RENEW Publishes Final Report on Second-Generation BTL Fuels in Europe, Recommends Path Forward
14 July 2008
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| 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.
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| Simplified flow of the Chemrec process. Click to enlarge. |
The evaluated Chemrec process, which is designed as an integral part of a pulp mill, reduces CO2 emissions by 95%. The efficiency is high due to a shift to more advanced technology in the energy and chemical recovery area of the pulp mill and the high efficiency achievable in DME and methanol synthesis. The process uses locally available biomass not competing with food production.
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| Pathways for the production of BTL fuels. Click to enlarge. |
RENEW brought together 32 European partners in a four-year project to develop or improve several production routes for renewable biomass-to-liquid (BTL) fuels and to undertake a technical, economic and environmental assessment. The common interface was a synthesis gas (H2+CO) which was produced from ligno-cellulosic biomass (wood, straw, energy plants and black liquor) via gasification. BTL concepts studied in the project were:
Black liquor entrained flow gasification for dimethyl ether synthesis, BLEF-DME. Chemrec.
Centralized entrained flow gasification for diesel synthesis, cEF-D. Umwelt- und Energietechnik Freiberg (UET), CHOREN Industries
Circulating fluidized bed gasification for diesel synthesis, CFB-D. Clausthaler Umwelttechnik Institut (CUTEC).
Circulating fluidized bed gasification for ethanol synthesis, CFB-E. Abengoa Bioenergy (Abengoa) & AICIA (Asociación de investigación y cooperación industrial de Andalucía).
Decentralised pyrolysis and central entrained flow gasification for diesel synthesis, dEF-D. Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (FZK).
Entrained flow gasification for ethanol synthesis, EF-E. Abengoa Bioenerggy (Abengoa) & AICIA (Asociación de investigación y cooperación industrial de Andalucía).
Internal circulation fluidized bed gasification for diesel synthesis, ICFB-D. Technische Universität Wien (TUV), Repotec (RPT) & Biomassekraftwerk Güssing (BKG).
Generally the challenge in BtL technology is to modify well developed synthesis technologies like FT- or DME synthesis to be based on biomass. Present processes utilise synthesis gas which is produced from coal or natural gas. The precise challenge of biomass in terms of gasification is its structured, inhomogeneous nature and the high share of accompanying compounds. Hence, the research focussed mainly on the mechanism to introduce the biomass into the gasifier and on the removal of ash and various impurities from the synthesis gas.
Overall, the study concluded that there are multiple opportunities for BTL production in Europe, but that the best regions for first industrial scale BTL plants of the Chemrec type would be West Poland and Sweden.
For the future, it can be expected that highly efficient ligno-cellulosic biomass utilization systems like in Sweden and Finland will be established all over Europe, leading to diminishing differences in biomass supply costs of 3.5 to 4 €/GJ, This will increase the potential number of suitable locations for BtL production in 2020. However, site-specific studies of biomass availability and respective prices are required as well as studies for integration possibilities to e.g. refineries, pulp & paper mills and heating grids prior to any decision on the BTL plant locations.
Besides the recommendations for the first large-scale commercial BtL plants, RENEW identified other key areas where more R&D work needs to be done:
Local studies on biomass production, supply and respective costs.
Studies on the socio-economic effects of new biomass plantations.
Technology-related R&D work in terms of integration of BtL plants to refineries, pulp&paper mills, heating grids.
For less mature production concepts, research on gas conditioning and—as long as FT-catalysts are not commercially available—on synthesis.
BTL specification. The project also developed a recommendation for a future Fischer-Tropsch BTL fuel specification.
The fuels’ properties were classified either as parameters or characteristics. Parameters are fuel properties, which are directly influenced by the production process. E.g. the high content of normal paraffins is a characteristic of the FT process. Characteristics are properties which are an indirect consequence of the parameters. The high cetane number is a consequence of the high normal paraffin content. Some of the characteristics may be improved by additives.
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| Draft specifications for BTL fuels. Click to enlarge. |
Resources
Renewable Fuels for Advanced Powertrains Final Report
Suggesting 69% conversion efficiency for DME and 54% for BTL (bio diesel)
DME sounds like a winner as the storage pressures , versatility and compatibility with LPG and NG or effectively diesel and gasoline type engines plus jet engines with cleaner emissions.
Because it can use **any** bio mass as feedstock this fuel is very exciting.
The process favours low cost and waste biomasss value and ** Environmental** gains when waste or degraded feeds IE sawdust, spoiled ag products, others that would otherwise find is way to landfill or maybe burned directly in say power stations.
Some DME production process apparently pass through a formic acid stage (one type of fuel cell fuel)
These (catalytic crackers) plants can supply industrial chemical industry streams for so much that we ALL use on a daily basis which means that the byproducts can be expected to develop to being of greater significance than simply transport fuels. Much the same way as the petrochemical industry of today.
Posted by: arnold | 14 July 2008 at 04:30 PM
Translation: Consultant recommends "black liquor gasification."
Posted by: gr | 14 July 2008 at 04:34 PM
CHEMREC process has the lowest environmental impact because it uses as feedstock black liquors that otherwise would have been burned, basically a waste stream. You use the lignin fraction of wood to make fuel while cellulose goes to paper. No need to collect additional biomass and haul it to the BtL plant. Because of its properties black liquor is an excellent gasification feedstock, i.e. it can bee fed into an entrained flow gasifier easily.
But it does not mean that the other processes are worse. They are not integrated into an existing biomass logistics system.
It is interesting if this process takes hold in Europe. I think for Europe it is an excellent opportunity.
Posted by: BtL | 16 July 2008 at 03:34 AM
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Posted by: allbagrightt | 26 July 2008 at 04:26 PM
I would just convert cars to dual fuel NG and gasify the biomass to methane. Simple, high yield and a very efficient delivery system right to your home garage.
Posted by: sjc | 31 July 2008 at 12:39 AM
WHAT WAS THE INTEREST RATE?
In spite of a very sophisticated calculation of biomass costs, I can't find anywhere in the whole report what interest rate on capital is assumed. The recommendations ask for low-intrest loans, which makes one suspect the interest rate is not at commercial levels.
Black Liquor
In answer to the comment above; black liquor is not burned at present for no purpose: the heat is needed for the pulp/paper process. If you divert the BL to making transport fuel, you need to replace it with extra wood, which can be forest residuals (branches etc) left from cutting the pulp trees.
Nevertheless this should wook out the most efficient way to effectively convert forest residuals to transport fuel.
Posted by: Robert Edwards | 14 August 2008 at 07:09 AM
I did not see any reference to potential environmental problems associated with unintended releases of DME due to spills, leaks, evaporation, etc.. One sources I checked indicates DME is not biodegradable, thus the same problems experienced with MTBE may occur. This needs to be evaluated before commitment to large scale production and distribution of DME.
Posted by: Bill A. | 28 September 2008 at 06:15 PM