Finland Tests Electrofuel Derived From Green Hydrogen for the First Time

In collaboration with several partners, Finland's VTT Technical Research Centre has successfully tested a paraffinic electrofuel or E-fuel derived from green hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

The test was conducted on November 21 at AGCO Power's Linnavuori factory in Nokia, and it involved powering a diesel tractor with the newly developed electrofuel. It marks a significant advancement in sustainable fuel solutions, particularly for sectors challenging to electrify.

The E-Fuel Project

The E-fuel project, led by VTT, utilized a combination of high-temperature electrolysis, carbon capture, and Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis to achieve electrofuel production on a commercial and industrial scale.

The project has played a pivotal role in enhancing the efficiency of green hydrogen production. The electrofuel, often called E-diesel, holds promise for applications in heavy road transport, shipping, and machinery, addressing the challenges posed by sectors resistant to electrification.

VTT Research Professor Juha Lehtonen emphasized the success of producing E-diesel from green hydrogen and carbon dioxide on a pre-commercial scale using Finnish technology.

The next step involves field testing to assess the fuel's usability, marking a crucial phase in further validating its potential for widespread application.

"Using Finnish technology, we have succeeded in producing E-diesel, or electrofuel, from green hydrogen and carbon dioxide on a pre-commercial scale," Lehtonen said in a statement.

"The fuel can be used to replace fossil diesel in sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as heavy road transport and shipping. It can also be used in machinery. Our next step is to obtain information on the usability of the fuel in a field test," he added.

The E-fuel project has already generated hundreds of kilograms of synthetic hydrocarbons designed to be used as a sustainable transport fuel. Neste, a key collaborator, refined these hydrocarbons into a drop-in paraffinic diesel.

AGCO Power's Linnavuori plant facilitated testing this new E-diesel on a Valtra T235D tractor equipped with AGCO Power's 74 LFTN diesel engine.

The tractor underwent a comprehensive test drive where fuel consumption and exhaust emissions, including carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particles, were meticulously measured. The E-diesel is expected to meet or exceed current road diesel fuel standards.

Sustainable Fuels

Kari Aaltonen, Director of Engineering at AGCO Power, emphasized the importance of exploring diverse options for emission reduction in agriculture machinery.

AGCO Power is investing in research and development to address emission reduction through various means, including electric batteries, hydrogen, methane, and methanol.

The significance of sustainable fuels, such as drop-in E-diesel, lies in their ability to blend seamlessly with fossil diesel, meeting the quality requirements of paraffinic diesel standards.

This adaptability allows for a smoother transition and potential emissions and fossil fuel usage reduction without relying solely on direct electrification.

Päivi Aakko-Saksa, Principal Research Scientist at VTT, highlighted the environmentally friendly nature of the E-diesel and the need to analyze the results of the Nokia test run to assess its impact on harmful exhaust emissions.