Diversifying Feedstocks for Renewable Fuels: Exploring New Paths to Lower Carbon Future
Key Ideas
- Chevron Technology Center, led by Michelle Young, explores innovative approaches for renewable fuel production through carbon utilization and catalyst development.
- Novel catalysts are being studied to convert captured CO2 into sustainable aviation fuel, methanol, and lower carbon intensity fuels like RNG.
- Advancements in utilizing CO2, hydrogen, and solar energy show promise in producing lower carbon methane for use as CNG and transportation fuel.
- Biological methods like algae and microbes offer potential for capturing CO2 and converting it into oils and sugars that can be upgraded to transportation fuels.
The article discusses how advancements in renewable fuel production are widening the possibilities beyond traditional feedstocks like soybean oil and used cooking oil. Michelle Young's team at the Chevron Technology Center is focusing on innovative methods such as carbon utilization to create lower carbon intensity fuels. Catalyst development plays a crucial role in converting CO2 into sustainable aviation fuel and other renewable options. By combining CO2 with hydrogen and solar energy, new processes aim to produce methane and RNG for transportation. The U.S. Department of Energy highlights the interchangeability of RNG with natural gas, making it a viable alternative for existing infrastructure. Additionally, biological sources like algae and microbes show potential for capturing CO2 and converting it into useful molecules for transportation fuels with the aid of catalysts.
Topics
Power
Renewables
Biofuels
Catalyst Development
Transportation Fuel
Feedstocks
Renewable Natural Gas
Carbon Utilization
Lower Carbon Intensity Fuels
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