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As the United States aims for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, innovations in renewable fuels are essential to meeting these ambitious goals. The pursuit of renewable propane production is accelerating, thanks to diverse technological breakthroughs that turn waste and renewable resources into clean, usable fuels. Renewable propane, with its lower carbon intensity, offers a sustainable alternative that fits within existing energy infrastructures.
Most renewable propane is a byproduct from the production of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. The fuels are made from many of the same organic feedstocks as biodiesel, such as vegetable oils, animal fats, used cooking oil, biomass from forests and municipal waste.
New methods to produce renewable propane show promise to bring the fuel to the market on a large scale and are cost-competitive with traditional propane.
Electrolyzing CO₂ into Renewable Propane
In a pioneering advancement for renewable energy, Dr. Mohammad Asadi, assistant professor of chemical engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), has developed a breakthrough method that converts carbon dioxide (CO₂) into renewable propane through an electrolyzer process. An electrolyzer is a device that produces a chemical reaction where an electric current passes through a substance, causing it to decompose into its basic components. Using renewable electricity from solar, the electrolyzer developed by Dr. Asadi transforms CO₂ into renewable propane, creating a carbon-neutral or potentially carbon-negative process. The process leverages CO₂ from industrial facilities like chemical and power plants, reusing it in a valuable way.
Dr. Mohammad Asadi spearheads research that led to a groundbreaking renewable propane production method.
“The main feedstocks we need are renewable energy, water, and CO₂,” explains Dr. Asadi. “These are materials we already have in abundance. Instead of being treated as a waste product, CO₂ can be harnessed to create sustainable energy solutions.”
Dr. Asadi and his team at Illinois Tech have designed and engineered this laboratory-scale electrolyzer prototype to produce renewable propane. The team is collaborating with SHV, a global propane distributor, to further scale and commercialize the system.
“Our goal is to produce chemicals and fuels with low or even negative carbon emissions while maintaining economic feasibility,” says Dr. Asadi. “Adapting the technology to scale is a matter of time.” Dr. Asadi is optimistic that with the right infrastructure, renewable propane using the electrolyzer conversion process could be widely available within a decade.
The project has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DoE) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) program to receive nearly $4 million in funding through the Grid-free Renewable Energy Enabling New Ways to Economical Liquids and Long-term Storage (GREENWELLS) initiative.
Dr. Asadi’s innovation presents a promising business case by demonstrating that renewable propane can be cost-competitive with conventional propane. Achieving this economic viability is crucial for broad adoption. “If renewable propane is as affordable as the conventional product, consumers will choose the greener option,” says Dr. Asadi.
From Plastic Waste to Propane: Reducing Pollution and Powering Society
Another promising development in renewable propane production comes from researchers at MIT, who have devised a process to convert mixed plastic waste into propane. According to research published in the journal JACS Au, this innovation targets the vast amounts of plastic that accumulate in landfills and oceans, including common items like bottles and packaging.
MIT researchers have developed a new chemical process using cobalt-based catalysts to improve the recycling of mixed plastic waste. Cobalt is a chemical element primarily used in lithium-ion batteries. The method breaks down different types of plastics, like polyethylene and polypropylene, into propane. The process is more efficient because it converts over 80% of plastics into a single product, reducing the need for complex separation steps.
By tapping into the mountains of plastic waste generated worldwide, this process could both supplement renewable propane supplies and curb environmental harm from plastic pollution.
Unlike food crops, camelina doesn’t compete with food production; instead. it’s a hardy non-food crop that can be rotated on the same hand as other crops.
Renewable Propane from Camelina Seed Oil: A Scalable Agricultural Solution
A third pathway to renewable propane production involves converting oil from camelina, an agricultural crop with unique benefits. Camelina is a member of the mustard family and is increasingly grown as a source of biofuel.
Global Clean Energy Holdings, a California-based company, is at the forefront of using camelina as a feedstock for renewable fuels, including renewable propane. The company works with hundreds of farmers in the nation to grow camelina and holds the world’s largest camelina patent and IP protection portfolio. In addition to the upstream camelina business, Global Clean Energy owns a downstream refinery in Bakersfield, California. That plant is currently undergoing a retrofit to become a renewable fuels refinery to eventually process camelina into ultra-low carbon renewable fuels, including renewable diesel and renewable propane.
“By showing that camelina is a highly scalable non-food feedstock for renewable fuels, we’ve fueled interest in the industry,” says Richard Palmer, Founder and Independent Director at Global Clean Energy Holdings. “All we need is a large commercial adoption and we’ve proven the fact that camelina can be grown on a large scale.”
The renewable propane and other sustainable fuels produced from camelina oil provide an alternative fuel source for transportation, heating and industrial processes.
Making Renewable Propane Mainstream
These innovative pathways represent a shift toward renewable propane production from varied feedstocks, each addressing specific environmental and economic goals. As these technologies mature, renewable propane is on a path to be a readily accessible option for powering homes, businesses, and vehicles with minimal modifications.
The diversity of these pathways means renewable propane production can adapt to different regional resources and energy demands, ultimately supporting global goals to mitigate climate change.
Watch to learn more about camelina’s role in producing ultra-low-carbon renewable propane.
