"Achieving Carbon Neutrality, Electrification Alone Is Not Enough" Unified Call for Biofuel Adoption (Comprehensive)

2023 Eco-Friendly Fuel International Symposium
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"Using grain-based bioethanol can reduce carbon emissions by about 43% compared to gasoline. If active measures such as carbon capture and storage are combined, it can reach up to 120%." (Lee Eui-seong, Ph.D., U.S. National Argonne Laboratory)

"Even if the challenging electric vehicle adoption targets are met, the share of internal combustion engine vehicles will be around 65% by 2030. Internal combustion engine vehicles need to be transformed into future vehicles." (Lee Ki-hyung, Vice President for Industry-Academic Cooperation, Hanyang University)

There was an opinion that eco-friendly fuels should be used more actively to achieve carbon neutrality in the transportation sector. While electrified mobility such as electric and hydrogen vehicles is a preparation for a more distant future, running existing internal combustion engine vehicles in an environmentally friendly way is something that can be done immediately. The necessity of including bioethanol in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which currently applies only to biodiesel, was also raised.

A panel discussion is taking place at the 2023 International Symposium on Eco-Friendly Fuels held on the 11th at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

The Korea Automobile Journalists Association, the U.S. Embassy in Korea, and the U.S. Grains Council held the "2023 International Symposium on Eco-Friendly Fuels" on the 11th at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno, Seoul, under the theme "The Role of Eco-Friendly Fuels for Achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050." Experts from various fields shared opinions on national policies for carbon neutrality, the introduction status of eco-friendly fuels such as bioethanol, and carbon emission comparisons through life cycle analysis (LCA).

The presenters unanimously agreed on the need to revise systems or refine technologies to enable the use of eco-friendly fuels. Although global automakers are accelerating the transition to electrification, the majority of vehicles currently in operation still use fossil fuels in internal combustion engines. Even if electric vehicles become the main trend, attention must be paid to the carbon emissions generated during the electricity production process used as their power source.

Mike Lorenz, Senior Vice President of Growth Energy in the U.S., said, "In a situation where immediate carbon reduction is necessary, bioethanol has the lowest entry barrier and can show immediate effects," adding, "It has been introduced in over 60 countries including the U.S. and Canada." He also added, "Bioethanol can reduce greenhouse gases by up to 50%, helps energy security, and its low price can reduce inflation rates."

Mike Lorenz, Senior Vice President of Gross Energy, is presenting at the 2023 International Symposium on Eco-friendly Fuels held on the 11th.

Currently, carbon emissions are calculated only for the vehicle operation process, but there was also a point that it is necessary to comprehensively examine the entire vehicle life cycle as well as the fuel production process. This means measuring carbon emissions not just from "tank to wheel" but from "oil field to wheel, and even after vehicle disposal." Although electric vehicles do not emit carbon during operation, significant greenhouse gases are emitted during the manufacturing of the vehicle body and battery, as well as during electricity generation.

Professor Lee Ki-hyung said, "The Kona electric vehicle emits more total carbon dioxide than the Ioniq hybrid vehicle," emphasizing, "It is important to actively utilize biofuels, e-fuels (renewable synthetic fuels), and expand the portfolio of fuels and technologies." He argued that while further refining internal combustion engine technologies such as carbon recycling and ultra-lean combustion, the portfolio for achieving carbon neutrality should be diversified further with eco-friendly power sources like biofuels and pure hydrogen engines.

Gas pump in the United States. Uses gasoline blended with bioethanol as fuel.

Professor Sang Byung-in of Hanyang University explained, "Even if electric vehicle adoption increases, since the source of that electricity comes from thermal power generation, the expected carbon dioxide reduction effect may not be as large as anticipated and could even increase," adding, "There are various ways to continue using internal combustion engine vehicles while adding eco-friendliness, and those are biofuels and e-fuels."

Development of biofuel technology is progressing in multiple directions. Volkswagen opened a biofuel R&D base in Brazil in 2021. Toyota has developed a hybrid vehicle running on a blend of bioethanol and gasoline, which is sold in South America. Global makers such as General Motors and Stellantis also view biofuels as a key tool for achieving carbon neutrality in the South American region.

Professor Lee Ki-hyung of Hanyang University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering is presenting at the 2023 International Symposium on Eco-Friendly Fuels held on the 11th.

Dr. Lee Eui-seong of the Argonne National Laboratory under the U.S. Department of Energy is presenting at the 2023 International Symposium on Eco-friendly Fuels held on the 11th.

Dr. Lee Eui-seong analyzed that from 2005 to 2019 in the U.S., blending bioethanol with gasoline vehicles resulted in a greenhouse gas reduction effect of about 544 MMT CO2e. This exceeds the total annual emissions from the agricultural sector in the U.S. He explained, "While the corn yield per unit area, which is the raw material for bioethanol, has been steadily increasing, the use of fertilizers and energy has decreased, reducing carbon emissions during the bioethanol production process."

There was also a claim that the current RFS system, which applies only to diesel, should be expanded to cover gasoline and other internal combustion engines. Kangwon Kim, a team leader at the Korea Energy Agency, said, "In Korea, biodiesel blending is being mandated through pilot projects," adding, "Based on this operational experience, discussions with experts from various fields, mid-to-long-term roadmaps, and system improvements are necessary for greening transportation fuels."

Jaekyung Kim, a research fellow at the Korea Energy Economics Institute, said, "Before e-fuels become commercialized around 2040, the role of biofuels as a means to reduce greenhouse gases in the transportation sector should be more actively considered," but added, "However, incorporating bioethanol into the RFS is only feasible if coexistence with the refining industry is ensured." He advised, "Referring to the biodiesel case, a win-win approach between the ethanol industry and domestic refining industry is needed, such as developing next-generation bioethanol."

A panel discussion is taking place at the 2023 International Symposium on Eco-Friendly Fuels held on the 11th at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.