8B
ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD
September 2012
All eyes on Israeli trial of methanol fuel Israelis are first to test whether a greener, cheaper fuel from natural gas can be used in existing cars without ill effects on the engine By Abigail Klein Leichman July 24, 2012, ISRAEL21c
W
ith gas-pump prices soaring along with the demand for energy independence, energy experts in the United States are eagerly awaiting the results of an Israeli pilot using M15, a fuel made of 15 percent methanol and 85% gasoline. Methanol is made from natural gas, a substance that both countries have in abundance. M15 is produced by Dor Chemicals of Haifa, which is running the sixmonth trial along with gas station chain Ten Petroleum with the support and supervision of Israel’s ministries of energy and water resources, transportation and environmental protection. “We would like to prove that no changes are necessary to cars or to gasstation equipment in order to use this blend,” Ten CEO Danny Ben-Ner tells ISRAEL21c. M15 is already popular in China, but test results on its possible effects to car engines and gas pumps have not been made public. “We are closely monitoring the project because this is the most important experiment that is currently taking place in the world outside of China,” says Gal Luft of the Institute for Analysis of Global Security, a Washington, D.C. think tank. Expectations are that the pilot will show no modifications are necessary and no harm is done to the engines or pumps. “The standards will allow us to use the information to demonstrate to the U.S. government and auto industry that existing vehicles can run on blends of methanol,” says Luft.
Makes sense to replace oil with natural gas Ben-Ner explains that 11 cars are participating in the test – 10 of them are from Dor’s corporate fleet and the other one belongs to a Ten station manager. “They were all checked before the start of the pilot in early June and will be double tested again after they drive 30,000 kilometers,” says Ben-Ner. “All the components from the fuel station, including pumps, will also be tested.” “We have identified the potential of natural gas-based oil to replace gasoline and diesel fuel in transportation, and methanol is one of the best candidates for short- and medium-term implementation,” says Brachah Halaf, senior manager of oil replacement for the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources. “When we got a request to finance and oversee this pilot project from Dor, we embraced it. We were looking for experiments that are system-oriented and need to be coordinated in many aspects among several ministries.” Emissions from natural gas-based fuel are much less toxic than those of regular gasoline, and methanol is biodegradable. It’s also cheaper. Using M15 would reduce gas prices in Israel by 50 agorot per liter (roughly equivalent to 50 cents per gallon). “The question is how to best use natural gas to replace oil,” says Luft. “It’s a question being asked in Israel and also in the United States, which has abundant natural gas and a dependency on oil. Natural gas is one-sixth the price
This article is included as part of The Jewish Federation’s year-long Israel@65 celebration. During this time, in a series of articles, The Jewish News will spotlight Israeli innovation. Please visit www.jfedsrq.org for more information on Israel@65 events.
of oil on an energy-equivalent basis, so it makes total sense to replace oil with natural gas in transportation. Our view is that turning gas into methanol is the easiest and most economical way to do it.” Methanol at the pump within two years Rich stores of natural gas have been discovered in Israel and in the United States over the past couple of years, and the race is on to plan how to use it in the most efficient way for fuel. “The idea of producing liquid fuel from gas would be a real change in our way of using energy,” says BenNer, who says that an interested U.S. company has visited Ten twice to learn more about integrating M15 into gas stations. “This will be a significant collaboration between us and the United States,” he says. “We are the first pilot and can use the outcome to help others.” If the trial does prove the ease of
switching over to M15, the next step would be a much larger-scale pilot involving tens or hundreds of cars over the course of about a year, says BenNer. “Then we’ll have final results. Our goal is that M15 will become part of our products in our stations in the near future – within two years if everything goes according to our expectations. It will cost less than regular gasoline, in addition to its advantages of reducing environmental harm and dependence on foreign oil.” Adds Ten spokeswoman Ortal Ganot, “All eyes are looking at Israel because this is an amazing project, the first in the world to check the engine before, during and after to see the effect of M15. We believe nothing will happen to the engine, and that Israel is going to use M15 so that in 10 years from now we can be more energy independent.” Abigail Klein Leichman is a writer and associate editor at ISRAEL21c.
Destination: Israel 2013 OPPOrTunTies fOr sTuDenT TrAveL TO isrAeL
Don’t Struggle to keep your
Independence
At Home...
BoB MaLkIn YOung AmbAssADOrs • mAsA mArch oF THe Living • s.K.i.P. Do you qualify?
Turn to us for help!
□ Jewish a □ In High School or College a □ Living in Sarasota/Manatee County a □ Interested in travel to Israel a
Thursday, October 11, 2012 7:00 pm
The Federation Campus 580 McIntosh Rd, Sarasota, Florida 34232
RSVP at: www.jfedsrq.org
Questions? Contact Amber ikeman at aikeman@jfedsrq.org or 941.371.4546 ext. 105 Lic. #299993609
Lic. #299993726
A Private Duty Home Health Agency Exceptional Care, Service and Support • Complimentary Home Evaluation • Administration of Medication • Errands, Shopping, Transportation • Activities of Daily Living • Personal Care Bathing • Meal Preparation • New Born & Mom Assist program
Your Extended Family • Trusted • Experienced • Caring
Sarasota (941) 388-3117 Venice (941) 484-3242 Englewood (941) 474-4455 Bradenton (941) 795-7000 www.helpathomefl.com
60528
LICENSED • INSURED • BONDED
Klingenstein Jewish Center 580 Mcintosh Road, sarasota, FL 34232
941.371.4546 • www.jfedsrq.org