German firm develops green oil substitute

A German energy company claims it has developed a sustainable alternative to crude oil. Sunfire says it has produced three tonnes of its synthetic ‘Blue Crude’ substitute, which is made […]

A German energy company claims it has developed a sustainable alternative to crude oil.

Sunfire says it has produced three tonnes of its synthetic ‘Blue Crude’ substitute, which is made from splitting steam into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy.

The resulting hydrogen can then be efficiently converted into the replacement oil.

The firm says it the fuel be used directly in refineries, as well as replacing crude in the chemicals industry and transport sector.

Sunfire’s plant in Dresden was operated continuously for more than 1,500 hours to produce the landmark volume of the fuel, which doesn’t contain sulphur and produces almost no soot particles during combustion. The industrial-scale test was part of a project funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.

Nils Aldag, Chief Commercial Officer at Sunfire, said: “Our Blue Crude is a carbon dioxide neutral alternative to crude oil that can be manufactured anywhere in the world using our technology. It has huge potential for the world’s decarbonisation efforts and the fight against climate change.”

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