ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINIBILITY: NEW PERSPECTIVES AND PARADIGMS

Abstract

Over dependence on fossil fuels is a worldwide problem, currently the uncontrolled use of fossil fuel is harming the earth and emptying the resources. We have just been through the hottest decade ever recorded and besides climate change, combustion engines spit out pollution that causes millions of deaths each year. Hence the world needs rapid transition away from fossil fuels. Due to this the pressure is on to develop new technologies, one of which is e-fuels. It is a sustainable alternative carbon-based fuel where inside the container’s hydrogen and air captured carbon dioxide are turned into gaseous hydrocarbons, further processing turns them into liquid synthetic fuels. This syn fuel can be almost carbon neutral as long as the entire production process is powered only by excess electricity from renewable sources. But all these electricity based syn fuels have some minor disadvantages: all that green electricity has to be generated in the first place and that can only happen in presence of enough sun, wind, water or geothermal power. Syn fuels aren’t cheap either about 4 euros 50 a liter in current scenario. So, while e-fuels might have their use cases this doesn’t marks end of combustion engines yet, it will be around for another few years but there will also be electric cars and new technologies.