HIF Global, a world leader in eFuels, announced on 6 December that its subsidiary HIF USA has engaged Bechtel Energy, Siemens Energy and Topsoe to carry out a front-end engineering and design (FEED) study of a facility to be developed in Matagorda County, Texas to produce carbon-neutral gasoline (eFuels). 

HIF expects to produce approximately 200 million gallons (750 million liters) per year of carbon neutral gasoline in Matagorda County, Texas, with the potential to decarbonize over 400,000 vehicles. 

The facility timing has been updated to Q1 2024 for construction start and 2027 for commercial operations. 

The HIF Matagorda eFuels Facility will produce carbon neutral gasoline by utilizing approximately 2 million tons of CO2 captured from the atmosphere and green hydrogen. 

Renato Pereira, CEO of HIF USA said, "Beginning the 12-month FEED engagement materially advances the HIF Matagorda eFuels Facility beyond preliminary engineering into this second phase of project design.  Upon completion of the FEED, we expect to achieve a Class 2 cost estimate and a level of engineering sufficient to commence construction.  Bechtel Energy, Siemens Energy, and Topsoe are essential to the successful completion of this pioneering facility, which will provide decarbonization solutions to the transportation sector without any modifications to existing engines or delivery infrastructure." 

Bechtel Energy will conduct the engineering and design of the overall facility, which includes the integration of the Siemens Energy and Topsoe technologies and equipment. Siemens Energy will be responsible for the engineering and design of their proprietary "Silyzer 300" electrolyzers required to produce approximately 300,000 tons per year of green hydrogen. Topsoe will provide engineering and design for the methanol and methanol-to-gasoline processes, which will combine the green hydrogen with 2 million tons of CO2 captured from the atmosphere to produce approximately 1.4 million tons of methanol and then synthesize the methanol into 200 million gallons (750 million liters) per year of carbon-neutral gasoline.

"Supplying cars and ships in use today with carbon-neutral eFuels is an effective way to accelerate the decarbonization of our transportation sector and unlocks the advancement of technologies at scale for green hydrogen production and CO2 capture," Executive Director of HIF Global, Meg Gentle, said. "Working in partnership with Bechtel Energy, Siemens Energy, and Topsoe is critical to designing a safe, reliable, and low-cost facility that will set the new frontier in the fight against climate change."

"Decarbonizing our everyday transportation is now well within our grasp," said Paul Marsden, president, Bechtel Energy. "We look forward to partnering with HIF Global, Siemens Energy, and Topsoe on developing this eFuel facility that will shape our energy consciousness and build our path to net zero."