There is a growing motion across the US to lessen emissions and begin to find cleaner sources of energy, with electrification and renewable energies looking to be the most prominent sources going forward, writes DCC Propane: https://www.dccpropane.com/propane
Even though gaols for cleaner energy are important, people are taking a deeper look into the promotion of certain sources of energy, mainly fossil fuels and others in that remit. There are more and more accusations of greenwashing, with companies falsely claiming that these transitional fuels are clean or climate friendly, neglecting full transparency to the public.
Although, it’s important not to totally reject all non-renewable fuels at a glance, as these can be incredibly practical for today’s energy systems. Many sectors will struggle to electrify immediately, and for some industries, reliable energy is a must.
The electrification gap
The benefits of solar, wind, and hydroelectric power are evident, but these sources are known to face challenges at time, like power intermittency – where power isn’t always available, and also limited storage capacity, which is a large issue for huge demand.
While battery storage is ever-improving, it still doesn’t quite offer the capacity that we need for the industries or transport systems that constantly need power.
In addition to this, for some sectors, electrification is incredibly imperative or not worthwhile on the cost front, such as:
- Certain transport, like trucking for long and heavy journeys, maritime shipping, and aviation
- Industrial work at high temperatures, like steel or glass manufacturing
- Communities that don’t have access to a stable grid
- Facilities that need backup or peak-demand power, like hospitals, agricultural operations, and vital logistics bases
Looking at these situations, fuels that are cleaner than traditional diesel or coal are helping to bridge the gap, while still delivering reliable energy.
Transitional fuels and their role in the energy mix
Propane
Propane is a fuel source that’s available widely and it’s a lower-emission fuel that’s used in everything from home heating and cooking to agriculture and vehicles. This fuel burns more cleanly than many other fossil fuels, releasing less greenhouse gases, lower particulate matter, and less NOx and SOx emissions than other fuels.
Propane is very valuable in rural or remote areas where there is limited grid access. Its best uses include:
- Heating homes, businesses, and agricultural buildings
- Fuel for forklifts and indoor machinery
- Backup power generation
- Irrigation engines and grain drying equipment in farming
DCC Propane is one of the nation’s reliable propane suppliers and continually supports customers in using propane in more sustainable ways, naturally also exploring chances for renewable propane.
Reena Mistry, Director of Sales & Marketing at DCC Propane, says: “Renewable propane allows our customers to reduce their carbon footprint without the need to sacrifice on performance or reliability. It’s a practical step toward cleaner energy and it’s one that we’re incredibly proud to support.”
Renewable propane, made from non-petroleum feedstocks like animal fats, used cooking oil, and plant-based oils, is something that’s constantly growing in production too. It has the same chemical structure and performance as your standard propane but with noticeably lower carbon power.
According to PERC, the renewable propane production capacity in the US is now over 4.5 million gallons every year and it is predicted that it could meet half of global non-chemical propane demand by 2050.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is also an important player in decarbonization, particularly in high-energy sectors. It can be produced in many ways:
- Grey hydrogen is made from natural gas, emitting CO₂.
- Blue hydrogen uses similar means but gains most of the CO₂ through carbon capture and storage.
- Green hydrogen is the cleanest and is made via electrolysis by renewable electricity.
When hydrogen is used it only produces water, which makes it fully zero-emission. It’s already being used in sectors like
- Steel and chemical manufacturing
- Heavy transport, including hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles
- Energy storage for balancing intermittent renewables
Green hydrogen is the ultimate goal, but it’s an expensive option and is reliant on a certain setup. Blue hydrogen is currently more accessible and still has large CO₂ reductions when it’s compared to coal or natural gas options.
Biofuels
Biofuels, like ethanol, biodiesel, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), are made from biomass, waste oils, and other renewable organic materials.
They can be used to replace or intertwine with current systems and can lower emissions from greenhouse gasses, particularly when this is made from unused or waste materials instead of crops.
According to the National Library of Medicine, converting tallow, used cooking oil, and distillers corn oil to biodiesel and renewable diesel could lead to higher greenhouse gas reductions of 79% to 86% lower than petroleum diesel.
It’s important to source and use responsibly and when done so, they offer a great solution for decarbonizing sectors where battery power or hydrogen isn’t yet practical.
Greenwashing or pragmatic progress?
There are definitely times when marketing around fuels has blurred the line between transparency and outright greenwashing. Any claims that aren’t factual have the potential to damage trust and ruin efforts for those creating meaningful progress to better the future.
It’s important to note that not all transitional fuels are classed this way – when they’re backed by credible data and properly applied, these fuels can create major carbon reductions. Transitional doesn’t mean permanent, it means purposeful, and these fuels are tools for closing today’s emissions gaps as we create a fully renewable strategy for the future.
To properly and credibly support this, businesses and governments must commit to lifecycle assessments to accurately look at their emissions impact and bring in third-party certifications for renewable and bio-based fuels. Open reporting on progress, production, and environmental performance is a great way to be transparent and ensure accountability for progress.
Looking ahead to building a reliable and sustainable future
The global energy shift isn’t an easy task and one that won’t be solved by just a single solution or technology – it needs a dedicated effort blending fast renewable energy introduction with continued electrification and the use of low-carbon transitional fuels in sectors where renewables aren’t yet an option
Supportive introductions like incentives for renewable propane, funding for hydrogen infrastructure, and sustainability standards for biofuels will all help ensure these tools are used effectively and responsibly.
By taking a realistic and transparent approach to the energy transition, companies like DCC Propane are helping to reduce emissions starting now, maintaining energy security, and being a frontrunner in creating a cleaner future.
Article provided by DCC Propane: https://www.dccpropane.com/propane
Sources:
https://www.iea.org/reports/electricity-security-2021
https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/emissions.html
https://propane.com/environment
https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/propane_renewable.html
https://energy-oil-gas.com/news/propanes-role-in-the-clean-energy-movement/
https://propane.com/renewable/
https://www.iea.org/reports/the-future-of-hydrogen
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9228054/
https://www.icao.int/environmental-protection/pages/SAF.aspx
