Propane Autogas: Evolution Toward Zero Emissions
by Steve Whaley (Propane Education and Research Council/ACT News) … Where Are We Headed? As we look ahead down this emissions path, there are two main innovations that are going to push propane even closer to zero, specifically in terms of greenhouse gas emissions: the Cummins 6.7L propane autogas engine and renewable propane.
Renewable Propane is the Next Level
The second innovation, renewable propane, will take businesses to the next level of sustainability. It has all the benefits of conventional propane: clean, affordable, and with an abundant supply on the horizon. But because it’s produced from renewable, raw materials, renewable propane has an even lower carbon intensity score than conventional propane and is far cleaner than other energy sources.
Renewable propane is a byproduct of the renewable diesel and jet fuel production process, which converts plant and vegetable oils, waste greases, and animal fat into fuel. The renewable energy source is currently produced in U.S. refineries in California, Texas, and Louisiana as part of their renewable diesel production systems. With new cellulosic sources, many experts say the entire worldwide demand can be met with renewable propane by 2040.
Renewable propane’s chemical structure and physical properties are the same as conventional propane. It behaves in the same way as propane autogas and can be used in any existing propane autogas engine and fueling infrastructure. It is truly a drop-in fuel. At the point of combustion, renewable propane is carbon neutral, meaning no new carbon is added to the atmosphere.
Looking down this path, propane autogas has found several ways to tackle particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, and greenhouse gas emissions through these innovations – and the future only looks cleaner from here. As engine fuels continue to aggressively move to zero emissions, propane autogas is leading down the path. READ MORE
