Twitter headlinesBiomass-to-Liquids (BTL)
[Due to the increasing size of the archives, each topic page now contains only the prior 365 days of content. Access to older stories is now solely through the Monthly Archive pages or the site search function.]
Rentech Takes 25% Stake in Biomass Gasification Company
June 24, 2009
Rentech, the developer of a Fischer-Tropsch process for the conversion of syngas derived from biomass and fossil resources into synthetic fuels, specialty waxes and chemicals, has acquired a 25% stake in ClearFuels Technology Inc. through a strategic investment.
ClearFuels, established in 1998, has exclusive rights to a proprietary High Efficiency Hydrothermal Reformer (HEHTR) and process for biomass to syngas conversion (BTG). The ClearFuels technology can convert multiple cellulosic biomass feedstocks such as sugarcane bagasse and virgin wood waste into clean synthesis gas (syngas) suitable for integration with synthetic gas-to-liquids technologies.
More... | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Velocys Awarded Commercialization Grant for Microchannel Reactor Technology for Hydroprocessing to Upgrade Fischer-Tropsch Fuels and Heavy Petroleum Feedstock
May 28, 2009
A collaboration led by Velocys, Inc., the US subsidiary of UK-based Oxford Catalysts Group PLC, has been awarded a $5-million, 2.5-year commercialization grant to apply Velocys’ microchannel reactor technology to hydroprocessing for transportation fuels. (Earlier post.)
The project focuses on hydrocracking to upgrade Fischer-Tropsch fuels and heavy petroleum feedstock for jet and diesel fuel. Additional hydroprocessing application opportunities include the processing of edible oils, specialty and fine chemicals, and conversion of natural oils and fats to transportation fuels.
More... | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Rentech Planning to Build Biomass to Synthetic Fuels and Electric Power Plant in California
May 11, 2009
| The Rentech Process is based on Fischer-Tropsch chemistry. Click to enlarge. |
Rentech, Inc., a Fischer-Tropsch process company, plans to build a plant in Rialto, California for the production of synthetic fuels and electric power from renewable waste biomass feedstocks.
The Rialto Renewable Energy Center (Rialto Project) is designed to produce approximately 600 barrels per day of renewable synthetic fuels and export approximately 35 MW of renewable electric power. The carbon footprint of the plant is designed to be near zero as the fuels and power would be produced only from renewable feedstocks.
More... | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)
Diesel Brewing to Manufacture Cellulosic Biobutanol from Biomass and Manure With Thermochemical Process
April 21, 2009
Oregon-based Diesel Brewing has launched an initiative to manufacture cellulosic biobutanol from biomass and dairy farm manure. Biobutanol can be blended into conventional gasoline or diesel stocks without engine modifications. Compared to ethanol, it has higher energy content, is substantially less corrosive, and can be transported utilizing existing fuel pipelines and containers.
Butanol is certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an additive agent in gasoline up to 11%. Tests conducted at Argonne National Laboratory have shown that 20% butanol-diesel blends can be successfully used in engines calibrated for 100% diesel fuel. Results showed that butanol mixed with diesel can reduce emissions of criteria pollutants.
More... | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
NETL Report Concludes CTL Plus Carbon Capture Results in Fuel with 5-12% Less Lifecycle GHG Than Petroleum Diesel; Modest Biomass Additions Lower GHG Further
February 07, 2009
 |
| Lifecycle GHG emissions of CTL/CBTL/BTL compared to 2005 petroleum diesel baseline. Background colors of the cells represent the crude oil price required for economic feasibility. Tarka et al. (2009) Click to enlarge. |
A new report from the US Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) concludes that coupling a Coal to Liquids (CTL) process with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) yields a fuel with 5-12% less lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to the average emissions profile of petroleum-derived diesel, based on the US national average in 2005. These synthetic fuels are economically competitive with petro-diesel when the crude oil price (COP) is at or above $86 per barrel (based on a 20% rate of return, in January 2008 dollars, with a carbon price of zero).
Adding biomass to the coal in the CTL process (Coal and Biomass to Liquids, CBTL) can reduce the GHG emissions further, according to the study. A mixture of 8% (by weight) biomass and 92% coal can produce fuels which have 20% lower life cycle GHG emissions than petroleum-derived diesel and which are economically competitive when crude prices are equal to or above $93/bbl.
More... | Comments (22) | TrackBack (0)
Biosyncrude Gasification Process Could Produce Motor Fuel at Cost of Around $3/gallon
January 31, 2009
|
| Overview of the Bioliq process. Source: Henrich et al. Click to enlarge. |
The Bioliq biosyncrude gasification process (earlier post) used in a large plant with a capacity of > 1 Mt/a can produce biosynfuel for about €1.04 per kg or €0.8 per liter (US$3.08/gallon US), according to an analysis by researchers at Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Germany, which is co-developing the process with Lurgi.
With ±30% estimate error, this is between €0.56 and €1.04 per liter (US$2.72-5.03/gallon US), they note in a paper published in the journal Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining. A crude oil price of US$100/bbl results in an approximate cost of €0.56/L (US$2.72/gallon US) without tax for conventional motor fuel.
More... | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)
Idaho National Lab Developing Highly Carbon-Efficient Biomass-to-Liquids Process Combining High Temperature Steam Electrolysis and Biomass Gasification
January 09, 2009
 |
| Overview of the Bio-Syntrolysis process. Source: INL. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) are developing a process—Bio-Syntrolysis—that combines high temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE) and biomass gasification to produce syngas for subsequent conversion into synthetic fuels and chemicals. The process results in the highly efficient conversion of biomass carbon to syngas (>90%).
Given the efficiencies of a typical Fischer-Tropsch process, Bio-Syntrolysis would thus convert about 90% of the carbon in biomass to liquid synthetic fuel, INL says. By comparison, INL notes, conventional biomass or coal gasification to liquid fuels converts only ~35% of the carbon to liquid fuel. Likewise, conventional biological routes for ethanol production convert only ~35% of biomass carbon to liquid fuel.
More... | Comments (11) | TrackBack (0)
Air Liquide Moves to Second Stage of Bioliq BTL Pilot Plant in Germany
December 22, 2008
 |
| Overview of the Bioliq process. Click to enlarge. |
Lurgi, a 100% subsidiary of the Air Liquide Group, is beginning work on the second stage of a pilot plant at Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (FZK), Germany to demonstrate the viability of the Bioliq biomass-to-liquids process.
The Bioliq process, being co-developed by Lurgi and FZK with support from Fachagentur für Nachwachsende Rohstoffe (FNR), is a three-stage process. Biomass is pyrolized to a pyrolysis oil. The pyrolysis oil is mixed with pyrolysis coke from the process to create a biocrude slurry for subsequent gasification to syngas and conversion to chemicals and/or fuels.
More... | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
New US EIA Energy Outlook Projects Flat Oil Consumption to 2030, Slower Growth in Energy Use and CO2 Emissions, and Reduced Import Dependence; 2% PHEV New Sales Share by 2030
December 17, 2008
 |
| The AEO2009 reference case projects no increase in petroleum-based liquid fuels consumption, as biofuel use grows. Click to enlarge. |
The Annual Energy Outlook 2009 (AEO2009) reference case released today by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects virtually no growth in US oil consumption through 2030, reflecting the combined effect of recently enacted CAFE standards, requirements for increased use of renewable fuels, and an assumed rebound in oil prices as the world economy recovers.
With overall liquid fuel demand in the AEO2009 reference case growing by 1 million barrels per day between 2007 and 2030, increased use of domestically-produced biofuels, and rising domestic oil production spurred by higher prices, the net import share of total liquids supplied, including biofuels, declines from 58% in 2007 to less than 40% in 2025 before increasing to 41% in 2030.
More... | Comments (23) | TrackBack (0)
Study Concludes Afforestation of Degraded Areas Could Provide Sufficient Biomass for Global Energy Supply; BTL for Transportation Fuels
December 16, 2008
A pair of German researchers has concluded that the global energy demand projected by the International Energy Agency in the Reference Scenario for the year 2030 could theoretically be provided sustainably and economically primarily from lignocellulosic biomass grown on areas which have been degraded by human activities in historical times.
According to Prof. Jürgen O. Metzger from Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, and Prof. Aloys Hüttermann from the Universität Göttingen, a global energy supply based on biomass grown to generate electricity and produce fuel is both a sustainable and economical scenario, contrary to some other current research. Their findings are published online this week in the journal Naturwissenschaften.
More... | Comments (26) | TrackBack (0)
Oxford Catalysts Acquires Velocys; Focus on Accelerating Commercialization of Small-Scale Synthetic Fuel Systems
November 03, 2008
 |
| The Oxford Catalysts-Velosys combination will target cost-effective small-scale synthetic fuels production. Click to enlarge. |
UK-based Oxford Catalysts Group PLC has acquired Velocys, Inc. from Battelle Memorial Institute for $35 million, $5 million of which is in cash. Velocys is a leader in the design and development of microchannel process technology for the production of synthetic fuels and commodity chemicals, with more than $160 million invested in its technology to date, primarily by industrial partners including Dow Chemical, Toyo Engineering and MODEC. (Earlier post.)
Oxford Catalysts (OC) has a platform catalyst technology that provides the increased activity required to unlock the benefits of such microchannel reactors. The companies have been collaborating since May 2007; in more than 3,500 hours of pilot testing, Velocys found that the OC Fischer-Tropsch catalysts were 15 times more productive than conventional fixed bed catalysts. Together, the catalyst and microchannel reactor technologies are capable of producing next-generation synthetic fuels more economically at smaller scales than possible with conventional systems, using feedstock sources including captured flare gas, gas that is currently reinjected, stranded gas reserves and biomass.
More... | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
Study Suggests “Flexible Carbon to Liquid” Fuel Process Could Displace 15-20% of Transportation Fuels in the US
October 15, 2008
A preliminary analysis of a feedstock-flexible biomass waste/residue thermochemical pathway for liquid fuel production by researchers at Purdue University suggests that such a “flexible carbon to liquid” fuel (FCTL) process could replace 15%-20% of transportation fuels consumed in US and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50% compared with petroleum-derived gasoline.
At the same time, it could be more environmentally sustainable since few changes would be needed in agricultural and forestry practices, and may be more resilient against external disturbances such as feedstock supply shocks and market demand changes, they say.
More... | Comments (26) | TrackBack (0)
Norske Skog/Xynergo and CHOREN to Cooperate on Biomass-to-Liquids in Norway
September 29, 2008
 |
| The CHOREN gasification process. Click to enlarge. |
CHOREN Industries, a provider of solid feed gasification technology used in the production of BTL (Biomass-to-Liquids), among other applications, and Norske Skog, one of the world’s largest producers of newsprint and magazine paper, have entered into an agreement for collaboration in the evaluation of BTL fuels production in Norway.
CHOREN earlier this year finalized construction of a beta commercial BTL plant in Germany, which will produce about 18 million of liters (4.8 million gallons US) of BTL fuels yearly.
More... | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
Oxford Catalysts Develops New FT Catalyst for Microchannel BTL Reactors
August 14, 2008
 |
| Oxford Catalysts’s OMX process produces a narrower particle size distribution of crystallites in the 8-15 nanometer diameter range which exhibit terraced surfaces—both features that enhance catalyst activity. Click to enlarge. |
Oxford Catalysts has developed a new metal carbide Fischer-Tropsch (FT) catalyst designed for use in microchannel reactors targeted for the small-scale, distributed production of biomass-to-liquids (BTL) fuels. (Earlier post.) Microchannel systems with the new catalyst can be upwards of 20 times more productive per kilogram of catalyst than conventional systems, according to the company.
With approximately one tonne of biomass required to produce one barrel of liquid fuel, the transportation of biomass to a large-scale, centralized plant poses a challenge to the economics of biomass-to-liquids production. One approach being taken to address this is the development of small-scale Fischer-Tropsch reactors to convert the waste on a distributed basis locally rather than at large collection centers.
More... | Comments (11) | TrackBack (0)
Fulcrum BioEnergy to Build First Municipal Solid Waste-to-Ethanol Plant in Nevada
July 18, 2008
Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc. plans to build its first commercial-scale thermochemical plant for converting municipal solid waste (MSW) to ethanol at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center in Storey County, Nevada. The project is expected to cost approximately $120 million and is set to enter construction by the end of this year. When it begins operations in early 2010, the Sierra BioFuels plant is expected to produce approximately 10.5 million gallons of ethanol per year, and to process nearly 90,000 tons per year of MSW.
The plant will utilize gasification technology licensed from InEnTec (previously Integrated Environmental Technologies) and a licensed proprietary catalytic technology jointly developed by Nipawin Biomass Ethanol New Generation Co-operative Ltd. and Saskatchewan Research Council for the conversion of the resulting syngas to fuels.
More... | Comments (15) | TrackBack (0)
Dow and NREL Partner on Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass to Ethanol and Other Chemical Building Blocks
July 16, 2008
 |
| Process flow diagram with research barriers for cost-competitive thermochemical ethanol production. Click to enlarge. Source: NREL |
The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) and the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are jointly developing and evaluating a thermochemical process that will convert biomass to ethanol and other chemical building blocks.
The process will gasify non-food biomass feedstock to produce a synthesis gas, which Dow’s catalyst technology will then convert into a mixture of alcohols—predominantly ethanol—that can be used as transportation fuels or chemical building blocks. The joint evaluation program will focus on improving the mixed alcohol catalyst, as well as demonstrating pilot scale performance and the commercial relevance of an integrated facility.
More... | Comments (17) | TrackBack (0)
ASTM to Consider Adding 50% F-T Blend to Jet Fuel Specification: Work on Hydrotreated Fats and Oils Also Underway
ASTM International’s Subcommittee D02.J0.01 on Jet Fuel Specifications will consider a ballot to include Fischer-Tropsch-derived synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK) for use in blending in jet fuels at levels up to 50% in the jet fuel specification ASTM D1655 when the supporting research report is available, estimated to be later this month.
While ASTM does not approve new aviation fuel formulations—that is the domain of the FAA and the aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)—it does recognize aviation approvals by incorporating them into specifications. ASTM also is able to assemble diverse experts to advise approval authorities regarding issues relevant to new fuel formulations.
More... | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
DOE to Provide up to $40 Million in Funding for Two Additional Small-Scale Biorefinery Projects
July 14, 2008
 |
| Locations of DOE major biofuels projects as of 14 July 2008. Click to enlarge. |
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has selected two additional small-scale cellulosic biorefinery projects in Park Falls, Wis. and Jennings, La. for federal funding of up to $40 million over five years.
These two biorefinery projects are the final round of selections for DOE’s competitive small-scale biorefinery solicitation. Earlier this year, DOE selected seven other projects, comparable in size and scope, to receive up to a total of $200 million. (Earlier post.)
More... | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)
RENEW Publishes Final Report on Second-Generation BTL Fuels in Europe, Recommends Path Forward
 |
| Results of the Well-to-Tank lifecycle assessment of different BTL processes. The process with the lowest impact is set as reference (100%). Click to enlarge. |
The Integrated European Project “Renewable Fuels for Advanced Powertrains” (RENEW) has published its final scientific report on its four-year project studying different production routes for second-generation renewable biomass-to-liquid (BtL) fuels.
Of the concepts examined, the project concluded that the Chemrec process of black liquor gasification to produce dimethyl ether (DME) has the highest conversion efficiency, the lowest product cost and the highest greenhouse gas emission reductions on a well-to-tank basis. The Chemrec process is also one of two recommended for demonstration in industrial scale.
More... | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)
UK Gallagher Review Calls for Significant Slowdown in Introduction of Biofuels
July 07, 2008
|
| Proposed trajectory of EU biofuels policy. The orange section provides a guaranteed market for renewable fuels to develop while control measures are introduced. Green illustrates a proposed mandatory obligation for advanced technology fuels from appropriate feedstocks. The blue section shows how the market for current technology might develop beyond 2013/14 if measures to ensure the sustainability of biofuels supplied proved successful including in avoiding indirect land-use change. Click to enlarge |
The just-released Gallagher Review of the indirect effects of biofuels production, requested by the UK government from the Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA) earlier this year, concludes that while there is a future for a sustainable biofuels industry, feedstock production must avoid agricultural land that would otherwise be used for food production.
According to the Review, the displacement of existing agricultural production, due to biofuel demand, is accelerating land-use change and, if left unchecked, will reduce biodiversity and may even cause greenhouse gas emissions rather than savings. As a result, the Review Calls for a significant slowdown in the introduction of biofuels “until adequate controls to address displacement effects are implemented and are demonstrated to be effective.”
