Synthetic fuel, also known as synfuel, is fuel obtained from coal, natural gas or biomass. Synthetic fuels are often referred to as Coal-To-Liquids (CTL), Gas-To-Liquids (GTL) or Biomass-To-Liquids (BTL), depending on the material used to produce the fuel.
The quest for alternative fuel to oil is not new. The Fischer-Tropsch process is the most common for converting coal, biomass or natural gas into synthetic fuels. It was developed by the German researchers Franz Fischer and Hans Tropsch in 1925. During World War II, petroleum-poor but coal-rich Germany used this process extensively to produce fuels for planes and tanks. South Africa did the same from 1955, during the embargo under the apartheid regime.
Over the decades, the Fischer-Tropsch process has been continually refined and adjusted, most notably in South Africa and Malaysia. For instance, it is used today by South African Airways in a 50/50 blend of Coal-To-Liquid.
The most environmentally-friendly synthetic fuel is based on the Biomass-To-Liquids technology, i.e. a chemical process that transforms biomass into liquid fuels. Waste plant material like wood chips and straw are used instead of food crops like soybean and rapeseed, which are the main sources of today’s biofuels. This type of fuel has an enormous potential for reducing CO2 emissions. This technology is still very expensive but it is expected to play a huge role over the next twenty years, once it becomes cheaper to produce.
With their roots in the early part of the 20th century, these technologies continue to draw the attention of many countries, in particular those that need to import a lot of oil from overseas. Some of the world’s best engineers, scientists and academics are engaged in research full of promise for the future of the planet.
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