Coal-to-Liquids (CTL)
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Senators Introduce Bill to Increase Domestic Oil and Natural Gas Production; Coal-Derived Fuel Mandate
May 04, 2008
US Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced the American Energy Production Act of 2008 (S.2958) to increase domestic production of oil and natural gas and to fund the development of oil shale and coal-to-liquids technology. Eighteen other senators co-sponsored. Included in the bill is language for a coal-derived fuels mandate.
The bill would open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as well as the Atlantic and Pacific regions of the Outer Continental Shelf for exploration and production; and lift the one-year moratorium on developing oil shale in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah.
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BP Reinforces Commitment to China With Series of Agreements; Coal Conversion, Wind, Acetic Acid
January 19, 2008
BP has signed a series of agreements in China involving the strategic integration and commercialization of coal conversion technologies; wind power generation; and world-class acetic acid production.
The British Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown and the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, as well as officials from both the British and Chinese governments, witnessed the signing during a ceremony in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
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DKRW Selects ExxonMobil’s Methanol-to-Gasoline (MTG) Technology for Coal-to-Liquids Project
December 17, 2007
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| MTG is one of the pathways for converting syngas to transportation fuel. Both the Fischer-Tropsch and MTG processes are 3-step processes. Thermal efficiencies are essentially governed by the thermal efficiencies of the syngas production process and feed. Click to enlarge. Source: ExxonMobil and Uhde |
DKRW Advanced Fuels (DKRW) has selected ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company’s (EMRE) methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) technology as part of DKRW’s coal to liquids (CTL) project in Medicine Bow, WY. DKRW recently stated that it has switched the initial finished product of its planned CTL plant from diesel to gasoline. (Earlier post.)
The Medicine Bow project will gasify the coal, convert the synthetic gas to methanol, and then convert the methanol to gasoline via the MTG process. The plant will produce up to 20,000 barrels per day of transportation fuels, electricity, steam, off-gas, slag, chemicals (including sulfur), other fuels and energy products which will be sold into the market. The plant intends to capture CO2 emissions from the process and send it to northeast Wyoming for use in enhanced oil recovery projects.
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Coal-to-Liquids Producer Forms JV for Algae Bioreactor for CO2 Conversion
November 21, 2007
Linc Energy Ltd, the Australian company developing the Chinchilla Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) to Gas to Liquids (GTL) facility (earlier post and earlier post), has formed a joint venture with BioCleanCoal Pty Ltd to develop an algae bioreactor for the conversion of process CO2 into oxygen and biomass.
The joint venture will be owned on a 60/40 basis with Linc Energy owning 60% and having the day to day management and BioCleanCoal owning the remaining 40%. The JV Company will develop a bioreactor which will convert CO2 through a photosynthesis process into oxygen and solid biomass, permanently and safely removing CO2 from the atmosphere.
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US Task Force on Unconventional Fuels Completes Plan; Calls Situation Urgent and Targets 7M Barrels Per Day by 2035
October 04, 2007
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| Unconventional fuels objectives for 2035. Click to enlarge. |
The Task Force on Strategic Unconventional Fuels, established by the Secretary of Energy under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, has completed an integrated strategy and program plan to coordinate and accelerate the commercial development of strategic unconventional fuels within the United States, including oil shale and tar sands, heavy oil, enhanced oil recovery, and coal-derived liquids.
The Task Force concluded that the domestic and global fuels supply situation and outlook is urgent.
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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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House Hearing Explores Potential of Coal-to-Liquids Fuels
September 06, 2007
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| Conventional oil and alternative fuel supplies under four global warming emission limitation scenarios produced by Battelle. Restrictions on greenhouse gases push the mix away from coal and more to biomass. Click to enlarge. Source: Hawkins testimony. |
Members of the US House of Representatives’ Science & Technology Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing this week considering the policy and technological measures potentially needed if the US is to move forward with Coal-to-Liquids as an element of the nation’s energy strategy.
Although two issues were foremost in the session—carbon dioxide emissions and financial viability—the witnesses touched on other issues including infrastructure improvements and water usage.
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NETL and USAF Release Study for Conceptual Coal+Biomass-to-Liquids Facility; Offers Lower Carbon Footprint than Petroleum Refining
September 01, 2007
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| Block flow diagram for the corn stover scenario. The study analyzes the use of three biomass feedstocks: stover, switchgrass, and woody biomass. Click to enlarge. |
The US Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE/NETL) and the US Air Force have released a study that concludes that a facility capable of producing 7,500 barrels per day or more of jet fuel or diesel from coal and biomass (coal + biomass-to-liquids, CBTL), with accompanying 20% lower life-cycle emissions of CO2 compared to conventional petroleum refining processes, is feasible.
The Air Force intends to supply 50% of its CONUS (Continental United States) fuel requirements from domestic synthetic sources by 2016. (Earlier post.) One option under serious consideration is the indirect coal-to-liquids (CTL) process (gasification and Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis). To reduce the heavy CO2 output of the conventional CTL process (approximately 1.8 times that of conventional petroleum processes), the Department of Defense (DoD) will require synthetic fuel producers to use carbon capture and sequestration (CCS).
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US Senator Outlines Four-Point Plan for Accelerating Coal-to-Liquids
August 24, 2007
At a recent conference in West Virginia on prospects for coal-to-liquids convened by the Coal-to-Liquids Coalition (CTLC), US Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) outlined a four-point plan for “realizing the full potential” of CTL.
The CTLC includes coal producers, technology developers, labor unions and a range of potential consumers and other organizations. The conference was the first hosted by the coalition and featured speakers including Congressmen Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Jack Murtha (D-PA) in addition to Air Force officials and industry and labor leaders.
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Researchers Exploring New Refinery-Based Coal-to-Liquids Pathways for Jet Fuel and Other Products
August 20, 2007
Researchers at Penn State University are investigating several coal-to-liquid processes that differ from traditional direct (Bergius) and indirect (Fischer-Tropsch) liquefaction. The new pathways could introduce coal-derived chemicals or coal into existing oil refinery operations for the production of end products including jet fuel, gasoline, diesel, heating oil and carbon anodes.
The primary focus of the work, which is funded by the Department of Energy, is the development of a coal-based replacement for conventional jet fuel. The coal-to-jet fuel work is in the pilot-plant stage, but along with the jet fuel, the processes produce other hydrocarbon products. For every eight barrels of a Jet A equivalent, the process produces a half barrel of fuel oil, one barrel of diesel and a half barrel of gasoline.
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US Air Force Certifies 50% Blend of Fischer-Tropsch and JP-8 Fuel for all B-52H Aircraft; All Airframes to be Certified by 2011
August 12, 2007
The US Air Force has certified a 50:50 blend of Fischer-Tropsch synthetic fuel and JP-8 for use on all B-52H aircraft. The announcement by Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne marked the formal conclusion of testing on this aircraft. The Air Force plans to test and certify every airframe to fly on a domestically produced synthetic fuel blend by early 2011.
The B-52H was chosen as the test platform because of key advantages such as its eight engines. The fuel system can simultaneously isolate, carry and manage both a test fuel and the standard JP-8 fuel. (Earlier post.)
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BP and LLNL Sign Technical Cooperation Agreement on Underground Coal Gasification for Fuels Production
July 12, 2007
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| Layout of a UCG well for the LLNL CRIP process. Click to enlarge. |
BP and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have signed a technical agreement to work cooperatively on the development of underground coal gasification (UCG) technology for the in-situ conversion of coal deposits into fuels and other products.
At a UCG production facility, air or oxygen is injected into the cavity, water enters from surrounding rock, and partial combustion and gasification take place at the coal seam face after ignition. The resulting high-pressure syngas stream is returned to the surface, where the gas is separated and contaminants are removed.
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Update on the US Senate Energy Bill, Part 3; 44 Billion Gallon RFS, $10.2 Billion for Lower GHG Coal Projects
June 17, 2007
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| The conventional and advanced biofuels portions of the original language and the new Coleman amendment. Click to enlarge. |
Although the volume of new amendments introduced to the energy bill under discussion on the Senate floor decreased on Friday, there were several major proposals.
An amendment (SA 1612) by Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) proposed an expansion of the renewable fuels standard (RFS) to 44 billion gallons by 2022, with 30 billion of that coming from advanced biofuels—e.g., cellulosic ethanol. The current language in the bill proposes a 36 billion gallon RFS by 2022, with 21 billion of that coming from renewable fuels. Coleman is thus proposing a 43% bump in the production of advanced biofuels over the same timeframe.
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CMU: Plug-in Hybrids “More Sensible” Use of Coal Than Coal-to-Liquids
June 08, 2007
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| Comparing life cycle CO2 emissions from plug-in hybrids, coal-to-liquids gasoline, and conventional gasoline. Click to enlarge. |
A study from the Carnegie Mellon Electricity Industry Center (CEIC) concludes that while enacting policies to subsidize the production of coal-to-liquids transportation fuel would enhance national security by lowering oil imports, encouraging plug-in hybrids powered by coal-generated electricity is a less costly policy that also reduces oil imports and does more to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
CEIC produced the paper in the context of the current work by the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce on transportation energy legislation, the current draft of which includes significant support for CTL. (Earlier post.) The CEIC paper compares GHG emissions of CTL gasoline to the emissions of plug-in hybrid vehicles powered with electricity generated from coal on a full life cycle basis.
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Linc Energy and Shiv-Vani Sign MoU for Indian Underground Gasification and Coal-to-Liquids Projects
Australia’s Linc Energy Ltd. has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Shiv-Vani Oil & Gas Exploration Services Ltd. to establish joint ventures for the development of underground coal gasification (UCG) and coal-to-liquids (CTL) projects in India. Shiv-Vani is the single largest oil and gas upstream services provider in India.
Linc Energy is developing a CTL project in Australia (the Chinchilla project) that combines Syntroleum’s air-based Fischer-Tropsch technology with the syngas produced by underground coal gasification (UCG) technology. (Earlier post.)
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Defense Department Contracts for 315,000 Gallons of Fischer-Tropsch Jet Fuel; Air Force Targeting 50% Synfuel Use (Domestic) by 2016
June 07, 2007
The US Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) has awarded a contract for 315,000 gallons of synthetic jet fuel to Shell Oil Products. The estimated contract value is approximately $1.1 million and the period of delivery is 1-31 August 2007.
This purchase supports the US Air Force Synthetic Fuel Initiative, which is evaluating Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthetic jet fuels for use in military aircraft. The Air Force began its test program in September 2006 when it flew a B-52 with two of eight engines using a gas-to-liquids F-T fuel supplied by Syntroleum, mixed at a 50/50 ratio with military jet fuel. (Earlier post.)
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SES and Golden Concord Sign Joint Venture Contract to Build Coal Gasification, Methanol and DME Plant in China
June 06, 2007
Synthesis Energy Systems, a coal gasification company, and Inner Mongolia Golden Concord (Xilinhot) Energy Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Golden Concord Holdings Ltd., a private provider of electricity, steam and chilling water in China, have signed a co-operative joint venture contract to build an integrated coal gasification plant and methanol and dimethyl ether (DME) production plant.
Located in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, the plant will use low-value lignite coal to meet the region’s growing need for non-petroleum-based fuels and petrochemical feedstocks. SES and Golden Concord will own 51% and 49% respectively of the joint venture named SES-GCL (Inner Mongolia) Coal Chemical Company.
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Federal Legislation Would Change Clean Air Act to Bar States from Setting Greenhouse Gas Standards for Vehicles
June 05, 2007
Legislation under discussion in the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce would, if eventually enacted, amend the language of the Federal Clean Air Act to block states from establishing standards to limit the emission of greenhouse gases from automobiles.
The discussion draft of legislation submitted by Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality Chair Rick Boucher (D-VA) would prohibit the head of the Environmental Protection Agency from issuing the waiver required for a state to impose auto pollution standards if the new requirements are “designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
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Peabody and Rentech Enter Into Development and Coal Supply Agreements for First Commercial US Coal-to-Liquids Facility
May 29, 2007
Peabody Energy has entered into agreements with Rentech, Inc. to fund up to $10 million of engineering and development costs for Rentech’s planned coal-to-liquids project in Illinois and to supply the facility with nearly 1 million tons of coal annually. As part of the agreements, Peabody has an option to acquire a 20% equity interest in the project through increased funding.
Rentech is converting its existing fertilizer production facility in East Dubuque into a coal gasification complex that would produce synthetic transportation fuels using Rentech’s patented processes that are based on Fischer-Tropsch technology. (Earlier post.)
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DOE Releases Feasibility Study for Conceptual Coal-to-Liquids Facility in Midwest
May 21, 2007
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| Process diagram for the CTL plant. Click to enlarge. |
The US DOE Office of Fossil Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has issued a report that examines the feasibility of a commercial 50,000 barrel per day coal-to-liquids (CTL) facility in the Illinois coal basin.
The report, Baseline Technical and Economic Assessment of a Commercial Scale Fischer-Tropsch Liquids Facility, represents the first of a series of plant design studies for commercial-scale Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) plants.
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US Representatives Introduce Coal-to-Liquids Legislation; CO2 Restrictions Part of the Proposal
May 12, 2007
Representative Rick Boucher (D-VA), Chairman of the Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee, and Representative John Shimkus (R-IL), this past week introduced a bill to promote the use of coal-to-liquids (CTL) transportation fuels. The legislation would establish price certainty to provide incentive for investment in CTL facilities.
The legislation introduced by Representatives Boucher and Shimkus would enable the Department of Energy (DOE) to enter agreements with up to six coal liquefaction projects for the purpose of establishing price parameters which will provide the projects with a federal price guarantee.
