Drop-in biofuels production from forest residues: Technology and policy The potential role of existing refineries Susan van Dyk and Jack Saddler Forest Products Biotechnology/Bioenergy Group International Energy Agency Bioenergy Task 39 (Liquid biofuels) Forest Products Biotechnology/Bioenergy (FPB/B)
Long Distance Transportation sectors (aviation, marine, rail and trucks) unique dependence on drop-in biofuels Cannot readily use ethanol or biodiesel Cannot be electrified: too long distance, too large batteries New environmental regulations: e.g. GHG & sulfur emissions 2
Commissioned report published by IEA Bioenergy Task 39 (2014) Commercializing Conventional and Advanced Liquid Biofuels from Biomass www.task39.org 3
Definition of drop-in biofuels Drop-in biofuels: are liquid bio-hydrocarbons that are: functionally equivalent to petroleum fuels and fully compatible with existing petroleum infrastructure Current biofuels vs Drop-in fuels Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) - biodiesel
Technologies for drop-in biofuel production Green diesel Oils and fats Oleochemical Light gases Naphtha HEFA-SPK Lignocellulose Thermochemical Jet Diesel FT-SPK/SKA HDCJ, HTL-jet Sugar & starch Biochemical Single product e.g. farnesene, ethanol, butanol SIP-SPK CO 2, CO Hybrid ATJ-SPK APR-SPK
Oleochemical drop-in biofuel platform Renewable diesel; biojet (HEFA) Only fully commercial technology Only commercial biojet - ASTM certification in 50% blends Hydrotreatment of lipid feedstocks (vegetable oils, used cooking oil, tallow, inedible oils) Trends low grade feedstocks Catalytic decarboxylation 6
Thermochemical drop-in biofuel platforms INTER- MEDIATES CATALYTIC UPGRADING 500 C No O 2 Biomass 900 C some O 2 Pyrolysis oil Gasification Syngas Hydro treatment 1 Fischer Tropsch Hydro treatment 2 HPO FT liquids Hydrocracking Gases Gasoline Jet Diesel Forest Products Biotechnology/Bioenergy (FPB/B) 7
Biochemical and hybrid technologies hydrolysis CO 2 sugar Biomass FERMENTATION - Conventional - Advanced Product Hydrocarbon e.g. farnesene Alcohols e.g. butanol, ethanol ATJ Drop-in fuel Farnesane Alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) -Dehydration -Oligomerisation -Hydrogenation -Fractionation ATJ-SPK fuel Source: Lanzatech 14
Challenges of technology platforms Oleochemical Feedstock cost, availability, sustainability Pyrolysis Hydrogen Hydrotreating catalyst cost and lifespan Gasification Capital / scale Syngas cleanup Biochemical Low productivity Valuable intermediates 9
Stages of commercialisation
Commercial volumes of drop-in biofuel through oleochemical platform Neste Oil facility, Rotterdam Company Feedstock Billion L/y Neste (4 facilities) mixed 2.37 Diamond Green Diesel tallow 0.49 REG Geismar tallow 0.27 Preem Petroleum Tall oil 0.02 UPM biofuels Tall oil 0.12 ENI (Italy) Soy & other oils 0.59 Cepsa (Spain 2 demo facilities) unknown 0.12 AltAir Fuels mixed 0.14 World Total 4.12 11
Key Conclusions Near term drop-in biofuels will come from oils and fats (oleochemical pathway) Challenges in cost of feedstock and food-vs-fuels Competition between road transportation and aviation Mid-to-long term biomass-derived drop-in biofuel will use thermochemical process Challenges in feedstock supply and quality Very high initial investment cost Strong supporting policies will be required to promote dropin biofuel production, distribution and use
Key challenge in drop-in biofuel production getting rid of oxygen Oxygen content of feedstock (up to 50%) Oxygen content reduces energy density of fuel Effective Hydrogen to carbon ratio H eff /C = nn HH 2nn(OO) nn(cc)
The Effective H/C ratio staircase Lipid feedstocks require the least H 2 Wood Sugar 0 0.2 0.4 Drop-in biofuel Oleochemical Lignin 0.6 0.8 1.0 Biochemical 1.2 1.4 Lipids 1.6 Thermochemical Diesel 2.0 1.8 High O 2 or low H/C feedstocks require more H 2 inputs
Increased demand for hydrogen 90% of commercial H 2 comes from steam reforming of natural gas Well established process in petrochemical industry, but decreased quality of oil will increase demand for H 2 Other sources biomass, electrolysis 10
How do we expand drop-in biofuel production? Build stand-alone infrastructure Co-location (hydrogen) Repurpose existing infrastructure (e.g. AltAir in California) Risk Capital Co-processing of biobased intermediates in existing refineries to produce fossil fuels with renewable content (lower carbon intensity)
Co-processing-potential insertion points Challenges Co-processing strategies illustrated as various potential insertion points into a generic type of refinery
Refinery Integration and Co-processing Why? The role of policy Considerations Risk Product slate Benefits ASTM certification of co-processed products
Chemistry of oxygen removal and implications for refinery processes Formation of CO, CO 2 and H 2 O Hydrotreating generates heat Potential formation of CH 4 Catalyst inactivation Increased formation of aromatics in the FCC Interrupted production
Role of policy MFSP Bridging the gap to achieve price parity Policy has been essential for development of conventional biofuels Biojet Fossiljet Blending mandates, Subsidies, Tax credits, market based measures (carbon tax, low carbon fuel standards) Drop-in biofuels will find it challenging to compete at current oil prices Policy to assist in bridging this price gap Specific policy support for drop-in fuels
Biojet initiatives at UBC FPB Group Transport Canada s Clean Transport Initiative (CTI) 2014/2015 UBC feedstock, conversion, LCA Boeing and UBC Viability study (2015) The ATM Project
Establishment of a drop-in biofuels supply chain in Canada Oleochemical feedstocks Lignocellulosic feedstocks Canola growing regions Source: Canola Council of Canada
Boeing-UBC biojet study 2015 Feedstock availability and cost potential supply chains Assessment of conversion technologies based on regional feedstock Policies for development of biojet supply chains
The ATM project Assessment of likely Technology Maturation pathways used to produce biojet from forest residues (2016-2018) (S&T)2
Biojet from thermochemical conversion of forest residues Biomass Pyrolysis 500 C Bio-oil Hydro treatment 1 Hydro treatment 2 HPO Hydrocracking Fuel blendstock Upgrading and hydrotreatment of bio-oils the key challenge
ATM Project Source bio-oil from different technology providers (3) Upgrading of bio-oil; characterization of biojet fraction Feedstock supply chain logistics and feasibility; Life cycle assessment; Bio-oil production process performance and technoeconomics; Demonstration plant concept and design
Biofuels for Aviation. An IRENA Technology brief FEBRUARY, 2017 http://www.irena.org/ Susan van Dyk & Jack Saddler
Susan van Dyk svandyk100@gmail.com