Glossary
B
Biogenic CO2: Carbon dioxide that is produced from the combustion or decomposition of organic materials, such as biomass and its derivatives.
C
Carbon Capture: Capturing of carbon dioxide emissions generated from industrial processes to prevent its release into the atmosphere.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): Capturing of carbon dioxide emissions generated from industrial processes or power plants to store it deep underground and prevent its release into the atmosphere.
Carbon Capture Utilization (CCU): Capturing of carbon dioxide emissions generated from industrial processes and using it to produce valuable products, such as chemicals, fuels, or materials.
Carbon Neutral: A state where any carbon dioxide emissions released by a company's activities are offset by an equivalent amount being removed.
Carbon offsetting: The practice of compensating for one's own carbon dioxide emissions by investing in projects or activities that reduce or capture an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases elsewhere, contributing to overall emissions reduction.
Catalyst: A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing any permanent change itself. Catalysts are often used in electrochemical processes to enhance efficiency.
E
Electrofuel (eFuel): A fuel produced through electrochemical processes, often involving the conversion of electricity into chemical energy. This can include hydrogen, synthetic fuels, and other energy carriers.
Electrolysis: The process of using an electric current to drive a non-spontaneous chemical reaction, typically the separation of water into hydrogen and oxygen.
eMethanol: Methanol produced through electrochemical processes using renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar power, as opposed to traditional fossil fuel-based methods.
Energy Carrier: A substance that can store, transport, and deliver energy in a usable form. Electrofuels often serve as energy carriers, converting electrical energy into a storable and transportable fuel.
F
Fossil Feedstock: Raw materials derived from fossilized organic matter, such as coal, crude oil, or natural gas, used as inputs in various industrial processes. Fossil feedstock is commonly utilized in the production of traditional fuels, chemicals, and materials.
Fossil Fuels: Naturally occurring hydrocarbon-based energy sources derived from the remains of ancient plants and animals. The three primary types of fossil fuels are coal, oil (petroleum), and natural gas. The combustion of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide and other pollutants, contributing to air pollution and climate change.
G
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions: Gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases, that trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to the greenhouse effect. GHG emissions, largely from human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation, contribute to climate change by intensifying the natural greenhouse effect.
Green Hydrogen: Hydrogen produced through a process that uses renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar power, in the electrolysis of water. This method generates hydrogen without carbon emissions, making it a cleaner and sustainable alternative.
Green Methanol: Methanol produced using renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar power, as well as potential incorporation of carbon capture technologies. Green methanol, which encompasses biomethanol, is considered a sustainable and low-carbon alternative to conventional methanol production.
Grey Methanol: Methanol produced from fossil fuels, typically natural gas, without the implementation of carbon capture technologies. Grey methanol production results in higher carbon emissions compared to green methanol.
Grid Integration: The incorporation of renewable energy sources into existing power grids, ensuring a stable and reliable energy supply.
H
Hard-to-abate industries: Industries that face significant challenges in reducing their carbon emissions due to the nature of their processes, which often involve high-temperature heat requirements or chemical reactions that release substantial greenhouse gases. Examples include steel, cement, chemical manufacturing and deep sea shipping.
L
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG): Natural gas that has been cooled to a very low temperature, causing it to liquefy for ease of storage and transportation.
M
Methanol synthesis: The process of producing methanol from carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (usually derived from natural gas or other sources) through chemical reactions. Methanol synthesis is a key step in the production of methanol-based fuels and chemicals.
N
Net-zero emissions: The state where the total greenhouse gas emissions produced are entirely offset or removed, typically achieved through emission reduction measures and carbon offsetting initiatives.
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): A group of highly reactive gases, including nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), produced during the combustion of fossil fuels.
P
Power-to-Liquid (PtL): A process that converts electrical energy, often from renewable sources, into liquid fuels such as synthetic gasoline, diesel, or marine fuels.
Power-to-X (PtX): A general term encompassing various technologies that convert electricity into a range of energy carriers, including but not limited to hydrogen, synthetic fuels, and chemicals.
R
Renewable Energy: Energy derived from sources that are naturally replenished, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat.
Renewable Methanol: Methanol, also encompassing biomethanol, produced using renewable energy sources and carbon dioxide captured from the atmosphere or industrial processes.
S
Sulfur Oxides (SOx): Gases, including sulfur dioxide (SO2), produced by the burning of fossil fuels containing sulfur. SOx emissions contribute to air pollution and can lead to acid rain, respiratory issues, and environmental damage.
Syngas: A mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen gases, typically produced from carbon-containing feedstocks through processes like gasification.
Synthetic Fuels: Fuels produced from renewable energy sources through chemical processes, such as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis or methanol synthesis.
W
Well-to-Wake: Covers the entire lifecycle of fuel, from its production to its use in powering ships, including all associated emissions.