Biomass-to-Liquids (BTL)
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For Europe, A Second Look At Biofuels?
March 16, 2008
by Jack Rosebro
Remarks made by European heads of state following the European Council’s annual Spring Summit, which was held last week in Brussels, indicate that the European Commission’s aspirations to boost the use of biofuels in European transport to 10% of total use by 2020 may well be revised to address concerns that increased biofuel production is already impacting food costs and water supplies, while accelerating deforestation and reducing the biosphere’s carbon sinks, creating a resultant intensification of man-made greenhouse gas production.
According to Euractiv1, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, observed after the summit: “We’re not excluding the possibility that we’ll have to amend or revise our [biofuel] goals.” Regarding the viability of biofuels, EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer-Boël stated “I know that various objections have been raised, and the Commission takes them seriously. But we believe we can answer them.”
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EIA Forecasts Significant Shortfall in Cellulosic Biofuel Production Compared to Target Set by Renewable Fuel Standard
March 04, 2008
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| Under the EIA AEO2008 forecast, a shortfall in cellulosic ethanol production will trigger an adjustment of the RFS target. Click to enlarge. |
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) is forecasting a significant shortfall in the production of cellulosic biofuels required to meet the targets of the Renewable Fuel Standard established in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA2007).
In testimony before the US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources today, EIA Administrator Guy Caruso provided a summary of the agency’s Annual Energy Outlook 2008 (AEO2008) forecast, revised to factor in the different provisions of EISA2007, including the new RFS target of 36 billion gallons by 2022 and new CAFE requirements.
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Chevron and Weyerhaeuser Form Biofuels Joint Venture
February 29, 2008
Chevron Corporation and Weyerhaeuser Company have created a 50-50 joint venture company focused on developing the next generation of renewable transportation fuels from nonfood sources. The joint venture, Catchlight Energy LLC, will research and develop technology for converting cellulose-based biomass from a variety of sources into economical, low-carbon biofuels.
The formation of Catchlight Energy is the first milestone of a biofuels alliance announced by Chevron and Weyerhaeuser in April 2007 and reflects the companies’ shared view that nonfood biofuels will play an important role in diversifying the nation’s energy supply. (Earlier post.)
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NSF Publishes Roadmap for Hydrocarbon Biofuels
February 28, 2008
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| Liquid biofuels can be produced through a wide range of processes. The two main types of catalysts used in these processes are either biological or chemical. As shown in the figure, the majority of the pathways to biofuels production use chemical catalysts. Click to enlarge. Source: J. Regalbuto, NSF |
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has published a roadmap for the production of hydrocarbon biofuels—liquid transportation fuels derived from lignocellulosic biomass that are close analogs for their petroleum-derived hydrocarbon counterparts.
The report—Breaking the Chemical and Engineering Barriers to Lignocellulosic Biofuels: Next Generation Hydrocarbon Biorefineries—is one of the outcomes of a workshop on the topic held last June with more than 70 leading biofuels scientists and engineers. The workshop was sponsored by NSF, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the American Chemical Society; it was chaired by George W. Huber, University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
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Syntec Catalytic Synthesis Process Yields 105 Gallons of Alcohols Per Ton of Biomass
February 15, 2008
Syntec Biofuel Inc has achieved a yield of 105 gallons of alcohols (ethanol, methanol, n-butanol and n-propanol) per ton of biomass. In 2006, the company had targeted a yield of approximately 113 gallons per ton.
The Syntec Biomass to Alcohols (B2A) technology (earlier post), initially developed at the University of British Columbia, parallels the low-pressure catalytic synthesis process used by methanol producers. Syntec’s technology uses any renewable waste biomass such as hard or soft wood, sawdust or bark, organic waste, agricultural waste (including sugar cane bagasse and corn stover), and switch-grass to produce syngas.
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On-Road Testing Phase of Alberta Renewable Diesel Demonstration Begins
January 23, 2008
The on-road testing phase of the Alberta Renewable Diesel Demonstration, Canada’s largest evaluation and demonstration of renewable diesel fuels to date, has officially begun. More than 60 trucks of various sizes are operating throughout Alberta on B2 and B5 blends of various renewable diesel fuels to test for performance, cold weather operability and impact on engine components.
Alberta’s climate poses extreme challenges to renewable diesel use. The demonstration will provide hands-on, cold-weather experience for fuel blenders, distributors, long-haul trucking fleets and drivers.
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GM and Coskata Partner In Syngas-to-Ethanol Technology
January 13, 2008
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| The Coskata process can combine a variety of gasification technologies with Coskata proprietary microorganisms and bioreactors. Click to enlarge. |
Emphasizing on one hand the importance of ethanol as a shorter-term solution to reducing oil dependence and emissions, and on the other to coming up with alternatives to corn-based ethanol, GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner announced a partnership with Coskata Inc., a second-generation ethanol startup, during his opening press conference at the North American International Auto Show.
Coskata uses a proprietary process that leverages patented microorganisms and bioreactor designs to produce ethanol from practically any carbon-based feedstock, including garbage, old tires and plant waste, for less than $1 a gallon—about half of today’s cost of producing gasoline. The partnership includes an undisclosed equity stake for GM, joint research and development into emissions technology and investigation into making ethanol from GM facilities’ waste and non-recyclable vehicle parts.
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Oxford Catalysts and Novus in Strategic Alliance for Biogas-to-Ethanol Processing
January 07, 2008
Oxford Catalysts Group PLC has signed a Strategic Alliance Agreement with Novus Energy, LLC, to develop technology for the conversion of biogas derived from organic wastes to ethanol and higher-chain alcohols.
Oxford Catalysts offers a novel class of catalysts made from metal carbides which can match or exceed the benefits of traditional precious metal catalysts for applications such as Fischer-Tropsch processing or hydro-desulfurization (HDS) at a lower cost. (Earlier post.)
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Norske Skog Launching Wood Biomass-to-Liquids Joint Venture with Norwegian Forest Owners
December 27, 2007
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| Simplified wood biomass-to-liquids process. Click to enlarge. |
Norske Skog, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of newsprint and magazine paper, in cooperation with Norwegian forest owners, is establishing a joint venture to develop and produce synthetic fuels from Biomass-to-Liquids (BTL) processes. A prototype facility will be built in connection with Norske Skog Follum at Hønefoss, Norway.
The prime focus of the project is on Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthetic diesel production from woody biomass, but the effort will also consider other lignocellulosic biofuels, according to Dr. Klaus Schöffel, Vice President Energy, Norske Skog.
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Diversified Energy and Velocys Win DoD Contract for Portable Waste-to-Synfuel Plant
December 12, 2007
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| Process flow chart for the Hydro-Max/Velocys portable Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) fuels plant. Click to enlarge. |
Diversified Energy Corporation (DEC), developers of the HydroMax gasification process (earlier post), and Velocys Inc., a Battelle subsidiary specializing in microchannel reactor technology (earlier post), have been selected by the US Department of Defense (DoD) to design a portable synthetic fuel production system based on DEC’s HydroMax gasification technology and Velocys’ advanced Fischer-Tropsch approach.
The goal of the DoD funded effort is to develop a transportable system that can convert waste products generated at military installations into 50-500 barrels per day of high-performance synthetic fuels such as diesel and aviation fuel.
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US DOE to Invest up to $7.7 Million for Four Biomass-to-Liquids Projects; More than $1B in Funding for Biofuel Development Announced This Year
December 04, 2007
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has selected four biofuels projects in which it plans invest up to $7.7 million. These projects will demonstrate the thermochemical conversion process of turning grasses, stover, the non-edible portion of crops and other materials into biofuel. Combined with today’s announcement, DOE has announced more than $1 billion in funding for biofuels research and development (multi-year funding) projects this year.
These new projects are focused on more efficiently eliminating contaminants generated during the thermochemical production of biofuels. Combined with the industry cost share, more than $15.7 million is slated for investment in these four projects.
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Volkswagen and Daimler Buy Stakes in BTL Company CHOREN
October 11, 2007
Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft and Daimler AG have each acquired a minority shareholding in CHOREN Industries GmbH, Freiberg, a provider of gasification technology. The main goal of the commitment by the two automakers is to promote the widespread market introduction of BTL (biomass-to-liquid) second-generation synthetic fuel.
Volkswagen and Daimler have been investigating potential applications, the economic feasibility and the energy balance of BTL jointly with CHOREN since 2002. The shareholdings in CHOREN acquired by the two companies are an important step towards the systematic use of second-generation biofuels and support the further project development of commercial-scale BTL production plants with a planned annual production capacity of some 200,000 tonnes (approximately 61 million gallons US). (Earlier post.)
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Study on Transportation Technology to 2050 Calls for Integrated Policy Approach to Achieve Sustainability
October 05, 2007
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| Ratings on the environmental acceptability of future powertrain options. The report evaluates sustainability based on the “3As”: Accessibility, Availability and Acceptability. Click to enlarge. |
Successfully tackling the problem of sustainable transportation globally will require the interplay of emerging vehicle technologies with a rational, market-based policy approach, according to a new study by the World Energy Council.
The first pillar for policy making is the energy objective, according to the study, Transport Technologies and Policy Scenarios to 2050. That objective needs to be described in terms of the type of energy to be saved (total energy, fossil energy, petroleum energy, GHG emissions), the numerical target, or the target range and the timeframe.
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Boeing, Air New Zealand and Rolls-Royce Announce Biofuel Flight Demo
September 28, 2007
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| CO2 emissions are lower for biofuels and higher for most other alternatives than Jet fuel according to an analysis by Boeing, MTU Aero Engines and NASA. Click to enlarge. |
Boeing, Air New Zealand and Rolls-Royce announced a Memorandum of Understanding to conduct a biofuel demonstration flight designed to help accelerate the development of viable and sustainable alternative fuels for commercial aviation uses. Boeing is exploring second-generation biofuel feedstocks and processes that have the potential to reduce greenhouse gases throughout their entire lifecycle.
The demonstration flight is planned for the second half of 2008 using an Air New Zealand Boeing 747-400 equipped with Rolls-Royce engines. Boeing is in discussions with fuel-source providers around the globe to identify potential biofuels that are available in suitable quantities for laboratory and jet-engine performance testing and in compliance with stringent aviation requirements.
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NetJets Launches Climate Initiative, Funding for Low Net GHG Synthetic Jet Fuel Project
September 14, 2007
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| Petroleum-based jet fuel is a mixture comprising approximately 20% n-paraffins, 40% iso-paraffins, 20% naphthenes (cycloparaffins), and 20% aromatics. Click to enlarge. Source: Air Force Research Laboratory |
NetJets, a private aviation company serving the US and Europe, has launched a multi-faceted initiative to reduce the environmental impact of aviation, including funding research to develop a synthetic jet fuel with ultra-low net emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) through The Next Generation Jet Fuel Project at Princeton University with the University of California, Davis.
The initiative, which was introduced by NetJets Inc. Chairman & CEO Richard Santulli, and which will be expanded in the coming months, also focuses on improving operational efficiency, reducing carbon emissions from internal operations by 10% over the next two years, and fully offsetting remaining carbon emissions from internal operations. The offset portfolio will also be available to NetJets Owners so they can offset their flights.
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Volvo Demonstrates Trucks Running on Seven Different Renewable Fuels; Evaluates the Fuels
August 29, 2007
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| Volvo’s seven renewable fuel trucks and a summary chart of the fuel evaluation. More evaluation detail below. Click to enlarge. |
The Volvo Group showed seven of its diesel trucks modified to run on 100% renewable fuels: biodiesel, biogas, biogas combined with biodiesel, ethanol/methanol, dimethyl ether (DME), synthetic diesel and hydrogen gas combined with biogas. The company also published the results of its own assessment of the potential and viability of these different fuels.
The seven Volvo FM trucks were equipped with Volvo’s own 9-liter engines that have been specially modified to illustrate the possibilities of what Volvo calls “carbon-dioxide-free transport.” Since all the fuels chosen originated from renewable materials—such as the gasification of biomass for DME and the synthetic Fischer-Tropsch diesel—the combustion of the fuels contributes no net carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Production of the fuels, however, does generate CO2 in amounts varying with the specific pathway—which is one of the criteria Volvo used in its assessment.
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TechDay 2007: Audi Targeting 20% Reduction in CO2 from its Vehicles by 2012
August 27, 2007
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| The emissions control system on the Tier 2 Bin 5 TDI. Click to enlarge. |
Audi used its TechDay event in Germany to outline its strategy for achieving a 20% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions from its models by 2012.
At the heart of the strategy are the next-generation, Tier 2 Bin 5 compliant diesels (earlier post) and a set of technologies from what Audi calls its Modular Efficiency program. Hybrid systems round off Audi’s efficiency strategy.
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Increasing Grain Prices Making Operating Costs of First- and Second-Generation Biofuels Similar; Capital Costs Remain an Impediment
August 09, 2007
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| Operating costs for 150 mmgpy gasoline equivalent. Click to enlarge. |
Second-generation biofuels produced from lignocellulosic feedstocks like straw, grasses and wood have long been positioned as the successor to today’s first-generation grain ethanol plants, however the technology has been considered too expensive to compete.
Recent increases in grain prices are now resulting in similar operating costs for first-and second-generation biofuels, according to a paper published in the first edition of Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining (BioFPR), a new journal from John Wiley & Sons and SCI (Society of Chemical Industry). However, the capital costs for advanced biochemical and thermochemical biorefineries—which are comparable—will be four to five times as expensive as comparably sized grain ethanol plants.
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Tyson and Syntroleum to Develop Renewable Synthetic Fuels Plants
June 25, 2007
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| The Biofining process leverages Syntroleum’s Fischer-Tropsch wax upgrading experience to produce a lower-cost renewable synthetic diesel than possible via a traditional biomass-to-liquids pathway. Click to enlarge. |
Tyson Foods, Inc. and Syntroleum Corporation, a Fischer-Tropsch fuels technology company, have formed a joint venture company—Dynamic Fuels LLC—which will produce renewable synthetic fuels targeting the diesel, jet, and military fuel markets. (Earlier post.)
The 50-50 venture will produce renewable fuels using what Syntroleum calls its “Biofining” process. Biofining is essentially a biomass-optimized third-stage of Syntroleum’s full Fischer-Tropsch-based synthetic fuels process, the three basic elements of which are (1) gasification, (2) the Fischer-Tropsch reaction, and (3) the upgrading of the F-T wax. Biofining in essence treats fats, greases and vegetables oils as a Fischer-Tropsch wax, and upgrades them to renewable diesel (R-2) and renewable jet fuel (R-8).
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Scania Testing NExBTL Renewable Diesel Fuel
June 05, 2007
Scania is joining forces with Neste Oil in Finland for comprehensive testing of Neste’s NExBTL renewable diesel.
Scania will subject NExBTL fuel blends to environmental and operational trials, starting in autumn 2007 and lasting until the end of 2010. The tests will involve the monitoring of exhaust emissions and engine conditions resulting from different mixes of the renewable diesel and standard diesel. The varying fuel mixtures will be tested in distribution vehicles and shuttle vessels in the Stockholm region, as well as city buses in Helsinki.
