Alternative Fuels for Power Generation: Conversion Pathways, Performance Trade-Offs, and Deployment Readiness

Abstract

Decarbonizing power generation requires fuel options that can complement variable renewable electricity while reducing dependence on fossil resources. This review critically compares biofuels, hydrogen, ammonia, synthetic hydrocarbon fuels, and alcohol-based fuels with emphasis on production pathways, fuel properties, lifecycle greenhouse gas performance, infrastructure demands, and economic viability. The analysis shows that no single pathway dominates across all criteria. Biofuels benefit from comparatively high technological maturity and easier integration into existing assets, but sustainable feedstock availability constrains long-term scale-up. Green hydrogen offers the lowest carbon intensity among the reviewed options and can support flexible generation, yet storage penalties, supply-chain development, and current production cost remain major barriers. Synthetic fuels retain the strategic advantage of compatibility with legacy engines and handling systems, although their multi-step conversion routes impose significant efficiency and cost penalties. Ammonia is promising for large-scale storage and dispatchable power applications, but toxicity, combustion stability, and NOx mitigation must be addressed before broad deployment. Overall, future fuel selection should be guided by integrated assessments that simultaneously consider emissions, cost, energy density, infrastructure readiness, and sector-specific performance requirements