners covered all parties in the value chain from CO2 capture to green hydrogen and fuel production, logistics, as well as users of the transportation fuels in aviation and road and marine transport.

The project successfully generated hundreds of kilograms of synthetic hydrocarbons intended for the production of novel sustainable transportation fuel. The hydrocarbons were refined by Neste mainly into carbon neutral synthetic e-diesel, which was tested on a diesel-powered tractor in late 2023. During the project, technologies of the consortium companies were developed further, and the produced diesel burned more cleanly than fossil and renewable diesels in the current market. E-fuels can be considered carbon-neutral, as they are produced using captured CO2 emissions and renewable hydrogen, effectively offsetting the carbon dioxide released during combustion in an engine.