Is the future of sustainable fuels powered by nuclear energy?

Electro-fuels, in short e-fuels, are carbon-based molecules that present the same structure as their fossil counterparts but that are synthetised from electrolytic dihydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO₂). They present large life-cycle CO₂ emissions reductions compared to their fossil equivalent while being “drop-in” molecules. Additionally, e-fuels like e-kerosene and e-methanol, pave the way to the strengthening of European energy security and independency, provided low-carbon electricity and CO₂ can be sufficiently mobilised in Europe. One solution to cover the large amount of low-carbon energy required to synthetise e-fuels is to rely on nuclear energy, which provides baseload power that fits e-fuel synthesis reactors usual operating pattern. Additionally, cogenerated heat from nuclear reactor could be used to supply the heat requirement of the various conversion processes. As part of the SANE project, the interest of supplying e-kerosene and e-methanol production plants with nuclear energy is studied, both in terms of overall future demand and of industrial feasibility.

By 2030, demand in e-fuel is understood to be mainly driven by ReFuelEU Aviation regulation, creating demand for e-kerosene and so possibly for e-methanol. E-fuel demand by 2050 depends on the emergence of policy or economic incentives for e-methanol roll-out in the chemical industry, as well as on the safeguarding of current regulatory incentives in the air and marine transport sectors. Possible e-fuel production units’ sizes and locations have been estimated based on an innovative approach, considering typical production scales that industry is actually used to or is planning to achieve. It shows that e-fuel plants sized like those currently processing fossil fuels would present very large energy requirement, needing the equivalent of a dedicated nuclear power plant of several reactors. Without major improvement in overall synthesis yields, it appears likely that e-fuel plants will keep to modest sizing (as those estimated for the 2030’s). This paves the way for e-methanol playing a key role in tomorrow’s EU energy and industry system. As methanol is a versatile chemical, much easier to handle and transport than hydrogen, it is likely that medium-sized e-methanol plants emerge across industrial territories, further feeding the industry or the transport sector. E-kerosene production could take place in a centralised “methanol-to-kerosene” facility, producing a similar amount of jet fuel as do current refineries, while being supplied in e-methanol by several smaller e-methanol production plants. Additionally, such decentralised e-methanol production plants could be supplied in power by a large SMR. Based on demand levels estimated in this study, European demand for e-methanol would necessitate between 225 and 450 medium-sized e-methanol plant, each possibly supplied by a large SMR.

For more information, do not hesitate to reach out to:

Bastien Denisart

bastien.denisart@cea.fr

CEA France