Biofuels – State of the art and future developments Franziska Müller-Langer, Stefan Majer, Sinéad O‘ Keeffea FNR-Konferenz Neue Biokraftstoffe 2015 | Berlin 02./03.03.2015

a UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department Bioenergy

Agenda

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1. Introduction

2. Characteristics of technologies

3. Comparison

4. Summary and outlook

Introduction Biofuels | Overview

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Biofuel use

Land use /Biomass production

Biofuel production

Biofueldistribution

Starch biomass (e.g. corn, wheat,

rye)

Storage Distribution Fuel stationTransfer station

Combustion engine

Hybrid technologies

Sugar biomass (e.g.

cane, beet)

Oil biomass (e.g. rape, soya, palm, jatropha)

Woody biomass (e.g.

residues, willow, poplar)

Herbaceous biomass

(e.g. straw, grass)

Waste biomass (e.g. manure,

biowaste, sludge)

Thermo-chemical conversion

Pyrolysis / Torrefaction / Hydrothermal

Gasification

Physico-chemical conversion

Pressing / extraction

Trans-/esterification

Biodiesel (FAME)

Hydrotreat. veg. oil / fat(HVO/HEFA)

Biomethane / Biogas

Biomethane / Bio-SNG

Bioethanol / Butanol

BTL (e.g. FT,

DME, Alc.)

Bio-hydrogen

Algae biomass (e.g. micro algae)

Biomass supply(Logistics) TransportTreatment Cargo

handling StorageHarvesting / Collection

Biochemical conversion

Alcoholic fermentation

Anaerobic digestion

Source: DBFZ 2013 w/o entitlement of completeness

Introduction Biofuels | Future prospects

4 Sources: DBFZ based on IEA (2011) Biofuels Technology Roadmaps; Thrän, D. et al. (2011): Global and Regional Spatial Distribution of Biomass Potentials;

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5

10

15

20

25

30

35

2010 2020 2030 2040 2050

Biof

uels

for t

rans

port

ener

gy d

eman

d w

orld

wid

e /

EJ a

-1

Biomethane (maize, lignocelluloses, residues)BTL / FT (lignocelluloses)HVO / HEFA (oils, fats, residues)Biodiesel (rape, soya, palm)Bioethanol (lignocelluloses)Bioethanol (sugar cane)Bioethanol (corn / cereals, sugar beet)

Max. techn. biofuel potential: 6.5 EJ

Technical raw material potential (estimated):

100 to 300 EJ

Total transport energy demand: 2009: 93 EJ a-1 2050: 116 EJ a-1

Characteristics of technologies Technical characteristics of selected biofuels

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Biofuel option Typical by-productsa State of developmentb

Installed capacity | production worldwide (all 2013/2014)c

R&D demand

Biodiesel press extraction meal, glycerine, salt

Commercial TRL 9

>70 mn t a-1 | 17 mn t a-1 | US/LA: soya, EU: rape, UCO SA: palm

Process optimisation: low quality oils and fats, catalysts and treatment technologies, methanol substitution

Hydrotreated veg.oils or esters and fatty acids (HVO / HEFA)

(press extraction), propane, gasoline fractions

Commercial TRL 9

about 3.1 mn t a-1 | unknown | EU/SA: palm, UCO

Raw material (e.g. algae, pyrolysis or hydrother-mal oil), corefining in mineral oil refinery, process optimisation: catalysts, H2 demand

Bioethanol (sugar, starch)

sugar: bagasse / vinasse | starch: gluten, stillage for DDGS, fertiliser, biogas

Commercial TRL 9

> 100 mn t a-1 | 70 mn t a-1 | US: corn, BR: sugar cane, EU: wheat, sugar beet

Process optimisation regarding process integration, e.g. upgrading by-products and stillage (e.g. recycling, biogas / biomethane, nutrient recovery)

Bioethanol (lig.) lignin, pentoses, stillage products like fertiliser, biogas

Demo plants TRL 7

about 0.52 mn t a-1 | unknown | US/EU: straw, BR: bagasse

Upscaling and demo of overall process concepts, further development for lignin, pentoses, enzyme use and efficiency improvement

Biomethane / Biogas digestate, electricity Commercial TRL 9

about 0.71 mn t a-1 (EU) | unknown |EU/DE: different

Lignocelluloses as cosubstrat, process optimisation (CH4 yield, enzymes, gas treatment)

Biomethane / Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG)

electricity and heat Demo plants TRL 7

about 0.04 mn t a-1 (EU) | unknown| EU: wood

Upscale, demo of overall concepts, adapt. syngas treatment to gasifier properties, efficiency increase, adaptation for decentralised plants

Synthetic biomass-to-liquids (BTL)

waxes, naphtha, electricity and heat

Pilot plants TRL 6

about 0.25 mn t/a | unknown | EU / NA: wood, straw

Upscaling and demo of overall process concepts, adaption syngas treatment to gasifier properties, efficiency increase and downscaling synthesis and final fuel treatment

a depending on process design; b according to technology readiness level (TRL) of the European Commission (1 - basic principles observed, 2 - technology concept formulated, 3 - experimental proof of concept, 4 - technology validation in lab, 5 - technology validation in relevant environment, 6 - demonstration in relevant environment, 7 - demonstration in operational environment, 8 - system completed and qualified, 9 - successful mission operations), c AT – Austria, BR – Brazil, EU – European Union, LA – Latin America, SA - Southeast Asia; d Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles

Comparison | Technical aspects Capacities of biofuel production plants

6 Source: Müller-Langer et al. In: Stolten, Scherer (ed.) Transition to Renewable Energy Systems, Wiley VCH, ISBN 987-3-527-33239-7, 2013

0 100 200 300 400 500

presentexpected

presentexpected

presentexpected

presentexpected

presentexpected

presentexpected

presentexpected

Typical biofuel production capacity per plant - range / MW biofuel

BTL / FT

Biomethane / SNGBiomethane / biogas Bioethanol (lignocelluloses)Bioethanol (sugar, starch)

HVO / HEFA capacity up to 1220

Biodiesel

Typical mineral oil refinery capacities: 6 800 to > 20 000 MW crude oil

Comparison | Technical aspects Overall efficiencies of biofuel production plants

7 Total input energy: raw materials, auxiliaries with energetic relevance and externally process energy; total output energy: main product, energy associated with all other by-products including surplus process energy). Source: Müller-Langer et al. In: Stolten, Scherer (ed.) Transition to Renewable Energy Systems, Wiley VCH, ISBN 987-3-527-33239-7, 2013

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Biodiesel (soya)Biodiesel (rape)Biodiesel (palm)

HVO / HEFA (different oil crops)Bioethanol (wheat, rye, triticale)

Bioethanol (corn)Bioethanol (sugar beet)Bioethanol (sugar cane)

Bioethanol (lignocelluloses)BTL /FT (lignocelluloses)

Biomethane / biogas (silage)Biomethane / biogas (residues, biowaste)

Biomethane / SNG (lignocelluloses)

Energetic efficiency of biofuel production - range international publications in %

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Biodiesel (different oil crops)

HVO / HEFA (different oil crops)

Bioethanol (wheat, rye)

Bioethanol (corn)

Bioethanol (sugar beet)

Bioethanol (sugar cane)

Bioethanol (lignocelluloses)

BTL /FT (lignocelluloses)

Biomethane / biogas (silage)

Biomethane / biogas (residues, biowaste)

Biomethane / SNG (lignocelluloses)

Fossil comparator

GHG emission - range of international publications in kgCO2eq GJ-1

Comparison | Environmental aspects GHG emissions

8 white dots indicate the default values for the biofuel pathways included in Annex V of the RED rape seed biodiesel for biodiesel (different oil crops), rapeseed HVO for HVO/HEFA (different oil crops; Source: Müller-Langer F, Majer S, O´Keeffe S, Energy, Sustainability and Society 2014, 4:20 doi:10.1186/s13705-014-0020-x

GHG mitigation (RED) 60% 50% 35%

Comparison | Economic aspects Typical total capital investments of biofuel plants

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TCI - total capital investment; a here typical capacities of commercial or expected plant capacity; b for new plants, without land costs and surrounding infrastructure for green field installations; c without oil mill Source: Müller-Langer et al. In: Stolten, Scherer (ed.) Transition to Renewable Energy Systems, Wiley VCH, ISBN 987-3-527-33239-7, 2013

Biofuel option Plant capacity a / MW biofuel

TCI b / 106 EUR

Specific TCI / EUR kW-1 biofuel

Biodiesel c 4 to 190 1.4 to 66 65 to 350

HVO/HEFA c 150 to 1030 > 100 390 to 500

Bioethanol (starch, sugar) 7 to 220 16 to 300 1360 to 2290

Bioethanol (lignocelluloses) 15 to 185 30 to 325 1800 to 2800

Biomethane / biogas 5 to 30 7.5 to 50 1500 to 3000

Biomethane / SNG 20 to 170 30 to 170 1000 to 2100

Synthetic biomass-to-liquids (BTL) 130 to 220 430 to 1000 2300 to 3775

Comparison | Economic aspects Biofuel production costs

10 White dots indicate cost values for exemplarily concepts by DBFZ, Costs normalised to the year 2013 Source: Müller-Langer F, Majer S, O´Keeffe S, Energy, Sustainability and Society 2014, 4:20 doi:10.1186/s13705-014-0020-x

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Biodiesel (soya)

Biodiesel (rape)

Biodiesel (palm)

HVO / HEFA (different oil crops)

Bioethanol (wheat, rye)

Bioethanol (corn)

Bioethanol (sugar beet)

Bioethanol (sugar cane)

Bioethanol (lignocelluloses)

BTL /FT (lignocelluloses)

Biomethane / biogas (silage)

Biomethane / biogas (residues, biowaste)

Biomethane / SNG (lignocelluloses)

Biofuel production costs - range international publications in EUR GJ-1

Price level crude oil 50 100 200 USD bbl-1

Comparison | Economic aspects GHG mitigation costs

11 *no GHG standard values according to RED, white dots indicate the reduction costs calculated with the RED default values and the cost values published by DBFZ Sources: Müller-Langer F, Majer S, O´Keeffe S, Energy, Sustainability and Society 2014, 4:20 doi:10.1186/s13705-014-0020-x

-300 -200 -100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800

Biodiesel (soya)Biodiesel (rape)Biodiesel (palm)

HVO / HEFA (different oil crops)Bioethanol (wheat, rye)

Bioethanol (corn)Bioethanol (sugar beet)Bioethanol (sugar cane)

Bioethanol (lignocelluloses)BTL /FT (lignocelluloses)

Biomethane / biogas (silage)*Biomethane / biogas (residues, biowaste)

Biomethane / SNG (lignocelluloses)*

GHG mitigation costs - range in EUR tCO2eq.-1

Summary and outlook

Current biofuels (bioethanol, biodiesel or HVO/HEFA) important until 2020

Future biofuels (biomethane, bioethanol or synfuels on lignocelluloses) enter the market in the EU or US first >> key element policies

Each option with benefits and drawbacks: available raw materials, surrounding available infrastructure and market demand

Sustainability criteria with additional incentive for biofuel producers optimising their GHG balance

Emissions from biofuel production predominantly driven by biomass production and conversion; iLUC out of control for producers

Key criteria for economic viability: ideal locations / infrastructure, secure market for products and long-term raw material supply

Biofuel production costs mainly driven by raw material costs and their dependence on energy prices and climatic conditions, CAPEX and OPEX

With regard to future R&D needs, several challenges to be managed; e.g. biorefinery approaches, frame conditions for investments

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DBFZ Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum gemeinnützige GmbH

Torgauer Straße 116 D-04347 Leipzig Tel.: +49 (0)341 2434 – 112 E-Mail: info@dbfz.de www.dbfz.de

Research for the energy of the future. Be invited.

Contact

Dr.-Ing. Franziska Müller-Langer Department Biorefineries Tel. +49 (0)341 2434 – 423 franziska.mueller-langer@dbfz.de

Please see also “Benchmarking biofuels – a comparison of technical, economic and environmental indicators”, online at http://www.energsustainsoc.com/content/4/1/20