How Can a Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Based on Renewable Fuels Contribute to Global Carbon Neutrality?

Abstract

With the COP28 decisions the world is thriving for a future net-zero-CO2 society and the and current regulation acts, the energy infrastructure is changing in direction of renewables in energy production. All industry sectors will extend their share of direct or indirect electrification. The question might arise if the build-up of the renewables in energy production is fast enough. Demand and supply might not match in the short- and mid-term.The paper will discuss the roadmaps, directions and legislative boundary parameter in the regenerative energy landscape and their regional differences. National funding on renewables will gain an increasing importance to accelerate the energy transformation. The are often competing in attracting the same know-how on a global scale. In addition the paper includes details about energy conversion, efficiency as well as potential transport scenarios from production to the end consumer. Technologies are compared in respect of their TLR level and maturity for the market application. Furthermore the need for energy buffering on molecule or electron basis, availability and technical options will be evaluated. Finally the paper concludes with scenario calculations considering technology readiness and TCO for production, transport and infrastructure. Comparing all electricity based scenarios including molecules – respectively hydrogen and e-fuel are part of the evaluation.