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An Overview of Promising Alternative Fuels for Road, Rail, Air, and Inland Waterway Transport in Germany

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  • Janos Lucian Breuer

    (Institute of Energy and Climate Research—Electrochemical Process Engineering (IEK-14), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52428 Jülich, Germany
    Chair for Fuel Cells, RWTH Aachen University, 52072 Aachen, Germany)

  • Juri Scholten

    (Gas- und Wärme-Institut Essen e.V., 45356 Essen, Germany)

  • Jan Christian Koj

    (Institute of Energy and Climate Research—Systems Analysis and Technology Evaluation (IEK-STE), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52428 Jülich, Germany)

  • Felix Schorn

    (Institute of Energy and Climate Research—Electrochemical Process Engineering (IEK-14), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52428 Jülich, Germany
    Chair for Fuel Cells, RWTH Aachen University, 52072 Aachen, Germany)

  • Marc Fiebrandt

    (Gas- und Wärme-Institut Essen e.V., 45356 Essen, Germany)

  • Remzi Can Samsun

    (Institute of Energy and Climate Research—Electrochemical Process Engineering (IEK-14), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52428 Jülich, Germany)

  • Rolf Albus

    (Gas- und Wärme-Institut Essen e.V., 45356 Essen, Germany)

  • Klaus Görner

    (Gas- und Wärme-Institut Essen e.V., 45356 Essen, Germany)

  • Detlef Stolten

    (Chair for Fuel Cells, RWTH Aachen University, 52072 Aachen, Germany
    Institute of Energy and Climate Research—Techno-Economic System Analysis (IEK-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52428 Jülich, Germany)

  • Ralf Peters

    (Institute of Energy and Climate Research—Electrochemical Process Engineering (IEK-14), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52428 Jülich, Germany)

Abstract

To solve the challenge of decarbonizing the transport sector, a broad variety of alternative fuels based on different concepts, including Power-to-Gas and Power-to-Liquid, and propulsion systems, have been developed. The current research landscape is investigating either a selection of fuel options or a selection of criteria, a comprehensive overview is missing so far. This study aims to close this gap by providing a holistic analysis of existing fuel and drivetrain options, spanning production to utilization. For this purpose, a case study for Germany is performed considering different vehicle classes in road, rail, inland waterway, and air transport. The evaluated criteria on the production side include technical maturity, costs, as well as environmental impacts, whereas, on the utilization side, possible blending with existing fossil fuels and the satisfaction of the required mission ranges are evaluated. Overall, the fuels and propulsion systems, Methanol-to-Gasoline, Fischer–Tropsch diesel and kerosene, hydrogen, battery-electric propulsion, HVO, DME, and natural gas are identified as promising future options. All of these promising fuels could reach near-zero greenhouse gas emissions bounded to some mandatory preconditions. However, the current research landscape is characterized by high insecurity with regard to fuel costs, depending on the predicted range and length of value chains.

Suggested Citation

  • Janos Lucian Breuer & Juri Scholten & Jan Christian Koj & Felix Schorn & Marc Fiebrandt & Remzi Can Samsun & Rolf Albus & Klaus Görner & Detlef Stolten & Ralf Peters, 2022. "An Overview of Promising Alternative Fuels for Road, Rail, Air, and Inland Waterway Transport in Germany," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-65, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:4:p:1443-:d:750851
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Charilaos Christodoulou Raftis & Thierry Vanelslander & Edwin van Hassel, 2023. "A Global Analysis of Emissions, Decarbonization, and Alternative Fuels in Inland Navigation—A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-20, September.
    7. Sofia Dahlgren & Jonas Ammenberg, 2022. "Environmental Considerations Regarding Freight Transport among Buyers of Transport Services in Sweden," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-19, September.
    8. Santanu Kumar Dash & Suprava Chakraborty & Michele Roccotelli & Umesh Kumar Sahu, 2022. "Hydrogen Fuel for Future Mobility: Challenges and Future Aspects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-22, July.
    9. Valery Vodovozov & Zoja Raud & Eduard Petlenkov, 2022. "Review of Energy Challenges and Horizons of Hydrogen City Buses," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-27, September.
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