Title: Toward Carbon-Neutral Hydrocarbon Fuels:

  A Distributed, Ecologically-Conscious System for CO₂-Capture-Based Fuel Synthesis

Abstract: As society transitions away from fossil fuels, certain sectors—notably aviation, maritime shipping, and remote operations—will continue to rely on high-density hydrocarbon fuels for the foreseeable future. To meet these needs without contributing to further atmospheric CO₂ accumulation, this paper proposes a globally distributed fuel production network using carbon sourced from ambient air and seawater, powered by non-emitting energy sources. The approach emphasizes ecological caution, thermodynamic efficiency, and regional diversity in siting. Key nodes may include deep-sea CO₂ extraction platforms, Antarctic DAC facilities leveraging cold ambient temperatures, and continentally sited plants co-located with clean energy infrastructure. This distributed model spreads environmental risk, avoids concentrated ecosystem disruption, and enables continued fuel use within a morally defensible, climate-neutral framework.

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1. Introduction: The Continuing Need for Hydrocarbon Fuels While electrification and hydrogen promise to replace fossil fuels in many domains, hydrocarbon fuels remain essential where energy density, infrastructure compatibility, or range requirements dominate. Current fossil-derived fuels introduce new carbon into the atmosphere, accelerating climate change. A new system is needed to produce hydrocarbon fuels without increasing net atmospheric CO₂.

2. Problem Definition

• Fossil fuels are incompatible with climate stability.

• Biofuels scale poorly and compete with land and food.

• We need hydrocarbon fuels that do not add CO₂ to the atmosphere.

3. Proposed Solution: Synthetic Fuels from Captured Carbon

• Capture CO₂ from ambient air (Direct Air Capture, DAC) or seawater.

• Generate hydrogen from water using electrolysis or high-temperature splitting.

• Combine CO₂ and H₂ via Fischer-Tropsch or methanol synthesis to form liquid fuels.

• Power the system using non-emitting sources: nuclear (e.g., molten salt reactors), geothermal, or renewables.

4. Siting Strategy: A Distributed, Risk-Spreading Network 4.1 Deep-Sea Platforms

• Benefit: Higher CO₂ concentrations in water (~100x air), isolated sites.

• Risk: Entrainment of marine microorganisms, ecological harm.

• Mitigation: Low-flow systems, deep-sea intakes, ecological monitoring.

4.2 Antarctic Interior DAC

• Benefit: Cold air improves CO₂ separation efficiency; minimal biomass/ecosystem impact.

• Risk: Harsh conditions, logistical cost.

• Use Case: MSR-powered cryogenic DAC systems operating seasonally or autonomously.

4.3 Continental Plants

• Benefit: Access to infrastructure, skilled labor, existing industrial corridors.

• Risk: Higher ambient temperatures reduce DAC efficiency.

• Use Case: Near solar, wind, hydro, or geothermal energy clusters.

5. Technical Pathways

• CO₂ Capture:

  • Solid amine sorbents

  • Cryogenic capture

  • Membrane or electrochemical seawater extraction

• H₂ Production:

  • PEM or alkaline electrolysis

  • Sulfur-iodine or copper-chlorine thermochemical cycles (if using high-grade heat)

• Synthesis:

  • Fischer-Tropsch for diesel, jet fuel

  • Methanol-to-gasoline (MTG)

• Energy Input:

  • Molten salt reactors for high-temp heat and process stability

  • Solar, wind, hydro as auxiliary sources where available

6. Global Refinery Landscape (Context)

• As of 2023, there are ~700 operational oil refineries worldwide.

• These are centralized, often high-impact facilities.

• The proposed distributed network could match or complement current capacity without relying on fossil feedstocks.

7. Environmental Considerations

• Avoid centralized ecological disruption.

• Tailor design to local conditions (e.g., dry vs wet climates).

• Employ biomimetic principles (e.g., countercurrent heat recovery) to minimize energy use.

• Design for low entrainment in marine settings; preserve microbial ecosystems.

8. Policy and Governance Implications

• International coordination to validate carbon accounting

• Public-private partnerships to deploy early infrastructure

• Defense and aviation sectors as early adopters

• Long-term contracts and incentives for climate-neutral fuels

9. Conclusion and Call to Action A carbon-neutral fuel system is not only possible, but necessary. Distributed, climate-conscious production can ensure humanity’s continued use of hydrocarbon fuels in sectors where alternatives fall short—without sacrificing climate integrity. This paper outlines a path forward grounded in physics, ecology, and fairness. The next step is the launch of targeted pilot projects that test these principles at scale.

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Draft prepared for discussion. Feedback and revisions welcome.