Carbon as a Future Energy Carrier

Authors

Prof. Dr. R. Schlögl,  Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Mülheim a. d. Ruhr / Fritz Haber Institute of Max Planck Institute, Berlin

Year

2020

Print Info

Fortschritt-Berichte VDI, Reihe 12, Nr. 813

Summary

After a century of fascinating evolution of individual mobility based upon mineral oil
products the future seems to bring a disruptive change of the energy source by using electricity and electric driving. Studying the motivations of this revolution casts doubt on the rigor with which internal combustion is forced out of the menu of options. The combination of electric driving and onboard generation of electricity using synthetic fuels is advocated as wise addition to the menu of propulsion options. The sector-integrating function of synthetic fuels also for heavy-duty mobility applications in future energy systems makes an all-electric mobility an unlikely option. A suitable choice of chemical structures allows designing transition pathways into these sustainable energy systems without disruptive technology changes and without the needs for novel infrastructures.