As of now, tank trucks in Mannheim can for the first time load fuel blends that not only contain bioethanol-common in the familiar E10 and E5 grades-but also other renewable components such as electricity-based fuels or biogenic fuels, known as reFuels. A new pilot plant at the tank farm of Exolum Mannheim GmbH flexibly mixes the required proportions and documents the greenhouse gas savings digitally for every delivery. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) provides scientific support for the construction of the plant.
"The new inline blending plant enables us for the first time to produce demand-oriented quantities of fossil and renewable fuels and to document their climate impact transparently and immediately. This is a crucial step toward scaling up reFuels," said Professor Thomas Hirth, Vice President Transfer and International Affairs at KIT.
ReFuels for Better Climate Protection
"Electricity based and biogenic fuels are essential building blocks for improved climate protection - especially where electromobility is not feasible or only partly applicable. This includes, for example, ships, aircraft, and heavy-duty transport," emphasized Elke Zimmer, Undersecretary at the Baden Württemberg Ministry of Transport, during her visit to the Mannheim pilot plant. "Regionally produced fuels can be added here. This promotes their use and production ramp up and thus enhances fuel supply security. With this project, we aim to enable the use of more climate friendly gasoline at the ports on Lake Constance and by the state police, as well as more sustainable aviation fuels at Baden Württemberg's airports. Thanks to the digital system, CO₂ savings can even be displayed on the fuel receipt."
The ability to combine small quantities of fuels flexibly may therefore pave the way for the broader use of reFuels.
"This allows regenerative reFuels to reach consumers' fuel tanks for the first time," added Dr. Olaf Toedter from the Institute of Internal Combustion Engines at KIT, who coordinates the project.
More Variety in Regenerative Fuels
Besides the energy, industry, and household sectors, transport is one of the major sources of CO₂ emissions. Since not all transport modes can be electrified, liquid fuels will continue to be required to meet climate targets. Regeneratively produced fuels such as reFuels have the same energy density as fossil fuels and are considered a promising pathway toward CO₂ neutral mobility. They are produced from agricultural and forestry residues, industrial and household waste, and from CO₂ combined with sustainably generated hydrogen.
Greenhouse-Gas Savings Are Calculated Automatically
The pilot plant is equipped with precise measuring technology and is connected to three storage tanks containing different fuel types: renewable, electricity based, and fossil. Sensors ensure that every blend is produced exactly according to the specified proportions. Software automatically calculates the greenhouse gas savings achieved with each delivery and documents the values as official verification. This allows companies to demonstrate improvements in their carbon footprint and comply with regulatory requirements. The ability to document CO₂ reduction levels provides an additional incentive to purchase reFuels.
Project Included in the State's reFuels Roadmap
Since 2018, the Baden Württemberg Ministry of Transport has been supporting the production ramp up and usage of more climate friendly fuels, alongside numerous other measures for climate protection in transport.
More than 40 studies and implementation projects have already been funded as part of the state's reFuels Roadmap. The project BlendBilanz4Mobility has received approximately EUR 325,000 in funding.
