Low-Carbon Ethanol Pathways Using Fuel as a Renewable Energy Carrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing low carbon intensity energy strategies face inefficiencies and increased carbon intensity due to long-distance transmission and indirect use of higher carbon intensity fuels, leading to environmental impact and high costs for consumers.
Innovation Solution
Integrate low carbon intensity renewable energy sources into feedstock selection, transportation, refining, and distribution pathways to reduce carbon emissions, allowing conventional fuels to be purchased from traditional outlets without special equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If low carbon intensity renewable energy sources are used at remote locations, then carbon emissions are reduced, but energy transmission losses increase and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses low carbon intensity fuels as an intermediary carrier to transport energy from remote renewable sources to end users. Instead of directly transmitting electricity over long distances, the energy is converted into liquid fuel form that can be efficiently transported through existing infrastructure, reducing transmission losses while maintaining low carbon emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and form of energy from electrical form to liquid fuel form. This parameter change allows the energy to be stored and transported more efficiently, converting intermittent renewable electricity into storable, transportable liquid fuels that can be delivered without transmission losses.
2Productivity
If electric vehicles and home charging stations are deployed, then direct use of renewable power increases, but consumer costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal energy carrier (low carbon intensity liquid fuel) that can be used across multiple platforms and applications. The same fuel can power vehicles, heating systems, and industrial equipment without requiring different infrastructure or equipment for each application, making the system universally applicable.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring consumers to directly interface with complex renewable energy systems (wind turbines, solar panels, battery storage), the patent provides a simplified copy or representation of renewable energy in the form of liquid fuel. Consumers receive the benefits of renewable energy without needing to own or maintain the complex generating equipment.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods to provide low carbon intensity (CI) ethanol through one or more targeted reductions of carbon emissions based upon an analysis of carbon emissions associated with a combination of various options for feedstock procurement, feedstock refining, processing, or transformation, and ethanol distribution pathways to end users. Such options are selected to maintain the total CI (carbon emissions per unit energy) of the ethanol below a pre-selected threshold that defines an upper limit of CI for the ethanol.