Seyed Mohammad Shojaei

Project title: Fuelling the Future: Power-to-X Solutions in Advancing Net-Zero Transportation

Keywords: Power-to-X, Hydrogen, E-fuel, LCA, LCC, ML, transportation, methanol, ammonia

Supervisor:  Dr Mohammad Reza Ghaani

The European Parliament's focus on 'alternative fuels' for transportation, given the significant greenhouse gas emissions from this sector, is a catalyst for exploring sustainable energy systems beyond full electrification. Power-to-X (PtX) technology emerges as a key player in this context, offering a path to carbon-neutral combustion. PtX involves converting electrical power into synthetic fuels, like hydrogen, methanol, and ammonia, through processes like electrolysis. This technology not only creates sustainable fuels but also utilises CO2 in a way that closes the carbon emission loop, making renewable energy more applicable in sectors that are hard to electrify, like heavy transportation.

Our research delves into the multifaceted challenge of balancing environmental sustainability with cost-effectiveness in the transportation sector through PtX. We aim to provide detailed insights by integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) in our analysis, focusing on various scenarios. The outcomes of this project are anticipated to unlock PtX potential for net-zero transport, equip stakeholders with actionable insights, and create tools for greener fuel distribution in transportation.