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Energy Transition benefits from GTL base oils

Energy Transition benefits from GTL base oils

Key Points
  • Energy Transition
    solution
  • lower-Carbon
    Product
  • Energy
    Efficiency
  • Cost
    reduction
valuable energy is currently lost in overcoming friction, creating an enormous energy savings opportunity

Friction: A little-known energy problem

Friction – the resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over or against another – isn’t something you would think of as an energy problem. But in global energy use, an estimated 20 percent of all energy consumed annually is to overcome friction, especially in the transportation and industrial sectors.  (Source 1)  

Think of the friction in the moving parts of a hybrid electric vehicle, or the multitude of gears moving in a factory. More friction requires more energy to keep parts moving, globally approximately a staggering 100 million terajoules of energy more per year according to experts. (Source 1) 

To put that in perspective, the annual electricity consumption for a US household is about 10,600 kilowatt-hours (38.16 gigajoules). (Source 2) Thus, 100 million terajoules could power about 2.62 billion US households for a year. That valuable energy is currently lost in overcoming friction, creating an enormous energy savings opportunity.  

Superior quality base oils: a meaningful energy transition solution 

Cerilon’s top tier, GTL Group III+ base oils are a meaningful energy transition solution, reducing friction and energy consumption for the benefit of the economy and the environment. In Cerilon’s case, the incorporation of carbon capture and sequestration into our manufacturing process also results in our GTL-derived base oils potentially having the lowest carbon footprint of the GTL Group III+ base oils produced globally. (Source 3) That, combined with additional GHG reduction benefits during their use, results in significant GHG savings compared to the conventionally available refinery Group III products.  

base oils are a meaningful energy transition solution, reducing friction and energy consumption

Lubricants formulated with these top-tier base oils can be used to reduce friction in a variety of applications while retaining protective lubrication. Importantly they: 

  • Have a high viscosity index, meaning they provide a more stable lubricating film over a wider temperature range. 

  • Have a high oxidative resistance, making them less likely to degrade over time or under extreme stress, like in a Formula 1 race car. 

These are special qualities which broadens GTL Group III+ base oil use into new and exciting energy transition applications, like: 

  • Enabling the evolution of engine technology for hybrid vehicles.  These vehicles are maximizing energy efficiency by pushing the boundaries towards even lower lubricant viscosities.  The ultra-high viscosity index of Cerilon’s GTL Group III+ base oils represent a perfect solution for this next evolution in engine technology. 

  • Longer-lasting, higher-quality industrial lubricants. Industrial lubricants, cover a wide range of products including, amongst others, hydraulic oils, gear oils, compressor oils, turbine oils and greases. These applications also benefit from the ultra-high viscosity index and oxidative stability of GTL Group III+ base oils.  

  • Blending for better fuel efficiency – high viscosity index base oils allow the blending of engine oils to create engine efficiency improvements, which reduces GHG emissions, without sacrificing other necessary lubrication properties. 

Base oils will be produced from locally abundant natural gas in a short and simple value chain

Supporting the transition to a more efficient world  

Cerilon will produce GTL Group III+ base oils from locally abundant natural gas in a short and simple value chain. This, combined with an unparalleled 25 percent yield to base oils, allows for incremental base oil manufacture on demand without the complexities involved in a crude-oil-based process.  

Read our project overview to learn more about Cerilon GTL North Dakota and our role in the energy transition.  

Sources:

  1. Holmberg, K., & Erdemir, A. (2015). Global impact of friction on energy consumption, economy and environment. Fme Trans, 43(3), 181-185. 
  2. Electricity use in homes – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 
  3. As defined in Cerilon’s Life Cycle Assessment (Draft, June 2024), provided by third-party Life Cycle Associates, LLC