The US Department of Energy (DOE) has allocated $41 million to support 14 projects focused on developing Renewables-to-Liquids (RtL) technologies. These technologies aim to convert renewable energy sources such as wind and solar into liquid fuels or chemicals, which can be easily transported and stored, similar to conventional fuels like gasoline and oil. This approach addresses the challenge that renewable energy resources are often located away from the current US power grid, potentially reducing barriers to integration and cutting emissions in hard-to-decarbonise sectors.
The selected projects will create systems that operate at renewable energy production sites, utilising electricity, carbon dioxide, and water to produce liquid fuels or replacements for conventional fuels. These clean energy products can be used across the US, including in sectors like transportation that are difficult to decarbonise. By using inexpensive, grid-independent renewable energy sources like wind and solar, producers can lower costs, as current low-carbon fuels are priced at around $10 per gallon.
