AIR TO FUELSTM

We expect the transportation sector of 2050 will run on an energy mix unlike that of today. Operators are demanding increasing quantities of low-carbon energy sources and renewable fuels, and the sector is searching for next generation technologies to help reduce emissions and achieve climate targets. Carbon Engineering’s AIR TO FUELSTM process provides a highly scalable solution that can help address these growing needs.

About AIR TO FUELSTM

CE’s process delivers synthetic, low carbon intensity fuels – such as gasoline, diesel, and jet-A – out of air, water and renewable electricity.

CE’s AIR TO FUELSTM solution can produce synthetic fuels that are drop-in compatible with today’s infrastructure and engines and are almost completely carbon neutral. The process integrates four growing fields – renewable electricity generation, Direct Air Capture, green hydrogen production, and sustainable fuel synthesis – to deliver a highly scalable, clean fuel solution. It delivers drop-in ready fuels that have a low lifecycle carbon intensity and are cost-competitive with biofuels.

As a leader in large-scale Direct Air Capture technology, with an AIR TO FUELSTM pilot plant that first produced clean fuel in 2017, CE is uniquely positioned to deliver this solution. We are open to best-in-class suppliers and partners in renewable electricity generation, green hydrogen, fuel synthesis, and plant development, to partner with us on commercial projects.

How it Works
CE’s AIR TO FUELSTM solution has three major steps:
Step 1: Our Direct Air Capture process captures and concentrates CO2 from atmospheric air.
Step 2: Clean electricity (such as solar PV) is used to electrolyze water, splitting it into hydrogen and oxygen.
Step 3: The CO2 and hydrogen are reacted to produce hydrocarbons which can directly, or with refining, be converted into drop-in compatible gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
Carbon Engineering’s AIR TO FUELSTM approach integrates these steps and delivers efficiency improvements across the whole process.
How the AIR&nbspTO&nbspFUELS<sup>TM</sup> Solution Works
Features and Benefits of the AIR TO FUELSTM Solution

Low lifecycle carbon intensity

CE’s AIR TO FUELSTM process can deliver fuels that have a low life-cycle carbon intensity. Burning this fuel would re-release the CO2 that was captured to make it, but the process would add very little new carbon emissions to the air.

Drop-in compatible

These fuels are drop-in compatible with today’s refineries, infrastructure and engines so do not require the financial and environmental cost of completely replacing the world’s transportation network.

Highly scalable

Due to an unlimited feedstock – atmospheric CO2 – these fuels can be produced in global-scale quantities to meet growing demand for low carbon intensity fuels.

Cost competitive

The cost to produce these fuels at scale is cost competitive with biodiesels. While currently more expensive than the production cost of fossil fuels, when paired with regulatory incentives for low carbon intensity fuels, such as Low Carbon Fuel Standard regulations, the cost becomes competitive in leading jurisdictions today.

Cleaner burning

These fuels are cleaner burning than fossil fuels, with no sulfur and low particulates, meaning they not only reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions, but contribute far less to local air pollution too.

Less resource dependent

These fuels can be produced with 100 times less land and significantly less water than biofuels, and thus don’t suffer the fundamental limits to scaling associated with biofuels.

Location independent

AIR TO FUELSTM plants can be built in any country and in multiple climates, and can be economically located to take advantage of low cost local energy or proximity to demand center.

Blendable

These fuels can be blended with traditional fossil fuels to allow progressive emissions reductions by gradual fuel switching, with no blending limit.

Provides an early market for green hydrogen

Synthetic fuels provide an early, additional route for green hydrogen to decarbonize the energy system, which is important for sectors where direct use of hydrogen may require retro-fits or new infrastructure. By combining green hydrogen with atmospheric CO2 to produce fuels, the AIR TO FUELSTM process provides a pathway for hydrogen use in today’s infrastructure, and increases the ability of these sectors to quickly displace fossil fuels.

Storage of surplus renewable energy

The AIR TO FUELSTM process can use carbon-free renewable power (such as wind and solar) at the best sites, and can accommodate the intermittent nature of this power source to continuously produce high value fuels. These fuels are then a stable way of storing that low carbon energy so it can be easily transported using existing pipeline and distribution infrastructure.
Staff member holding CE's clean fuel made from CO<sub>2</sub> captured from the air and hydrogen split from water.

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