perspectives, and secondly, it does not align well with the FT process. This is because rWGS is an endothermic reaction that operates at 600-750°C, while the FT reaction is a highly exothermic reaction that is normally kept down to 250-350ºC. The rWGS reaction requires a large energy input, which cannot be efficiently provided by the LT heat from the FT reaction. These challenges have been mitigated by the development of a patented, multifunctional heterogeneous catalyst by OXCCU, featuring a surface on which both reactions, rWGS and FT, can take place sequentially. The proprietary catalyst surface binds CO 2 and promotes FT chain growth reactions, resulting in the formation of long-chain hydrocarbons (syncrude) that can be upgraded/refined to produce SAF, renewable diesel, and more. OXCCU’s single-step PtL pathway via direct hydrogenation of CO 2 , eliminating the rWGS step, is focused on developing a simplified low- cost technology for decarbonising the mobility sector. However, it is still in the early stages of development (TRL 4/6), with its second demonstration plant likely to be operational in 2026. Direct single-step LT co-electrolysis to methanol In the direct CO 2 -to-methanol electrolysis pathway, CO 2 is reduced to methanol in a single step over a proprietary electrocatalyst. Reported byproducts during methanol synthesis include H 2 , CO, and formic acid (HCOOH), which are subsequently purified via pressure swing adsorption and distillation stages and recovered for sale.4 Oxylus Energy’s highly efficient and scalable low-temperature, low-pressure electrolyser technology utilises proprietary membrane, catalyst, and renewable power for direct electrochemical conversion of CO 2 and water to produce e-methanol, which can be used as a drop-in fuel or upgraded to jet fuel and other green petrochemicals. The company’s single-step CO 2 electrolyser eliminates the need for green H 2 and the rWGS step by using a cobalt-based catalyst to facilitate the chemical reaction needed to produce methanol. The catalyst sits inside the proprietary electrolyser, which uses renewable
electricity to split water and CO 2 molecules. Once the H 2 , O 2, and carbon atoms are separate, they combine to form methanol (CH 3 OH) and O 2 . All of this happens at standard room temperature and pressure, helping to keep costs down. Oxylus Energy offers a modular, scalable solution for industrial decarbonisation. It claims its technology enables the production of carbon- neutral, and even carbon-negative methanol, which is cost competitive with fossil-derived methanol. Another energy start-up, Prometheus Fuels, has developed a similar technology for direct single-step co-electrolysis, consisting of an integrated direct air capture (DAC) CO 2 unit and proprietary LT hydrocarbon electrolyser (Faraday Reactor) to produce e-methanol. The proprietary electrolyser, whose separator “ Direct single-step low-temperature co-electrolysis-to-methanol technology could be a game changer; however, it is still in an initial development phase ” between the anode and cathode is impregnated with a special catalyst, converts the H 2 , O 2, and carbon atoms to long-chain alcohols and oxygen. This process step is followed by a carbon nanotube membrane (Maxwell Core), which has nanotube pores embedded in the membrane wall to extract the fuel from the remaining water. The integrated process unit is termed a ‘Reverse Combustion Machine’, and the carbon-neutral methanol product can be used as a drop-in fuel or upgraded to synthetic gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel. This direct single-step LT co-electrolysis-to- methanol technology could be a game changer; however, it is still in an initial development phase, with scant technical information available in the public domain. The technology will require significant R&D efforts to reach commercial- scale deployment. The current maturity of the technology developed by Oxylus Energy is assessed to be TRL 3, while Prometheus Fuels is claiming a technology readiness of TRL 8/9 for its proprietary e-fuel production system. The company is currently looking for a suitable site
Refining India
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