News

Diesel from wasteflows and other alternatives to fossil fuels

Renewable diesel, made from biomasses and waste flows, produces up to 90% less greenhouse gas emissions than normal diesel
eco diesel
Illustration: Tuomas Kärkkäinen

1. Renewable diesel, made from biomasses and waste flows, produces up to 90% less greenhouse gas emissions than normal diesel. It is an excellent fuel, and can be used as is in diesel-powered vehicles.

2. Biogas is an alternative to natural gas, both in heat and electricity production and as a fuel for vehicles. Hydrogen, which can be produced from water using renewable energy, could potentially be added to biogas to further improve its properties.

3. Synthetic fuels, such as methanol, could be produced with renewable energy for wide use in maritime transport, renewable energy storage, and road transport. Synthetic fuels may be on the market within ten years.

4. A more environmentally friendly aviation fuel, biokerosene, is already being produced, though it’s more expensive than crude oil-based kerosene. Large-scale production of biokerosene requires more demand ― and consumers will need to get used to higher prices for air travel.

5. Maritime transport is a large source of greenhouse gas emissions. A bio-oil, produced from various raw materials and other materials such as forest industry by-products, is currently under development and, potentially, could be further refined to produce an economical fuel for maritime transport.

Martti Larmi, Professor of Energy Technology

From clean energy to personalized medicine – a book about the power of the university

The Aalto Effect is a tribute to the ambitious and uncompromising work of dozens of researchers.

Read more
Aalto Effect book cover / Photo by Mikko Raskinen
  • Updated:
  • Published:
Share
URL copied!

Read more news

3D brain scan on screen showing colourful neural pathways inside a semi-transparent head model
Research & Art Published:

Applications open for Innovation Postdoc in AI

A fully funded, 12–month career track to turn your doctoral discoveries into a deep-tech startup.
Outdoor wooden daybeds with sheer beige curtains in a ruined courtyard garden with tall plants.
Cooperation, Press releases, Research & Art Published:

A Finnish working group’s artwork brings a cooling garden to Spain, which is sweltering in the heat

Through their garden art installation, a group of Finnish architects and artists proposes vegetation and a sense of community, among other things, as solutions to urban heat islands and the environmental crisis.
Five people holding large yellow emoji faces in front of them, standing side by side against a white background
Press releases, Research & Art Published:

RealYou AI will develop the next generation of personalized AI decision assistants

Researchers to build cognitive machine learning that will improve decision-making with instantly personalized intelligent assistance.
Round beige honeycomb-pattern mat with wicker baskets on bright blue background
Press releases, Research & Art Published:

Researchers identify new superconductors, unlocking process that could yield thousands more

Physicists have used machine-learning to discover two new superconductors––it represents a substantial step towards realising massive energy efficiency gains from superconductivity.