A Comparative Techno Economic Analysis Of Renewable Methanol Synthesis Pathways From Biomass And Co2

Introduction: Despite a number of successful European pilot projects and early commercial activities, there remains little eminent acknowledgement of renewable methanol as alternative transport fuel within the current political discourse on future sustainable mobility in the EU. To a large extent this is due to a lack of research findings on the specific potentials of renewable methanol as a viable fuel alternative in the European context. In order to expand the existing knowledge base in this respect, in this Master’s thesis it is assessed how renewable methanol technology can contribute to achieving the three explicit objectives of EU biofuels policy: Greenhouse Gas Savings, Security of Supply and Employment. This research objective is approached by way of quantitative and qualitative analyses which in this form have not yet been undertaken. With regard to Greenhouse Gas Savings, the potentials of renewable methanol are assessed by way of the Well-to-Wheels (WTW) analysis method for different renewable methanol pathways, as well as comparative fossil- and biofuel pathways. The findings of this analysis demonstrate that renewable methanol technology holds high potentials and favourable prospects: while the EU regulations on minimum greenhouse gas emissions savings of biofuels will become gradually more stringent in the coming years, the investigated renewable methanol fuel pathways not only generally comply with these regulations but far surpass them. In some cases, emissions savings of more than 90% compared to both fossil fuels and first generation biofuels can be achieved. In view of the policy objective of Security of Supply, the feedstock-flexibility of renewable methanol technology is found to be a fundamental prospect since it enables the utilisation of wastes and other feedstocks which so far have been under-utilised in the production of biofuels. [...]

The transportation sector cannot continue on its current path: The volatility of oil prices threatens the U.S. economy, the large proportion of oil importation threatens U.S. energy security, and the massive contribution of greenhouse gases threatens the environment. The development of domestic sources of alternative transportation fuels with lower greenhouse emissions is now a national imperative. Coal and biomass are in abundant supply in the United States and can be converted to liquid fuels that can be combusted in existing and future vehicles. Their abundant supply makes them attractive candidates to provide non-oil-based liquid fuels to the U.S. transportation system. However, there are important questions about the economic viability, carbon impact, and technology status of these options. Liquid Transportation Fuels from Coal and Biomass provides a snapshot of the potential costs of liquid fuels from biomass by biochemical conversion and from biomass and coal by thermochemical conversion. Policy makers, investors, leaders in industry, the transportation sector, and others with a concern for the environment, economy, and energy security will look to this book as a roadmap to independence from foreign oil. With immediate action and sustained effort, alternative liquid fuels can be available in the 2020 time frame, if or when the nation needs them.

Increasing awareness of the environmental issues forces a strong drive towards the development of new, sustainable processes for renewable energy production. Likewise, the economic issues related to the increasing prices of crude oil, and its derivatives lead to the recognition of advantages of alternative fuels, thus a significant interest in biomass-derived, synthetic fuels is observed. Among various thermo-chemical conversion processes, biomass gasification is one of the most effective, efficient and sustainable solutions to the production of renewable energy. It provides a gaseous fuel, composed mainly of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, suitable to produce chemicals, heat, and energy. In particular, syngas can be used to obtain methanol (MeOH) and dimethyl ether (DME), both energy carriers of great interest for many advanced energy applications. The herein presented work provides the reader with a comparison of the technicalities as well as economics of methanol and DME production from biomass-derived syngas, by different pathways. For that purpose a process simulation by means of the ChemCAD® commercial code was used. The developed simulation strategies include both, optimization of the kinetic models and unique solution of fuel refinement.

Methanol - The Chemical and Energy Feedstock of the Future offers a visionary yet unbiased view of methanol technology. Based on the groundbreaking 1986 publication "Methanol" by Friedrich Asinger, this book includes contributions by more than 40 experts from industry and academia. The authors and editors provide a comprehensive exposition of methanol chemistry and technology which is useful for a wide variety of scientists working in chemistry and energy related industries as well as academic researchers and even decision-makers and organisations concerned with the future of chemical and energy feedstocks.

The world is currently consuming about 85 million barrels of oil a day, and about two-thirds as much natural gas equivalent, both derived from non-renewable natural sources. In the foreseeable future, our energy needs will come from any available alternate source. Methanol is one such viable alternative, and also offers a convenient solution for efficient energy storage on a large scale. In this updated and enlarged edition, renowned chemists discuss in a clear and readily accessible manner the pros and cons of humankind's current main energy sources, while providing new ways to overcome obstacles. Following an introduction, the authors look at the interrelationship of fuels and energy, and at the extent of our non-renewable fossil fuels. They also discuss the hydrogen economy and its significant shortcomings. The main focus is on the conversion of CO2 from industrial as well as natural sources into liquid methanol and related DME, a diesel fuel substitute that can replace LNG and LPG. The book is rounded off with an optimistic look at future possibilities. A forward-looking and inspiring work that vividly illustrates potential solutions to our energy and environmental problems.

The world is transforming its energy system from one dominated by fossil fuel combustion to one with net-zero emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary anthropogenic greenhouse gas. This energy transition is critical to mitigating climate change, protecting human health, and revitalizing the U.S. economy. To help policymakers, businesses, communities, and the public better understand what a net-zero transition would mean for the United States, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine convened a committee of experts to investigate how the U.S. could best decarbonize its transportation, electricity, buildings, and industrial sectors. This report, Accelerating Decarbonization of the United States Energy System, identifies key technological and socio-economic goals that must be achieved to put the United States on the path to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The report presents a policy blueprint outlining critical near-term actions for the first decade (2021-2030) of this 30-year effort, including ways to support communities that will be most impacted by the transition.

Biomass is a renewable energy resource that can be converted into liquid fuel suitable for transportation applications. As a widely available biomass form, lignocellulosic biomass can have a major impact on domestic transportation fuel supplies and thus help meet the Energy Independence and Security Act renewable energy goals (U.S. Congress 2007). With gasification technology, biomass can be converted to gasoline via methanol synthesis and methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) technologies. Producing a gasoline product that is infrastructure ready has much potential. Although the MTG technology has been commercially demonstrated with natural gas conversion, combining MTG with biomass gasification has not been shown. Therefore, a techno-economic evaluation for a biomass MTG process based on currently available technology was developed to provide information about benefits and risks of this technology. The economic assumptions used in this report are consistent with previous U.S. Department of Energy Office of Biomass Programs techno-economic assessments. The feedstock is assumed to be wood chips at 2000 metric ton/day (dry basis). Two kinds of gasification technologies were evaluated: an indirectly-heated gasifier and a directly-heated oxygen-blown gasifier. The gasoline selling prices (2008 USD) excluding taxes were estimated to be $3.20/gallon and $3.68/gallon for indirectly-heated gasified and directly-heated. This suggests that a process based on existing technology is economic only when crude prices are above $100/bbl. However, improvements in syngas cleanup combined with consolidated gasoline synthesis can potentially reduce the capital cost. In addition, improved synthesis catalysts and reactor design may allow increased yield.