Joint workshop by the IEA and the European Commission on Electrofuels

Background

The International Energy Agency (IEA) and European Commission (EC) organised a comprehensive workshop on electrofuels on 10 September in Brussels, in coordination with the IEA Technology Collaboration Programmes (TCP) Bioenergy, Hydrogen, Clean and Efficient Combustion, Advanced Fuel Cells, and Advanced Motor Fuels as well as the Alt Fuels Forum.

The goal of the workshop was to discuss the potential role of electrofuels in a decarbonising energy sector despite existing barriers from high production costs and uncertain sustainability performance. The event focussed on four main topics:

1. Strategic relevance and potential of electrofuels amidst emerging renewable generation capacity with low variable costs
2. Production pathways, cost developments, and usage options for electrofuels
3. The sustainability of electrofuels with respect to key indicators such as life cycle emissions and land use requirements
4. Implications for low carbon transport scenarios, policy developments, and the work plan of the IEA Technology Collaboration Programmes

Agenda‌‌ ^[pdf]

Introduction and overview of the agenda

Dr Kyriakos Maniatis, Principal Administrator, DG ENER, EC
Pierpaolo Cazzola, Transport Analyst, IEA
Tudor Constantinescu, Principal Adviser to Director General DG ENER, EC

Introductory keynote speech

Cédric Philibert‌, Senior Analyst, Renewable Energy Division, IEA

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Session 1 – Electrofuel production pathways and costs

Chair: Dr Kyriakos Maniatis, Principal Administrator, DG ENER, EC

[Hydrogen] Paul Lucchese‌, Chair, IEA Hydrogen TCP
[Ammonia] Professor Bill David‌, Professor of Chemistry, University of Oxford
[Liquid hydrocarbons] Karl Hauptmeier‌, Head of Products, Sunfire
[Liquid hydrocarbons] Dr Jitka Hrbek‌, Senior Scientist, Vienna University of Technology, IEA Bioenergy Task 33
[Methane] Eelco Dekker‌, Managing Director, Conker

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Session 2 – Costs and benefits: How do electrofuels compare with other options?

Chair: Dr Kyriakos Maniatis, Principal Administrator, DG ENER, EC

Dr Jens Perner‌, Associate Director, Frontier Economics
Adrian O'Connell‌, Scientific Officer, European Commission Joint Research Centre

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Session 3 – Usage of electrofuels

Chair: Cédric Philibert, Senior Analyst, Renewable Energy Division, IEA

[Road] Dr Ilkka Hannula‌, Principal Investigator, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd
[Shipping] Dr Carlo Raucci, Principal Consultant, University Maritime Advisory Services
[Aviation] Dr Arne Roth, Lead of Alternative Fuels, Bauhaus Luftfahrt
[Power and Industry] Andreas ten Cate, Director International Business Development, ISPT

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Panel – What's next?

Chair: Pierpaolo Cazzola, Transport Analyst, IEA

Denis Thomas, Board Member, Hydrogen Europe
Laura Buffet, Manager Clean Fuels, Transport & Environment
Dr Magnus Lindgren, Chair, IEA Advanced Motor Fuels TCP
Morna Cannon, Head of Maritime 2050 Environment Strategy, UK Department for Transport
Paula Abreu Marques, Head of Unit, DG ENER, EC

Links:

Background document Electrofuels: Status and perspectives