8 Alternative Fuels Changing the Sustainability Landscape in 2024

The world is pursuing sustainability goals to fend off climate change for as long as possible. Alternative fuels are an attractive substitute for fossil fuels. There is an abundance of alternatives to utilize in 2024 and beyond.

The Need for Sustainable Fuel

Almost all machinery and operations worldwide depend on a power source. Even outside of the industrial side of humanity, the need for this energy never stops. Unfortunately, this material typically originates from coal, gas or oil. Fossil fuels must be burned to attain the power that enables society to run. 

Power sources are necessary to humanity. They power hospitals to help cure people’s conditions, offices to increase efficiency, and cars to transport people to different destinations and stay connected. Unfortunately, the heat generated by burning fossil fuels harms the ozone layer and causes other environmental problems. 

Alternative gas is a chance to keep that version of society without creating such a costly carbon footprint. Most options, like renewable diesel and biofuels, were specifically engineered to have a more environmentally friendly and biodegradable energy source. 

Alternative fuels can also be a more cost-efficient substitute for regular fuel. The competition is expected to lower the price of crude oil, which cost $122 a barrel at the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The prices continue to fluctuate, and it isn’t feasible to fund. Shifting to sustainable diesel can lessen fossil fuel use and provide a more budget-friendly alternative. 

Alternative Fuels in 2024

Alternative fuels have been in development or deployment for a while, and some are ready to be deployed for various uses. Here are the latest substitutes to watch out for.

1. Renewable Diesel

Renewable diesel is a strong candidate for replacing regular fuel in the economy’s trucking and vehicle sectors. These synthetic liquids have no odor or color, making them user-friendly. Plus, they provide about a 50% reduction in greenhouse gasses compared to petroleum-based diesel.

There are also various ways to create renewable diesel fuel that does not harm the environment. Fischer-Tropsch is one of the more straightforward options, involving mixing carbon monoxide and hydrogen into liquidated hydrocarbons for machinery. 

Hydrogenation can also generate renewable diesel, but it focuses more on attaching hydrogen to carbon materials to achieve the same outcome as Fischer-Tropsch. Both bases typically base the liquid on vegetable oils or waste cooking oil. As this material is abundant, sourcing is no problem, unlike fossil fuels, which depend more on mining.

Renewable diesel is compatible with all diesel engines, making the shift even simpler. Since the fuel is pure, it can lower emissions. The way it still burns like regular fuel can enhance vehicle performance, even during winter weather. It can also be stored away for longer periods, making it ideal for packing in emergencies. 

2. Biofuels

Biofuel is also one of the more popular alternative fuels. It can be used for diesel engines, but it is also flexible for other fuel-based products like traditional cooking stoves and the like. It utilizes vegetable oils and waste cooking oil, though some may also use other organic fat sources to produce it.

Renewable diesel is often dubbed “advanced biodiesel” since they are both liquids derived from biomass. However, the former term refers to a different product from biodiesel. Its main difference is in the process in which it is made. Rather than using Fischer-Tropsch or hydrogenation, biofuels are derived from transesterification. 

Transesterification converts pre-treated oil into fatty acid alkyl esters or neutral lipids. When exposed to alcohol and a catalyst, the mixture reacts to form methyl esters that serve as biodiesel. However, it can still effectively substitute regular fuels.

However, due to the process, biofuels have lower cetane. It ignites slower in a diesel engine, which can mean extra time during startup. It can also be relatively fickle during colder conditions, mimicking traditional diesel engines. Its accessibility makes it viable in regular weather. Go with renewable diesel if you have the option for better performance. 

3. Electricity

Electricity can substitute fuels to increase the sustainability of different fuel-dependent machinery and processes. A movement is underway to integrate electric and hybrid vehicles into society by offering advanced charging stations to the public. There’s also a shift to electricity-based cooktops and HVAC systems to ease dependence on traditional fuel.

Electricity still has a long way to go before being sustainable, as regular power sources usually use coal and other fossil fuels to power it up. Renewable energy can change the game by making electricity production much cleaner, which increases overall efficiency while lessening traditional diesel use. 

For example, solar energy captures heat and light from the sun to conduct electricity. Solar-based automobiles already have self-contained cells to absorb energy and convert it into fuel. However, even without electric vehicles, harnessing solar power for the charging stations is already a step closer to sustainability. 

The same goes for wind energy. While turbines are effective in creating electricity, it’s challenging to attach them to an automobile. There are residential generators to produce enough for household electrical devices that need fuel. For vehicles, it’s ideal to put the wind power into a charging station as well. 

Use a rechargeable battery. Much like traditional fuels need to be refilled, electric vehicles and other products require charging. Sustainable options like lithium-ion are available. They are lower cost, simpler to produce, and can omit mining from traditional cobalt sources.

4. Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Hydrogen is considered a base for alternative fuels but can also be a stand-alone option. Fuel cells tap into the chemical’s energy to create clean electricity. This production stems from an electrolyte separating two electrodes. This controls the passage of ions to generate alternative gas without harming the environment.

The beauty of hydrogen fuel cells is how portable and self-sufficient they are. They could be fitted to electric vehicles and produce power on the fly. You can revitalize your internal supplies by going to hydrogen-fueling stations. Directly put them into your fuel cell technology, and you’ll have all the power you need to get home.

As convenient as hydrogen fuel cells are, they create water and heat as a by-product. It is an extra expense to consider when designing electric vehicles with such an energy source, which is why they aren’t fully rolled out to the market just yet.

Hydrogen’s distribution should also be considered, as the logistics and storage are more complex than those of other liquidated alternative fuels. Nevertheless, this technology should gain more traction as it avoids greenhouse gas emissions and focuses on improving air quality while providing power. 

5. Compressed Air

Compressed air is marketed as a zero-emissions engine set to retire internal combustion engines and even surpass electric vehicles. The process stems from moving the air into a smaller vessel, with the pressure turning up systems to generate movement. It was first used with locomotive engines like trains. 

General Motors took the initiative to design compressed air-powered vehicles after Peugeot first designed a hybrid automobile to combine compressed air with traditional engines. Its optimization is in line with its corporate energy reduction goal.

Compressed air engines have a pneumatic motor that moves pressurized air to power the piston. They remove direct pollution since there are fewer emissions. Plus, air is one of the most accessible and easy-to-harness sources, which beats electric vehicles with renewable energy. Compared to a wind turbine, this engine fits snugly into the vehicle. 

Zero Pollution Motors is fast-tracking its production of AIRPod to introduce the first compressed air-powered car into the U.S. market before the end of the year. However, many questions remain regarding its longevity, regenerability and safety. Pressurized air is subject to explosions when it doesn’t have the right containment, so configuration should be meticulous. 

Here is a video from Electric introducing the latest innovation from GM – the air engine.

6. Ethanol

Ethanol is an alcohol-based motor fuel based on plant materials like corn grain and other feedstock. Traditional gasoline mixes ethanol with it to oxygenate the diesel and minimize air pollution. However, since most of it is still derived from fossil fuels, they may contribute less regarding sustainability. 

Ethanol cannot stand alone as a fuel and is maximized to at least 83% content of a fuel gallon. However, its purification properties are potent. Flexible fuel and light-duty vehicles can utilize it for fewer emissions. 

7. Propane

Propane is one of the most underrated alternative fuels on the market. While it is a natural gas, it doesn’t contribute to combustion or pollution like most traditional engines. Its lower carbon content can help the planet.

It’s also possible to create renewable propane from animal fats and cooking oils. Mimicking the natural resource’s chemical structure ensures similar performance while keeping carbon intensity low. 

8. Ammonia

Ammonia is viewed as a green fuel that holds its own against other alternative gases. Typically used for fertilizer, it can hold a renewable energy surplus for a substantial period. However, they do burn much slower, which can hinder vehicle performance. 

The production of ammonia is cheap, but there are also many embodied emissions involved. The material itself is known for its toxicity and burning, which can raise questions about how to improve its integration into fuel production and transportation.

 

Conclusions

Alternative fuels have come at the best possible time. Renewable and regenerative power is crucial as the world focuses on reducing emissions and improving the sustainability landscape. Eco-friendly power sources can lower the price of traditional diesel or even retire fossil fuel use altogether. 

Various alternative fuels are available. Some have been available, such as ethanol and propane. However, more recent additions to the market include renewable diesel, biofuels, and electricity. They may lack physical properties, but they retain the same purpose of powering automobiles and other forms of technology. 

Other alternative fuels are still being developed to ensure their viability. Compressed air, for instance, has a promising future with a zero-emissions engine. However, pressurized air may explode under the wrong circumstances.

It’s imperative to balance human safety with sustainability. Use what’s already available in the market to lessen your footprint. Stay tuned for upcoming updates to other alternative fuel technology and sources.