Gasification

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DOE and USDA Select Projects for More Than $24M in Biomass Research and Development Grants

November 13, 2009

The US Departments of Agriculture and Energy selected projects for more than $24 million in grants to research and develop technologies to produce biofuels, bioenergy and high-value biobased products. Of the $24.4 million announced today, DOE plans to invest up to $4.9 million with USDA contributing up to $19.5 million. Advanced biofuels produced through this funding are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% compared to fossil fuels.

Projects selected must contribute a minimum of 20% of matching funds for research and development projects and 50% of matching funds for demonstration projects. Funding is provided through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and DOE’s Biomass Program.

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Coskata Unveils Semi-Commercial Feedstock-Flexible Ethanol Facility; Springboard for Full-Scale Commercial Rollout

October 15, 2009

Coskata’s semi-commercial facility in Madison, Pa. Click to enlarge.

Coskata Inc., a syngas to ethanol company, officially launched its semi-commercial “Flexethanol” facility located in Madison, PA. The site represents the successful scale-up of the company’s feedstock-flexible bio-thermochemical technology, and will serve as a springboard for the construction of Coskata commercial facilities and licensing of the technology to other producers.

The Coskata process can produce more than 100 gallons of ethanol per ton of dry, ash-free biomass material at a cost competitive with expected gasoline prices—around $1.00 per gallon, according to Wes Bolsen, the company’s Chief Marketing Officer & VP, Government Affairs. Actual production cost will vary, either below or above $1.00 per gallon, based on the cost of feedstock and the cost of power for the specific plant, he noted.

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Alaska Native Corporation Proposes Underground Coal Gasification Project with Carbon Capture for Power Generation

October 11, 2009

Underground coal gasification uses paired wells in a coal seam: one an oxidant injection well, the other the syngas producer well. Source: CIRI. Click to enlarge.

Cook Inlet Region Inc. (CIRI), an Alaska Native corporation, is proposing an underground coal gasification (UCG) project that would use the resulting syngas to fuel a new 100 MW combined cycle power plant. The syngas could also be upgraded to synthetic natural gas or synthetic liquid fuels.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is CIRI’s independent technology consultant. LLNL has been working with UCG technology development and field deployment for more than 30 years.

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Swedish Energy R&D Board Awards Up To US$72M to Chemrec for BioDME and Biomethanol Demo

September 28, 2009

The Swedish Energy R&D Board will provide an investment grant for the demonstration at industrial scale of the Chemrec technology for production of the renewable motor fuels BioDME (dimethyl ether) and Biomethanol. The new plant will be built at the Domsjö Fabriker biorefinery in Örnsköldsvik. (The biorefinery Domsjö Fabriker produces specialty cellulose, lignosulfonate and ethanol at Örnsköldsvik,550 km north of Stockholm.) The investment grant of up to SEK 500 million (€49 million, US$72 million) is contingent on approval by the EU Directorate General for Competition.

Earlier this month, Chemrec broke ground on a pulp mill-integrated BioDME biorefinery demonstration plant project in Piteå, Sweden, with expected biofuel production by mid-2010. The project will demonstrate the production of BioDME using black liquor from the pulp mill as feedstock, and will also demonstrate the use of this fuel in heavy vehicles in commercial service. (Earlier post.)

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Shell, Shenhua to Partner on R&D in Advanced Coal Technology; Shell Qualifies 3 Chinese Companies to Manufacture Gasification Technology

September 13, 2009

Shell Coal Gasification Process. Source: Shell. Click to enlarge.

Shell (China) Limited and Shenhua Coal to Liquid and Chemical Co. Ltd. (Shenhua) have agreed to seek opportunities for conducting joint research and development in advanced coal technology.

Additionally, Shell Global Solutions International B.V. (Shell) also qualified three Chinese companies for the manufacture of key equipment for the Shell Coal Gasification Process (SCGP), in order to make the Shell technology more competitive in the Chinese market.

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Diversified Energy Moves Ahead With New Projects for Omnigas and Centia Technologies

August 29, 2009

Diversified Energy Corporation, an alternative and renewable energy technology development company with a portfolio of several technologies, recently received support for further projects developing its HydroMax/OmniGas molten-metals based gasification technology (earlier post) and its Centia renewable biohydrocarbon drop-in fuel technology (earlier post).

The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE/NETL) approved the second year of Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) funding for Diversified Energy’s OmniGas molten-metals based gasification technology.

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Rentech to Supply Up to 1.5M Gallons Per Year of Renewable Synthetic Diesel to Eight Airlines for Ground Service Equipment Operations at Los Angeles International Airport

August 18, 2009

Rentech, Inc. has signed a multi-year agreement to supply eight airlines with up to 1.5 million gallons per year of renewable synthetic diesel (RenDiesel) for ground service equipment operations at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) beginning in late 2012, when the plant that will produce the fuel is scheduled to go into service.

The initial purchasers under the agreement with Aircraft Service International Group (ASIG), the entity that provides fueling services to many airlines that operate at LAX, are Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, UPS Airlines and US Airways. Additional airline purchasers of RenDiesel can be added under the agreement with ASIG.

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Chemrec Launches BioDME Project, Production Expected in 2010

August 11, 2009

Overview of project area. Click to enlarge.

Chemrec’s pulp mill-integrated BioDME (dimethyl ether) biorefinery demonstration plant project will break ground in September in Piteå, Sweden, with expected biofuel production by mid-2010. The project will demonstrate the production of BioDME for use as a renewable fuel in diesel engines from forest biomass over the black liquor route and will also demonstrate the use of this fuel in heavy vehicles in commercial service.

The Chemrec gasification process in the BioDME demonstration plant will combine two objectives: production of green liquor from black liquor and upgrade of the organic part of the black liquor to synthesis gas. Primary gas cleaning and cooling also takes place here, using the Chemrec DP-1 gasifier plant for this service.

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DOE, RTI to Design and Build Coal Syngas Cleanup System for IGCC Power Plants to Reduce Cost of Removing Contaminants, Capturing CO₂; Potential for Synthetic Chemicals and Fuels

July 14, 2009

The RTI/Eastman syngas cleanup technology platform. Click to enlarge.

Extending a relationship of more than a decade, the US Department of Energy (DOE) and Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International will collaborate on a project designed to advance the development of coal power plants with near-zero emissions by reducing the cost and improving the efficiency of capturing CO₂ and removing contaminants from syngas derived from coal.

The system also holds the potential to reduce the cost of producing chemicals, transportation fuels, and substitute natural gas from gasified coal.

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Linc Energy Chinchilla UCG to Liquids Demo Plant Producing High-Quality Synthetic Hydrocarbons

June 29, 2009

The Chinchilla Demonstration Facility combines UCG and GTL technologies Click to enlarge.

During the first half of 2009, the Linc Energy Limited Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) to Liquids demonstration plant at Chinchilla (earlier post) ran four major production campaigns each of which has seen further improvements in plant performance, according to the company. The May campaign has been the most successful operation to date, producing high-quality synthetic hydrocarbon products over the entire operating period. The demonstration plant has now operated over extended periods with the anticipated levels of reliability.

The first liquids were produced in October 2008, with improvements in operations over the past few months. Linc Energy says it can now use this abundant and relatively cheap gas to make synthetic liquid hydrocarbons (with a focus on diesel).

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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.

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Waste Management and InEnTec Create Joint Venture to Develop and Operate Plasma Gasification Facilities for Synthetic Fuels and Power

May 21, 2009

Overview of the PEM process. Click to enlarge.

Waste Management, Inc. and InEnTec LLC (earlier post) have formed S4 Energy Solutions LLC, a joint venture to develop, operate and market plasma gasification facilities using InEnTec’s Plasma Enhanced Melter (PEM) technology. The joint venture is expected to process waste from the country’s increasingly segmented commercial and industrial waste streams to produce a range of synthetic fuels and chemicals as well as to generate electricity.

S4 Energy Solutions’ initial focus will be to process medical and other segregated commercial and industrial waste streams. The company’s future commercialization plans may also include the processing of municipal solid waste once the technology has been demonstrated to be economical and scalable for such use.

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Researchers Propose Solar-Driven Biomass Gasification Pathway for Synthetic Fuel Production

May 01, 2009

Schema of synfuel synthesis through solar-driven biomass gasification. Solar energy produces both heat for gasification and H2 via electrolysis. From Hertwich et al. (2009) Click to enlarge.

Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) are proposing a new process for producing synfuel from biomass using concentrating solar energy as its main energy source.

High temperature heat for biomass gasification is obtained from a molten-salt system in a solar concentrating tower. Hydrogen for reverse water gas shift reaction to avoid producing CO₂ during the process is produced by electrolyzing water, driven by solar power.

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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.

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Alberta to Host Underground Coal Gasification Demo; Update on Linc Chinchilla UCG In Australia

March 18, 2009

Simplified UCG process. Click to enlarge.

The Government of Alberta, Canada, through the Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI), is providing C$8.83 million (US$7.0 million) toward a $30-million underground coal gasification (UCG) project with Swan Hills Synfuels of Calgary. Swan Hills Synfuels expects the project to demonstrate the ability to manufacture synthetic gas from Alberta’s coal resources, with the future potential of utilizing the coal seams for carbon capture and storage.

The project in north-central Alberta aims to develop a commercial operation that produces clean, synthesis gas for power generation. The deep formations could also store carbon dioxide after the coal is turned into gas. Underground coal gasification has been used commercially outside of North America for close to 40 years with minimal surface impact when compared to traditional coal mining and production.

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Iowa State Researchers Developing New Thermochemical System for Ethanol Production from Biomass

March 10, 2009

Researchers at Iowa State University are developing a new thermochemical system for the coproduction of ethanol and thermal energy, based on a new low-emissions burner and a new catalyst for ethanol production. Both technologies will use the synthesis gas—a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen—produced by the gasification of discarded seed corn, switchgrass, wood chips and other biomass.

The burner will be designed to efficiently and cleanly burn biomass-derived syngas; the catalyst will be designed to convert the syngas directly into ethanol. The project is supported by a two-year, $2.37 million grant from the Iowa Power Fund, a state program to advance energy innovation and independence. The grant award carries a $922,112 committed match.

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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.

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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.

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TransGas Development Systems to Build $3B CTL Plant in West Virginia; 6.5M Barrels of Gasoline Per Year

December 10, 2008

Flow diagram of the PRENFLO gasification process with direct quench (PDQ) to be used in the TransGas plant. Click to enlarge.

TransGas Development Systems LLC (TGDS) plans to build a $3B coal-to-liquids (CTL) plant in Mingo County, West Virginia, according to company announcement made during the West Virginia Energy Summit. Projected to be operational by 2013, the plant will be built in Mingo County’s new energy park near Gilbert. TGDS estimates the facility will use up to 3 million tons of locally mined coal a year to produce more than 6.5 million barrels of gasoline.

TGDS has signed a licensing agreement with Uhde Corporation of America for two 1,000 MW_th PRENFLO (PRessurized ENtrained FLOw) gasifiers in the Direct Quench version (PDQ). The PRENFLO process, which operates at pressures of 40 bar and higher, is a further development of the Koppers-Totzek process developed in the 1940s, which operates at atmospheric pressure.

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