| 1. |
- Alvors, Per, et al.
(författare)
-
Research and development challenges for Swedish biofuel actors – three illustrative examples : Improvement potential discussed in the context of Well-to-Tank analyses
- 2010
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Currently biofuels have strong political support, both in the EU and Sweden. The EU has, for example, set a target for the use of renewable fuels in the transportation sector stating that all EU member states should use 10% renewable fuels for transport by 2020. Fulfilling this ambition will lead to an enormous market for biofuels during the coming decade. To avoid increasing production of biofuels based on agriculture crops that require considerable use of arable area, focus is now to move towards more advanced second generation (2G) biofuels that can be produced from biomass feedstocks associated with a more efficient land use.Climate benefits and greenhouse gas (GHG) balances are aspects often discussed in conjunction with sustainability and biofuels. The total GHG emissions associated with production and usage of biofuels depend on the entire fuel production chain, mainly the agriculture or forestry feedstock systems and the manufacturing process. To compare different biofuel production pathways it is essential to conduct an environmental assessment using the well-to-tank (WTT) analysis methodology.In Sweden the conditions for biomass production are favourable and we have promising second generation biofuels technologies that are currently in the demonstration phase. In this study we have chosen to focus on cellulose based ethanol, methane from gasification of solid wood as well as DME from gasification of black liquor, with the purpose of identifying research and development potentials that may result in improvements in the WTT emission values. The main objective of this study is thus to identify research and development challenges for Swedish biofuel actors based on literature studies as well as discussions with the the researchers themselves. We have also discussed improvement potentials for the agriculture and forestry part of the WTT chain. The aim of this study is to, in the context of WTT analyses, (i) increase knowledge about the complexity of biofuel production, (ii) identify and discuss improvement potentials, regarding energy efficiency and GHG emissions, for three biofuel production cases, as well as (iii) identify and discuss improvement potentials regarding biomass supply, including agriculture/forestry. The scope of the study is limited to discussing the technologies, system aspects and climate impacts associated with the production stage. Aspects such as the influence on biodiversity and other environmental and social parameters fall beyond the scope of this study.We find that improvement potentials for emissions reductions within the agriculture/forestry part of the WTT chain include changing the use of diesel to low-CO2-emitting fuels, changing to more fuel-efficient tractors, more efficient cultivation and manufacture of fertilizers (commercial nitrogen fertilizer can be produced in plants which have nitrous oxide gas cleaning) as well as improved fertilization strategies (more precise nitrogen application during the cropping season). Furthermore, the cultivation of annual feedstock crops could be avoided on land rich in carbon, such as peat soils and new agriculture systems could be introduced that lower the demand for ploughing and harrowing. Other options for improving the WTT emission values includes introducing new types of crops, such as wheat with higher content of starch or willow with a higher content of cellulose.From the case study on lignocellulosic ethanol we find that 2G ethanol, with co-production of biogas, electricity, heat and/or wood pellet, has a promising role to play in the development of sustainable biofuel production systems. Depending on available raw materials, heat sinks, demand for biogas as vehicle fuel and existing 1G ethanol plants suitable for integration, 2G ethanol production systems may be designed differently to optimize the economic conditions and maximize profitability. However, the complexity connected to the development of the most optimal production systems require improved knowledge and involvement of several actors from different competence areas, such as chemical and biochemical engineering, process design and integration and energy and environmental systems analysis, which may be a potential barrier.Three important results from the lignocellulosic ethanol study are: (i) the production systems could be far more complex and intelligently designed than previous studies show, (ii) the potential improvements consist of a large number of combinations of process integration options wich partly depends on specific local conditions, (iii) the environmental performance of individual systems may vary significantly due to systems design and local conditons.From the case study on gasification of solid biomass for the production of biomethane we find that one of the main advantages of this technology is its high efficiency in respect to converting biomass into fuels for transport. For future research we see a need for improvements within the gas up-grading section, including gas cleaning and gas conditioning, to obtain a more efficient process. A major challenge is to remove the tar before the methanation reaction.Three important results from the biomethane study are: (i) it is important not to crack the methane already produced in the syngas, which indicates a need for improved catalysts for selective tar cracking, (ii) there is a need for new gas separation techniques to facilitate the use of air oxidation agent instead of oxygen in the gasifier, and (iii) there is a need for testing the integrated process under realistic conditions, both at atmospheric and pressurized conditions.From the case study on black liquor gasification for the production of DME we find that the process has many advantages compared to other biofuel production options, such as the fact that black liquor is already partially processed and exists in a pumpable, liquid form, and that the process is pressurised and tightly integrated with the pulp mill, which enhances fuel production efficiency. However, to achieve commercial status, some challenges still remain, such as demonstrating that materials and plant equipment meet the high availability required when scaling up to industrial size in the pulp mill, and also proving that the plant can operate according to calculated heat and material balances. Three important results from the DME study are: (i) that modern chemical pulp mills, having a potential surplus of energy, could become important suppliers of renewable fuels for transport, (ii) there is a need to demonstrate that renewable DME/methanol will be proven to function in large scale, and (iii) there is still potential for technology improvements and enhanced energy integration.Although quantitative improvement potentials are given in the three biofuel production cases, it is not obvious how these potentials would affect WTT values, since the biofuel production processes are complex and changing one parameter impacts other parameters. The improvement potentials are therefore discussed qualitatively. From the entire study we have come to agree on the following common conclusions: (i) research and development in Sweden within the three studied 2G biofuel production technologies is extensive, (ii) in general, the processes, within the three cases, work well at pilot and demonstration scale and are now in a phase to be proven in large scale, (iii) there is still room for improvement although some processes have been known for decades, (iv) the biofuel production processes are complex and site specific and process improvements need to be seen and judged from a broad systems perspective (both within the production plant as well as in the entire well-to-tank perspective), and (v) the three studied biofuel production systems are complementary technologies. Futher, the process of conducting this study is worth mentioning as a result itself, i.e. that many different actors within the field have proven their ability and willingness to contribute to a common report, and that the cooperation climate was very positive and bodes well for possible future collaboration within the framework of the f3 center.Finally, judging from the political ambitions it is clear that the demand for renewable fuels will significantly increase during the coming decade. This will most likely result in opportunities for a range of biofuel options. The studied biofuel options all represent 2G biofuels and they can all be part of the solution to meet the increased renewable fuel demand.
|
|
| 2. |
- Barta, Zsolt, et al.
(författare)
-
Effects of steam pretreatment and co-production with ethanol on the energy efficiency and process economics of combined biogas, heat and electricity production from industrial hemp
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Biotechnology for Biofuels. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1754-6834. ; 6
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The study presented here has used the commercial flow sheeting program Aspen Plus (TM) to evaluate techno-economic aspects of large-scale hemp-based processes for producing transportation fuels. The co-production of biogas, district heat and power from chopped and steam-pretreated hemp, and the co-production of ethanol, biogas, heat and power from steam-pretreated hemp were analysed. The analyses include assessments of heat demand, energy efficiency and process economics in terms of annual cash flows and minimum biogas and ethanol selling prices (MBSP and MESP). Results: Producing biogas, heat and power from chopped hemp has the highest overall energy efficiency, 84% of the theoretical maximum (based on lower heating values), providing that the maximum capacity of district heat is delivered. The combined production of ethanol, biogas, heat and power has the highest energy efficiency (49%) if district heat is not produced. Neither the inclusion of steam pretreatment nor co-production with ethanol has a large impact on the MBSP. Ethanol is more expensive to produce than biogas is, but this is compensated for by its higher market price. None of the scenarios examined are economically viable, since the MBSP (EUR 103-128 per MWh) is higher than the market price of biogas (EUR 67 per MWh). The largest contribution to the cost is the cost of feedstock. Decreasing the retention time in the biogas process for low solids streams by partly replacing continuous stirred tank reactors by high-rate bioreactors decreases the MBSP. Also, recycling part of the liquid from the effluent from anaerobic digestion decreases the MBSP. The production and prices of methane and ethanol influence the process economics more than the production and prices of electricity and district heat. Conclusions: To reduce the production cost of ethanol and biogas from biomass, the use of feedstocks that are cheaper than hemp, give higher output of ethanol and biogas, or combined production with higher value products are primarily suggested. Further, practical investigations on increased substrate concentration in biogas and ethanol production, recycling of the liquid in anaerobic digestion and separation of low solids flows into solid and a liquid fraction for improved reactor applications deserves further attention.
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
|
|
| 7. |
- Björnsson, Lovisa, et al.
(författare)
-
Förbehandling av lignocellulosarika råvaror vid biogasproduktion - Nyckelaspekter vid jämförande utvärdering
- 2014
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- I biogassektorn finns ett ökande behov av och en ökande konkurrens om råvaror, och intresset för användning av odlingsrester, vall, mellangrödor mm som biogasråvara ökar. Gemensamt för dessa råvaror är att de är fiberrika, dvs. har ett högt innehåll av lignocellulosa, vilket gör att det är osannolikt att de skulle användas för biogasproduktion utan förbehandling. Ett antal förbehandlingstekniker har introducerats på marknaden under senare år, och både företagsdrivna projekt och forskningsprojekt kring utvärdering av en eller flera förbehandlingstekniker pågår. Utvärderingarna läggs dock upp med olika utgångspunkter och metoder så att utkomster från olika projekt blir omöjliga att jämföra. Att utreda frågan om hur man utvärderar och jämför olika förbehandlingsmetoder ur teknik-, ekonomi-, energi- och miljöperspektiv är därför angeläget. Syftet med denna förstudie är att peka ut nyckelaspekter som är viktiga för att möjliggöra jämförande utvärdering av olika förbehandlingsmetoder samt att inspirera aktörer till att vilja medverka till att ta ett samlat grepp i frågan. Ett förslag till upplägg för vidare forskning, utveckling och demonstration presenteras. Arbetet med förstudien har finansierats genom Energimyndigheten.
|
|
| 8. |
|
|
| 9. |
- Björnsson, Lovisa, et al.
(författare)
-
Introduction of grass-clover crops as biogas feedstock in cereal-dominated crop rotations. Part II: Effects on greenhouse gas emissions
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Life Cycle Assessment in the Agri-Food Sector. - 9780988214576 ; , s. 134-141
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In an analysis of climate effects, increased soil organic carbon will have a dual effect due to both increased soil fertility and carbon sequestration. Even so, soil carbon changes are neglected in many crop production LCAs. In the present study, the introduction of grass-clover crops in cereal-dominated crop production was evaluated. The grass-clover crops were used for biogas production, and the digested residue was recycled to the farm as biofertilizer. A shift from the cereal-dominated crop rotation to integrated production of food crops and one or two years of grass-clover crops used as biogas feedstock would result in avoided emissions of 2-3 t CO2-eq. ha-1 a-1. Integrated food and energy crop production would in this case improve soil organic carbon content at the same time as resulting in considerably decreased greenhouse gas emissions from the cultivation system.
|
|
| 10. |
- Björnsson, Lovisa
(creator_code:cre_t)
-
Pretreating non-wood lignocellulosic material (e.g. bagasse) to produce ethanol, comprises adding organic acid or organic acid-producing bacteria to lignocellulosic material, and storing and heating the organic acid-impregnated material
- 2012
-
Patent (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- NOVELTY - Pretreating non-wood lignocellulosic material containing less than 5 wt.% starch or sugar for producing ethanol from lignocellulose, comprises: (a) adding organic acid or organic acid-producing bacteria to the lignocellulosic material; (b) storing the lignocellulosic material in presence of organic acid for at least 2 weeks in an atmosphere of less than 5% oxygen to obtain organic acid-impregnated material; and (c) heating the organic acid-impregnated material at a temperature of at least 190 degrees C for at least 5 minutes to obtain pretreated lignocellulosic material. USE - The method is useful for pretreating non-wood lignocellulosic material to produce ethanol, where the non-wood lignocellulosic material is bagasse (preferably sugar cane bagasse or sweet Sorghum bagasse), sugar cane trash, wheat straw, rice straw, Sorghum species, Arundo, Miscanthus or agricultural residues (all claimed). ADVANTAGE - The method: avoids the need of inorganic acid or base (sulfur dioxide), and utilizes containers which are less corrosion resistant, hence economical; has higher net energy gain; utilizes organic acid which is biodegradable, and produces degradation products (e.g. 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural which acts as inhibitory substances in the subsequent fermentation process), thus environmentally friendly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Pretreating non-wood lignocellulosic material containing less than 5 wt.% starch or sugar for producing ethanol from lignocellulose, comprises: (a) adding organic acid or organic acid-producing bacteria to the lignocellulosic material; (b) storing the lignocellulosic material in the presence of organic acid for at least 2 weeks in an atmosphere of less than 5% oxygen to obtain organic acid-impregnated material; and (c) heating the organic acid-impregnated material at a temperature of at least 190 degrees C for a period of at least 5 minutes to obtain pretreated lignocellulosic material, where no inorganic acid or base including sulfur dioxide is added in the method.
|
|
