Commercial Demonstration Plant to Manufacture Synthetic Hydrocarbon Fuels from Renewable Power ("eFuels"): Phase-1A-Extended (Technology and Design - Catalyst Optimisation)

ZERO石油公司将开发技术和生产工厂，以水和二氧化碳（作为原料）和可再生电力（作为能源）合成碳氢化合物燃料。这些合成燃料被称为“电燃料”或“电燃料”。第一个工厂是一个1兆瓦的商业示范工厂，每天将大约3000公斤二氧化碳转化为1000公斤碳氢化合物，其重点将是替代化石来源的常规汽油和液化石油气产品（丁烷和丙烷）。在后期阶段，该技术可以并将多样化到其他碳氢化合物燃料（如柴油和喷气燃料）和其他基于石油的非燃料产品（塑料和化学品）。ZERO石油商业示范工厂将是英国第一个合成碳氢燃料工厂和商业供应，也是全球第一个汽油和液化石油气优先合成工厂和商业供应。作为该项目技术研究阶段的一部分，ZERO Petroleum将优化合成过程的催化剂技术（将二氧化碳和氢气转化为目标碳氢化合物），以最大限度地提高产量。虽然基础技术（称为“Fischer Tropsch”）已经建立并在商业上得到了验证，但优先生产汽油和液化石油气的技术是独一无二的，具有高度创新性。这一研究阶段的产出将使最终的商业示范工厂获得最佳效率和随之而来的盈利能力。如果使用可再生电力（例如风能或太阳能光伏发电）合成，eFuels本质上是碳中性的，与循环经济兼容。虽然eFuel本身在燃烧时会排放二氧化碳，但合成过程是从现有的二氧化碳排放者（如发酵或水泥制造过程）中吸收相同数量的二氧化碳，或者最终通过一种正在开发的称为直接空气捕获的过程从大气中吸收相同数量的二氧化碳。因此，eFuel的消费者（汽车、供暖等）以碳中和和完全可持续的方式运作：材料既不是从地下挖出来（化石燃料），也不是埋在地下以补偿（碳封存）。eFuels实际上是一种可再生燃料，可以在没有其他选择的情况下直接无缝地取代化石燃料。因此，与零石油计划相关的创新技术和工艺工程将与可再生电力和氢一起，在全球能源脱碳中发挥核心和至关重要的作用。虽然新冠肺炎疫情暂时降低了二氧化碳排放量，并给人一种“好消息”的感觉，但实际情况恰恰相反。COVID-19将全球变暖1.5/2.0°C的碳预算最多延长了1-2个月；与此同时，新冠肺炎疫情的封锁进一步推迟了脱碳能源系统的开发和建设。因此，全球变暖危机更加严重。因此，Innovate UK在临时框架内为ZERO Petroleum的eFuel技术计划提供资金，是英国应对COVID-19和气候紧急情况的重要组成部分。

ZERO Petroleum will develop technology and production plant to synthesise hydrocarbon fuels using water and carbon-dioxide (as the raw ingredients) and renewable electricity (for the energy). These synthetic fuels are called "electrofuels" or "eFuels".The focus for the first plant - a 1MW Commercial Demonstration Plant, converting approximately 3000kg of carbon-dioxide to 1000kg of hydrocarbons per day - will be on drop-in replacements for fossil-sourced regular gasoline and LPG products (butane and propane). In later phases the technology can and will be diversified to other hydrocarbon fuels (such as diesel and jet fuel) and other petroleum-based non-fuel products (plastics and chemicals).The ZERO Petroleum Commercial Demonstration Plant will be * the first synthetic hydrocarbon fuel plant and commercial supply in the UK, and* the first gasoline- and LPG-priority synthesis plant and commercial supply globally.As part of the technology research phase of the project, supported by Innovate UK funding, ZERO Petroleum will optimise the catalyst technology for the synthesis process (converting carbon-dioxide and hydrogen to the target hydrocarbons) so as to maximise yield. Although the base technology (called "Fischer Tropsch") is well-established and proven commercially, the technology to prioritise gasoline and LPG production is unique and highly innovative. The output from this research stage will enable the best possible efficiency and consequent profitability of the final Commercial Demonstration Plant.If synthesised using renewable electricity (for example, from wind or solar PV), eFuels are inherently carbon-neutral and compatible with a circular economy. Although the eFuel itself emits carbon-dioxide upon combustion the synthesis process is drawing the same quantity of carbon-dioxide from existing carbon-dioxide emitters (such as a fermentation or cement manufacturing process) or, eventually, from the atmosphere by a process in development called Direct Air Capture. The consumer of the eFuel (vehicle, heating, etc.) is hence operating in a carbon-neutral and fully sustainable manner: material is neither dug out of the ground (fossil fuels) nor buried in the ground to compensate (carbon sequestration).eFuels are in effect renewable fuels which directly and seamlessly displace fossil fuels where no other options are possible or preferred. The innovative technology and process engineering associated with the ZERO Petroleum programme will therefore play a central and vital role, alongside renewable electricity and hydrogen, in the decarbonisation of global energy. Whilst the COVID-19 epidemic has temporarily reduced the rate of carbon-dioxide emissions and given a perception of "good news", the reverse is actually the case. COVID-19 has extended the carbon budget for 1.5/2.0°C of global warming by 1-2 months at best; meanwhile the COVID-19 lockdown has much further delayed the development and construction of decarbonised energy systems. The global warming crisis is consequently more acute. Innovate UK's funding of ZERO Petroleum's eFuel technology programme within the Temporary Framework is therefore an important component of the UK's response to COVID-19 as well as the Climate Emergency.