The ‘aha’ moment: Krystal Wrigley

In any scientific endeavor, coming up with the idea is just the first step in the journey to a breakthrough. The finish line of innovation requires the curiosity, patience and resolve to keep working through unexpected setbacks and technical challenges.

This is especially true as ExxonMobil researchers work together on researching and developing the next generation of lower-emission transportation fuels. Reducing emissions from ships and planes and on the roads is essential to meeting climate goals, as the transportation sector accounts for nearly one-quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.

In this series, we spoke with some of ExxonMobil’s top scientists to find out what they’ve learned, what surprised them, and how they define success in the long game of scientific inquiry.

Krystal Wrigley is a Fuels Technology Chief at ExxonMobil’s Technology Center in Clinton, New Jersey. She’s spent her 16-year career as a chemical engineer for the company, beginning as a researcher and then advancing into her present role as a leader in technology strategy and product development to implementation. She has been uniquely placed to see the ways in which big ideas in the lab translate to commercial applications in the real world.

High-performance fuel has been Krystal’s area of expertise, with early work in quality testing and logistics for Formula 1 racing vehicles. Today, she focuses on lower-emission fuels for the commercial trucking, shipping and aviation sectors.

Krystal recently spoke with us about the process that leads to those breakthrough moments.

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Fueling America's future with Toyota

Fueling America's future with Toyota

Key takeaways:

  • Lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emission liquid fuels hold promise.
  • They seamlessly integrate with existing infrastructure and vehicles.
  • With supportive policy, they could complement electric vehicles.
Co-processing:Making tomorrows fuel with todays facilities

Co-processing: Making tomorrow’s fuel with today’s facilities

Key takeaways:

  • Co-processing can accelerate the path to a lower-carbon future.
  • This technology can use our existing infrastructure to produce more lower-emission fuels (LEFs).
  • With policy support, co-processing can help meet rising demand for LEFs.
Lets deliver sustainable aviation fuel  with our existing infrastructure in France

Let’s deliver sustainable aviation fuel – with our existing infrastructure in France

Three key takeaways:

  • Global air travel demand is increasing.
  • Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) presents an opportunity to reduce emissions.
  • Co-processing can help accelerate the energy transition.
Strathcona: The road to renewable fuel

Strathcona: The road to renewable fuel

Renewable fuel production is ramping up at the Strathcona refinery. With hundreds of employees and contractors, and the capacity to fill 500,000 vehicles per day, this facility could deliver more than 6 million barrels of renewable diesel per year. 
The future of lower emission transportation fuels

The future of lower emission transportation fuels

For 30 years, Russ Green has worked primarily in ExxonMobil’s fuels and lubricants businesses. Today Russ is focused on developing lower-emission fuels for the highest emitting industries. Energy Factor recently spoke with Russ about the future of transportation and innovations he’s working on to help lower emissions.
Renewable diesel for our changing world

Renewable diesel for our changing world

Diesel plays a critical role in enabling modern life. This high-energy fuel packs the power needed for trucking, aviation and maritime transportation – which help move people around the world, and goods from manufacturing sites to our doorsteps.