Cummins Newsroom: Education and Thought Leadership

What are the low-carbon fuels?

Oct 28, 2021 by Aytek Yuksel, Content Marketing Leader - Power Systems

Many businesses have made it a priority to reduce their carbon footprint. Multiple ways to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions are available to business owners.

One is to purchase carbon offsets—pay someone else to reduce emissions on your behalf. Another is to use less energy, for example, have employees travel less often, or by improving the energy efficiency of a building. Using low-carbon and alternative fuels is a third option which has become viable for an increasing number of businesses. Low-carbon fuels can be used as a substitute for traditional fossil fuels in many applications. For example, vehicles of all types, including personal cars, trucks, off-road vehicles, ships, and more can run on low-carbon fuels. Purchasing electricity made from low-carbon fuels or renewable energies is also a way to reduce a business’ carbon footprint.

But what are low-carbon fuels exactly? Several types of low-carbon fuels exist. Here are the main ones:

Are natural gas and propane low-carbon fuels?

That’s right—despite their fossil origin, natural gas and propane are low-carbon fuels—in comparison to traditional alternatives. Both have a lower emission factor than gasoline and diesel. This means that burning a certain amount or natural gas or propane will release less CO₂ than burning the equivalent amount of gasoline or diesel. Fuels with higher carbon contents release more CO₂ when they are burned. Natural gas consists primarily of methane. One molecule of methane contains a single atom of carbon. As a result, methane has a lower carbon-to-energy content than other fossil fuels.

Engines used as mechanical drives in oilfield operations are prime candidates for natural gas operation. Oil wells almost always produce natural gas in addition to oil. When an extraction site doesn’t have infrastructure to collect and transport the available natural gas, the unwanted natural gas is flared. Instead, using this excess natural gas an alternative to diesel for the mechanical drives saves money, reduces emissions, and helps secure the fuel supply.

Conversions of coal-fired power-plants to natural gas are also a major trend in the power generation sector. You may have read about a local coal power-plant closing? Chances are, it’s being replaced with a natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant.

What are CNG, LNG, LPG; are they low-carbon fuels?

Tractor-trailers, hauler trucks, dumpster trucks, buses and other commercial vehicles, and even ships can be converted to run on either compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, a form of propane).

This allows the owner to lower the emissions of the converted vehicles without breaking the bank. With the right use case, fuel conversions also provide several other benefits. You can read more about these benefits of alternative fuels and fuel-flexibility.

What are biogas and renewable natural gas?

Gaseous hydrocarbons can also be readily produced from biomass. Like renewable diesel and biodiesel, these fuels are CO₂-neutral. Significant amounts are created through natural fermentation in bogs and in the digestive tract of mammals, particularly cows. Bacteria eat organic matter, breaking it down and releasing methane, CO₂ and hydrogen sulfide. The resulting gas is known as biogas.

Biogas is also an unintentional product of fermentation occurring in landfills. In the United States, landfills are required to collect biogas to prevent its emission into the atmosphere. The requirement exists because methane, when it is not burned, is a much stronger greenhouse gas than CO₂. While some landfills flare off the collected biogas, others use it productively. Biogas can be used as-is in specially designed internal combustion engines to generate electricity. More simply, it can be burned in a furnace or a boiler for heat.

In certain use-cases, biogas can also have negative carbon intensity value. This is because the capture and productive use of biogas prevents carbon emissions.

It is also possible to separate the methane from the other, unwanted constituents. Renewable natural gas is then obtained. Renewable natural gas is fully interchangeable with natural gas and can be injected into natural gas pipelines or used on its own.

Biogas and natural gas are also produced industrially at wastewater treatment plants and livestock operations. Most commonly, biomass—sewage sludge or cow manure—is fermented in large tanks known as digesters, generating biogas. To promote fermentation, the digesters can be heated using waste heat from biogas-fueled on-site generators—a classical use case for combined heat and power. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, about 1,300 wastewater treatment plants in the United States produce biogas by fermentation and use it on-site.

Running gas generators on biogas or renewable natural gas is a great way to produce CO₂ free electricity from renewable resources. Contrary to renewable electricity produced by solar panels and wind turbines, which is inherently variable, renewable electricity produced in a generator using biogas and renewable natural gas is available on-demand. This makes biogas and renewable gas great decarbonization options for facilities which require an always-available source of power on-site for backup, prime or continuous power purposes. This is why many data centers, hospitals, industrial facilities and more are exploring or investing in biogas and renewable gas generators.

What is hydrotreated vegetable oil; is it renewable diesel?

Diesel-like fuels can be manufactured without the use of any fossil resources. Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is one common type. HVO is obtained by processing lipids such as vegetable oil, tallow or used cooking oil, which is made of paraffinic hydrocarbon. The fuel is derived from the same feedstocks used to produce biodiesel. However, instead of using the transesterification process, HVO is produced via the hydrotreated process. HVO is sometimes referred to as renewable diesel, or green diesel.

What is biodiesel; is biodiesel a low-carbon fuel?

Biodiesel is a distinct fuel. It is made using a chemical process known as transesterification. The transesterification process results in molecules called fatty acid methyl esters, or FAME. Biodiesel consist primarily of these FAME molecules. Fuels meeting the industry standard for renewable diesel can be used as drop-in replacements for fossil diesel. Biodiesels, in contrast, must be blended with fossil diesel to be used in most vehicles.

When renewable diesel and biodiesel burn, they merely return carbon to the atmosphere—the same carbon atoms that the plants used as feedstock withdrew from the atmosphere. They are, accordingly, net-CO₂ free fuels, or CO₂-neutral.

What are power-to-x and e-fuels?

This is a rapidly emerging category of synthetic low-carbon or no-carbon fuels. E-fuels are manufactured from inorganic feedstock, primarily CO2 and water, using renewable electricity, such as solar, wind, or hydropower. The category includes a variety of hydrocarbon fuels such as e-methanol, e-diesel and e-methane, as well as non-hydrocarbon fuels such as ammonia. Don’t forget to check out what are power-to-x and e-fuels with more details and examples.

What about hydrogen?

Hydrogen burns without releasing any carbon. Not all hydrogen, however, is low-carbon. Most hydrogen produced in the world today is manufactured via the steam methane reforming process. This process uses methane as a feedstock and generates a lot of CO2 (unless the methane feedstock is coming from biogas, in which case the process is CO2-neutral).

Another process, electrolysis, allows to produce hydrogen from water. Electrolysis is energy-intensive, but when it is conducted using renewable electricity, the result is fully CO2-free hydrogen, or “green hydrogen.”

A variety of applications that use green hydrogen are commercially available or in development stages, including locomotives, personal vehicles, gas turbines, internal combustion generators, and more. Green hydrogen can also be used as a feedstock for other e-fuels.

Finding the right alternative fuel for your business

You went through a range of alternative and low-carbon fuels. As you seek to fulfill the needs of your business, it is important to remember there is not a one-size fits all answer.

Beyond the fuel itself, here are a few others you can take into consideration in finding the right fit for your business: Availability of these fuels across your locations, the local regulations your equipment needs to comply with, and your specific use case.

As you have noticed, these additional considerations are more local and unique to your business. You can access more information and discuss these further by reaching out to a partner local to your business.

Aytek Yuksel

Aytek Yuksel is the Content Marketing Leader for Cummins Inc., with a focus on Power Systems markets. Aytek joined the Company in 2008. Since then, he has worked in several marketing roles and now brings you the learnings from our key markets ranging from industrial to residential markets. Aytek lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his wife and two kids.

Cummins Newsroom: Education and Thought Leadership

What markets and commercial vehicle applications are well-suited for propane ?

Feb 13, 2023 by Puneet Singh Jhawar, General Manager – Global Spark Ignited Business

Medium duty vehicle fleets, from postal vans to school buses, are switching to alternative fuels. Among low-carbon emitting fuels, propane, also known as autogas, is one of the most readily available options.

As an alternative to gasoline and diesel, propane vehicles produce less greenhouse gases and harmful air pollutants. Thirty billion gallons of propane are produced domestically in the United States, with 20 billion gallons being exported each year. Its price is not subject to shocks connected to global supply and demand. This results in more stable prices over the long run, among other operational benefits. Therefore, propane vehicle operators can secure long-term fuel contracts at fixed costs.

Centralized, regional, and return-to-home base fleets are well suited for propane autogas vehicles. Propane-powered transit vehicles can help improve the air quality in densely populated areas. That’s because, compared to diesel, they have lower NOx emissions, particulate matter and other air pollutants. Additional benefits for more suburban and rural fleets include easy, affordable, and scalable infrastructure as propane is available in every community across the country. Propane is also one of the most accessible alternative fuel sources not only nationwide, but worldwide. Most propane fleets own their fueling infrastructure due to low installation costs, but drivers can also access over 2,600 public refueling sites across the United States.

Urban delivery trucks can lower emissions with propane autogas engines

In 2019, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) committed to lowering its greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2025. Today, USPS operates a fleet of over 30,000 alternative fuel vehicles and has implemented incentives for contractors to do the same. The Cummins B6.7 propane is an ideal engine for postal vehicles, like USPS and its contractors, seeking to achieve key sustainability goals.

With 325 hp and 750lb-ft peak torque at 1800 RPM, the B6.7 propane can also be used in class 6 straight-box trucks for food and beverage delivery, tow trucks, and terminal tractors. Propane autogas offers fleets in these markets the lowest total cost-of-ownership compared with other fuels. In fact, many fleets have reduced their operating costs by 50 percent after making the switch from diesel.

Utility and service vehicles have been using propane for a long time

Propane is a good fuel source for everyday utility and service vehicles. Propane is widely used for forklifts and can be used for other utility vehicles such as golf carts, street sweepers, and snowplows. Propane is also well-suited for emergency service vehicle fleets such as ambulances and police cars. In 2021, the city of Petersburg, Virginia converted its public fleet of 49 vehicles to run on renewable propane. By switching to the propane fueled fleet, the city forecasted it would save $1,000 per vehicle per year.

School buses running on propane help improve air quality

As mentioned above, propane vehicles help improve air quality. Residents and passengers in city, suburban, and rural areas are less likely to be exposed to harmful exhaust fumes, as propane burns significantly cleaner than other fossil fuels.

School buses are one of the most visible markets for propane autogas. There are currently more than 22,000 propane autogas school buses transporting kids to school each day. Propane autogas engines are also quieter than gasoline/diesel engines and help decrease noise pollution. The Cummins B6.7 propane engine can provide large buses the power to run long, high-capacity routes.

Propane delivery trucks can lower fuel and maintenance cost

Propane delivery trucks, also known as bobtails, are specially designed bulk delivery vehicles that deliver propane to businesses and homes.

Bobtails that run on propane can benefit from lower fuel and maintenance costs while reducing carbon emissions. The new Cummins B6.7 propane engine is well-suited for use in bobtails.

Overall, propane offers many benefits and is well suited for delivery trucks, school buses, utility vehicles and bobtails. It’s a clean burning, low-cost alternative fuel source, available in abundant quantities across the United States and around the world. Are you interested in learning more about propane use in motor vehicles? Check out Cummins B6.7 propane engine for various medium duty applications.

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Puneet Singh Jhawar

Puneet Singh Jhawar is the General Manager of the global natural gas business for Cummins Inc. In this role, he is responsible for the product vision, financial management and overall performance of the natural gas business. Over his 14-year career at Cummins, Jhawar has cultivated successful relationships with a number of Cummins’ largest customers. Jhawar has extensive global experience, with roles based in the Middle East, India, Europe and the US.

Cummins Newsroom: Education and Thought Leadership

Natural gas is well-positioned to fuel vehicles for today’s energy transition

Jan 24, 2023 by Traci Kraus, Director, Government Relations

Natural gas powers more than 175,000 vehicles in the United States and 23 million vehicles worldwide. It’s an ideal alternative to gasoline and diesel for heavy and medium-duty applications. These include freight-hauling trucks, buses, and garbage trucks. Natural gas engines provide horsepower, acceleration, and cruise speed comparable to conventional fossil fuel engines. This fuel can also replace gasoline in smaller applications, such as forklifts and commercial lawn equipment.

Natural gas engines reduce emissions and environmental risks

Many companies are setting carbon reduction targets for tailpipe emissions. Fleets can meet these requirements by replacing older vehicles or generators that run on diesel to new ones that use natural gas.

Switching to natural gas can reduce hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The size of the reduction depends on vehicle type, duty cycle, and engine calibration. Vehicles that use compressed natural gas (CNG) can reduce their GHG emissions by 13-18%. That percentage is a lot higher when using renewable natural gas (RNG) or a blend between the two gases.

Natural gas vehicles offer additional air quality and environmental justice benefits too. They emit almost no particulate matter, volatile organic compounds or carbon monoxide which lead to poor air quality.

There are also other environmental risks that can be eliminated. For example, natural gas can’t spill because it’s lighter than air. It doesn’t puddle or cause ground contamination like a diesel or gasoline spill would.

Renewable natural gas is a carbon neutral fuel alternative

RNG is manufactured from agricultural by-products and organic waste from food manufacturing, farming and groceries. The systems needed to fuel a vehicle with RNG or with fossil natural gas are identical. Both fuels are interchangeable and can be blended. National, state and local incentives for RNG projects are also available. RNG is considered a carbon neutral fuel and it can even be carbon negative when using waste from landfills -that’s at least a 100% GHG reduction!

RNG provides more benefits than CNG. Methane (CH4) from a landfill or a wastewater treatment facility is typically vented into the atmosphere. Its global warming potential (GWP) is more than 25 times greater than CO2. That makes capturing and refining methane into a fuel for natural gas engines a better alternative.

Enabling fleets to more affordable engine solutions with natural gas

Natural gas engines meet stringent environmental standards with less complicated emissions controls. As a result, they offer an affordable advantage over diesel engines.

Additional cost savings can be achieved by converting conventional vehicles to run on natural gas. Kits are available to retrofit existing fleets. And automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) offer natural gas versions of their medium and heavy-duty vehicles.

Natural gas refueling stations also can be less expensive to construct than those for hydrogen (H2) or electric vehicles. Their proven equipment and systems are less complex.

National gas also allows fleets to better predict operational costs. The fuel itself costs less than gasoline and diesel. In some areas, natural gas can even be half of the price of diesel. These prices have remained relatively flat for 20 years. This helps fleet operators by being able to reliably forecast monthly and yearly natural gas costs.

Expanding the natural gas supply for national energy independence

The United States has an estimated 2,926 trillion cubic feet of natural gas — enough to last about 98 years. In 2021, 64% of all on-road fuel used in natural gas engines was renewable natural gas. That percentage increases in California, where it’s 98%. The growing use of RNG further diversifies domestic energy supplies.

Natural gas is readily available through established distribution channels. Supplies are so abundant that natural gas is also compressed and exported. It moves across the United States through a pipeline network that links production areas and storage facilities with 77 million customers.

Compressor stations utilize natural gas engines to keep fuel flowing to distribution companies. They deliver natural gas to consumers through small-diameter, lower-pressure service lines.

Natural gas is available at nearly 900 compressed natural gas (CNG) stations. Another 60 liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueling stations are located in areas that service long-haul trucks.

Refueling is done at:

Fast-fill stations, where natural gas vehicles can fill up in about the same time it takes to refuel gas and diesel vehicles
Long-fill stations, where natural gas vehicles slowly fill up overnight or during extended breaks between trips

In summary, natural gas engines can help fleets lower their total transportation emission and operating costs without major disruptions to their day-to-day operations. Natural gas, as a fuel, has a key role to play in our renewable future.

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Traci Kraus

Traci Kraus is a Director of Government Relations where she leads US federal advocacy for Cummins. She focuses on energy, climate, hydrogen, transportation and budget legislative and regulatory issues.

Prior to joining Cummins, Traci worked for former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold. She has a Master’s in Public Administration from the George Washington University and B.A.s in Government and Politics and Communication from the University of Maryland in College Park. She is originally from Chicago, and now lives outside of Washington, D.C. with her husband, Aaron and two children Liam (8) and Sloane (5).

Cummins Newsroom: Education and Thought Leadership

How is the United States investing in clean energy?

Jan 17, 2023 by Traci Kraus, Director, Government Relations

Our planet is facing a dire crisis: carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere continue to soar above record highs. If gone unaddressed, the collective stress of climate change will produce an irreparable impact. Our health, energy, water, and food ecosystems are at risk.

As it stands, there are many long-term effects of climate change. In North America, climate change is forecasted to cause decreasing snowpack in the western mountains. It will also lead to a 5–20% increase in yields of rain-fed agriculture and great intensity of heat waves. In fact, over the last five years, the United States has incurred roughly $120 billion a year in damages as a result of natural disasters caused by extreme weather and climate events.

Beyond natural catastrophes, climatic risks to the United States will have a cascading effect on the country’s interconnected ecosystems. Reduced labor and overall economic productivity, and altered crop yields, will disproportionately harm lower-income and marginalized populations. These groups lack the resources to prepare or cope with extreme weather and climate events.

The world is investing in clean energy innovation

Combating the intensifying climate crisis requires a strategic combination of research and development (R&D), innovation, technology — and bold attempts.

Around the globe, countries are investing in clean energy to contribute to a livable planet now and for generations to come. In 2022, the US passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes a historic $370 billion investment to address the climate crisis. The Inflation Reduction Act provides tax credits and incentives to power homes, businesses, and communities with clean energy by 2030. The Act will increase investments in the fastest-growing power generation technologies, solar and wind. It will also advance cost-saving clean energy projects and protect two million acres of national forests. These initiatives are in addition to substantial tax credits and rebates offered to families and businesses in the United States.
Consequently, a stronger clean energy economy will contribute to overall economic growth and competition. As a result, there will be millions of new well-paying jobs for Americans to make clean energy.

It is possible to start decarbonizing now

Governmental policy strategies and investments in decarbonization technologies are part of the solution to produce increasingly cheap, dependable, and clean energy.

Strong communities and vibrant economies depend on a healthier planet. As a global power technology leader, Cummins is in a unique position to power customer success by leading during this energy transition. We intent to do so by providing customers with the right technology at the right time, understanding of their needs and applications.

We think of this journey to carbon neutrality in two distinct and complementary ways. First, by innovating zero-emission solutions and introducing them in markets and applications where the infrastructure, development and deployment are ready. Secondly, by advancing internal combustion engines through efficiency improvement and by running them on cleaner alternative fuels for a well-to-wheels solution.

Through Destination Zero, we are advancing low- and no-carbon platforms. This includes diesel and natural gas engines, hybrid, and electric platforms, as well as powertrain components, controls, and related technologies.

Join Cummins in powering a better tomorrow

Cummins environmental sustainability strategy includes goals timed for 2030. Progress toward the reduction of carbon emissions from company plants and facilities — in addition to our products — is in full swing. For more than one hundred years, we have brought technological solutions to market. As a power solutions leader, we will continue to power a more prosperous world for today and tomorrow. Are you ready to consider investing in new power solutions?

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Environmental, Social, Governance

Traci Kraus

Cummins Newsroom: Education and Thought Leadership

Economic and Operational Benefits of Propane Engines

Nov 22, 2022 by Puneet Singh Jhawar, General Manager – Global Spark Ignited Business

Propane is a low carbon energy source commonly used in millions of homes across the country for cooking, home heating, hot water and many other applications. It can also be used as a clean vehicle fuel in medium duty applications including school buses, delivery and beverage fleets, paratransit vehicles and more.

Thousands of fleet owners choose propane autogas because it offers many environmental, economic and operational benefits. With new technology like the Cummins B6.7 propane engine, fleet owners can experience the power of diesel while producing less greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants, ultimately saving on operations costs.

Propane is a clean fuel

In testing, the Cummins B6.7 propane engine delivered the lowest greenhouse gas emissions of any propane autogas-powered engine. It will also deliver some of the lowest GHG emissions in the medium-duty market. It is an ultra-low, .02 NOx engine that will meet or exceed EPA and CARB regulations in 2024 and beyond.

For fleets and other end users looking to meet environmental goals, renewable propane is available in the market. It has the same chemical structure and physical properties as conventional propane. It has an even lower carbon intensity than conventional propane because it’s produced from renewable, raw materials. This fuel can be used in any existing propane autogas engine or propane autogas infrastructure. Therefore, fleet owners will be able to easily implement this cleaner energy source in their own vehicles.

Propane is an abundant domestically produced fuel

Approximately 30 billion gallons of propane are produced annually in the United States and about 80% of U.S. propane is produced during the natural gas refining process. Because of that, its price is decoupled from the price of crude oil set by the global market.

Propane is an abundant and portable natural resource in North America. It can be distributed in liquid form using ships, rail cars, trucks and via pipelines. Best of all, propane is an environmentally friendly energy source. When compared with other options like diesel or gasoline, propane can significantly reduce harmful emissions.

Since propane is produced in the U.S., the domestic supply is shielded from global geopolitical and economic shocks. Unlike gasoline and diesel, it provides a reliable energy source for business owners.

Propane engines provide low total operating costs

Due to propane’s widespread and long-standing usage, propane autogas engines are a mature technology. The B6.7 propane engine will be built on Cummins’ fuel agnostic platform, meaning many parts are shared across an array of other engines. This will help reduce cost and complexity to the customer in terms of vehicle acquisition, integration of lower carbon fuel types, and vehicle maintenance.

As a vehicle fuel, propane autogas is affordable and typically costs as much as 50 percent less than diesel. The wholesale cost of propane autogas falls between the price of oil and natural gas, which are the fuel’s two sources. Because of this, propane autogas prices don’t fluctuate as sharply as other fuels, so fleet owners are able to easily manage fuel budgets.

Additionally, there is no need for an exhaust treatment system. That’s because propane is a clean energy source that produces 20 times less nitrogen oxides and particulate emissions than diesel. The B6.7 propane engine is instead fitted with a maintenance-free, three-way catalyst exhaust system.

Due to the cost-effectiveness of the fuel and reduced maintenance costs, propane autogas provides fleet owners with the lowest total cost of ownership. Propane autogas engines like the Cummins B6.7 propane will provide a strong return on investment and a low cost per mile.

Propane engines offer a simple refueling experience

A benefit of propane autogas that many fleet owners may not immediately think about is the ease and affordability of refueling. Fleets can choose from several refueling options. Each one offers distinct advantages that help a company identify and customize a solution that best fits its business and maximizes productivity.

Options range from private on-site stations that are fully scalable to meet the demands of a fleet, to temporary field stations to employ around a site in the field. Some fleets can even use any of the more than 2,800 public refueling stations around the country. Best of all, propane suppliers will often lease the refueling infrastructure to a fleet in exchange for a fuel contract that locks in a set price per gallon for a duration beneficial to both parties.

Fleet owners must consider what energy source will best meet their environmental, economic, and operational needs. With new propane autogas innovations, the Cummins B6.7 propane engine becomes an attractive solution.

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