Unlike the conventional crude oil refining process, E-fuels / synthetic fuels are fuels that result from the chemical reaction of hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2).
Refined crude oil is not used in their production process, but instead it is possible to use CO2 captured as a result of other production processes, or captured from the atmosphere. Subsequently, hydrogen is added to CO2 and thus is created the so-called synthesis gas that can be processed into synthetic fuels. The method of producing synthetic fuels makes them carbon neutral, as their production does not release CO2 into the atmosphere, but instead is recycled into fuel production. The consequent emission savings can be huge, about 90-95% compared to conventional fossil fuels.
Synthetic fuels may have promising potential for the future. They are liquid, have a high energy density and at the same time are highly pure products that could use already existing transport, storage and pumping infrastructure worldwide.