BioRefineries Blog

  Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Protos Biofuels Ltd (Protos), an iniciative developed by Advanced Biofuel Solutions Ltd (ABSL) and Greenergy, has announced that its first municipal waste to advanced biofuels project, l ocated on the Protos site in the North West of England , has entered into the front-end engineering design (FEED) phase. Press release: " Protos Biofuels’ first commercial scale municipal waste to biofuels plant progresses to FEED stage ", 11/05/2022. Petrofac has been appointed to deliver the FEED, with Sumitomo SHI FW (SFW) to supply the gasifier that converts the household waste into synthesis gas (syngas). Proval will design the direct current plasma arc furnace that will be used to clean the syngas and Wood will licence its VESTA process that will convert syngas into biomethane and biohydrogen.  The commercial scale Protos plant will incorporate ABSL’s RadGas process technology to produce grid-grade biomethane and biohydrogen from MSW. Due for completion in...

Versión en Español BIOREFINERY PLATFORMS Concept - Syngas is an abbreviation for synthesis gas, which is a mixture comprising, mainly, carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2). Raw syngas can contain significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), water (H2O) and nitrogen (N2), as well as other hydrocarbons and condensable compounds. - The name comes from its use as intermediate in producing Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) and for producing ammonia or methanol. - Syngas can be produced from natural gas, coal, biomass or any hydrocarbon feedstock, by reaction with steam (steam reforming), carbon dioxide (dry reforming) or oxygen (gasification and high temperature pyrolysis). - Biobased syngas is produced from biomass. Figure 1. Biorefinery platforms – Biobased syngas Applications - Direct heat and power generation. After cleaning, syngas can be used as a fuel for heat and power generation. This can be realised either in stand-alone combined heat and power plants or through...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Yosemite Clean Energy (Yosemite) has announced that it has secured the site for developing its first renewable hydrogen and renewable natural gas (RNG) production plant in Oroville (California, USA) with groundbreaking scheduled for Q2 of 2022. Press release: “ Yosemite Clean Energy Has Secured Their First Plant Site Commercial Scale Carbon-Negative Biofuels from Waste Wood, Stewarding California Forests and Farmland ”, 28/10/2021. Figure 1. Yosemite Clean Energy logo Yosemite will sustainably convert waste woody biomass into syngas, from which carbon negative renewable hydrogen and RNG is produced using downstream technology already widely commercialized in the US. Yosemite's biofuels production facilities will utilize the gasification technology of Repotec . The Oroville plant will be the flagship dual-bed gasification facility in the Americas, following over 100,000 hours of commercial run-time across developed plants in E...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Arbor Renewable Gas, LLC will use Topsoe’s TIGAS  technology for producing renewable gasoline at a new facility in the Gulf Coast region (USA). Press release: “ Arbor Renewable Gas chooses Topsoe’s TIGAS™ technology for renewable gasoline ”, 19/08/2021. The facility will expectedly be operational by 2024 to produce 1,000 barrels per day of renewable gasoline with a significantly negative carbon intensity score under California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard. The use of this fuel by consumers avoids the emission of at least 250,000 tons of CO2 to the atmosphere every year. Topsoe will supply the methanol synthesis technologies and the backend gasoline synthesis unit (TIGAS™). The methanol synthesis loop is based on the modular MeOH-To-Go™ design.

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Toyo Engineering Corporation together with JERA Co., Inc., Mitsubishi Power, Ltd., and ITOCHU Corporation have launched a study to establish a commercial-scale production technology of SAF (Sustainable Avianton Fuel) and create a supply chain of SAF in Japan integrating technologies of gasification and FT synthesis. Press release Toyo: “ TOYO to participate in a joint study for the establishment of a commercial-scale SAF production technology and the creation of a supply chain ”, 31/08/2021. Press release Velocys: “ Velocys collaboration with Toyo advances to commercial stage ”, 31/08/2021. Related post: “ Velocys secures order for a biojet fuel demo plant in Japan ”, 24/09/2019. Figure 1. Toyo to participate in a study for the establishment of a commercial-scale SAF biorefinery in Japan The entire project period is about 4 years (2021-2024). The consortium will study how to materialize SAF production business and evaluate its bu...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. Fulcrum BioEnergy has announced that it has completed construction on its first commercial-scale plant converting household garbage into transportation fuels. Press release: “ Fulcrum BioEnergy Completes Construction of the Sierra BioFuels Plant ”, 06/07/2021. Related posts: - “ Abengoa to start the construction of a biorefinery producing biofuels from MSW in Nevada ”, 09/11/2017. - “ Fulcrum to build its second waste-to-fuels plant in Indiana ”, 03/01/2019. - “ Fulcrum and Essar intend to build a waste-to-fuels plant in UK ”, 22/02/2021. Figure 1. Fulcrum’s first garbage-to-fuels facility, Sierra BioFuels, located near Reno (taken from Fulcrum’s website) With construction complete, start-up and commissioning on the plant has commenced and fuel production is expected to begin during the fourth quarter of 2021. The Sierra BioFuels Plant located east of Reno (Nevada) will convert 175 ktons of prepared municipal solid waste (MSW) into approx...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Velocys has announced the execution of a strategic framework agreement with Koch Project Solutions (KPS), a subsidiary of Koch Engineered Solutions, for its Bayou Fuels biorefinery project in Natchez (Mississippi, USA). Press release: “ Velocys U.S. SAF project update ”, 30/06/2021. Related posts: - “ The USDA does not find significant impact on the environmental assessment report for Velocys’ planned Mississippi biorefinery ”, 13/08/2018. - “ Velocys signs CCUS agreement with Oxy Low Carbon Ventures for its biorefinery project in Natchez ”, 16/10/2019. Subject to completion of due diligence and integrated licensor work, KPS may be awarded a turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to deliver the project facility, including an integrated performance guarantee wrap backed by a parent company guarantee. This project is expected to produce approximately 125 Ml/year of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with neg...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Partners repurpose the Rotterdam waste-to-chemicals project to waste-to-jet based on: substantial targets and demand for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF); expected support for Recycled Carbon Fuels; and a full scope, ‘in-house’ technical solution to be provided by Enerkem and Shell. Press release: “ From Waste-to-Chemicals to Waste-to-Jet ”, 08/06/2021. Related posts: - “ Air Liquide, AkzoNobel, AVR, Enerkem and Van Gansewinkel to build waste-to-chemicals plant in Rotterdam ”, 10/10/2016. - “ Air Liquide, AkzoNobel, Enerkem and the Port of Rotterdam sign agreement to cover the initial investment of the Rotterdam waste-to-chemistry project ”, 16/02/2018. Figure 1. Partners repurpose Rotterdam waste-to-chemicals project to waste-to-jet (extracted from the press release) With favourable support under Renewable Transport fuels regulations expected, the production of SAF from low-grade, post-recycling mixed waste has become an option, t...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. Técnicas Reunidas has signed a contract with G.I. Dynamics BV (GID) for a new biomethanol plant project in Amsterdam. The "Advanced Methanol Amsterdam" Project seeks to replace fossil fuels with biomethanol produced from non-recyclable waste and biomass. Press release: “ Técnicas Reunidas is awarded an important circular economy project that contributes to the decarbonization of the transport sector in the Netherlands and other European countries ”, 13/05/2021. SYNGAS PLATFORM . The contract includes the execution of the detailed engineering and the investment estimation in the form of "open book" (FEED-OBE). With an estimated investment of more than euro 200 M€, the future plant will have the capacity to produce 260 tons per day of biomethanol and will consist of high-temperature gasification, acid gas recovery and methanol units. Biomethanol will be obtained from the gasification of wood waste and Refuse Derived Fuel ...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. The joint venture Ecoplanta Molecular Recycling Solutions ( Agbar , Enerkem and Repsol ) will build a waste to chemicals plant in Tarragona (Spain). The project has been selected to move into stage 2 of the European Union Innovation Fund, which focuses on highly innovative technologies and big flagship projects within Europe to bring on significant emission reductions. Press release: “ Repsol to join Enerkem and Agbar to build a waste to chemicals plant in Tarragona ”, 27/04/2021. Related posts: - “ Enerkem begins production of cellulosic ethanol from MSW at its Edmonton biorefinery ”, 18/09/2017. - “ Enerkem y Suez team up to set up a waste-to-methanol plant in Spain ”, 10/05/2018. - “ Enerkem and NOVA Chemicals partner to transform MSW into ethylene ”, 14/05/2020. The plant will process around 400,000 tons of non-recyclable municipal solid waste from its surrounding regions and produce 220,000 tons of methanol. This methanol will be used ...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. Essar Oil UK Ltd (Essar) has joined forces with Fulcrum BioEnergy Limited (Fulcrum) and Stanlow Terminals Limited (Essar’s subsidiary company) to create a new facility which will convert non-recyclable household waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for use by airlines operating at UK airports. Press releases: - “ Fulcrum and Essar Oil Announce Plans for Waste-to-Fuels Plant in the North West of England ”, 15/02/2021. - “ Fulcrum Selects Site and Launches Development on its First UK Waste-To-Fuels Plant ”, 16/02/2021. Related posts: - “ Abengoa to start the construction of a biorefinery producing biofuels from MSW in Nevada ”, 09/11/2017. - “ Fulcrum to build its second waste-to-fuels plant in Indiana ”, 03/01/2019. Figure 1. The first Fulcrum’s waste-to-fuels plant (Sierra BioFuels) is being constructed in Storey County, approximately 20 miles east of Reno (Nevada, USA) Name of the project Fulcrum NorthPoint ...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Varennes Carbon Recycling, the waste to biofuels plant in Varennes (Québec, Canada) has now reached financial close, with investment agreements signed by Proman and its partners (Enerkem, Shell, Suncor, the Government of Québec). As part of the investment agreement, Proman will be entitled to market the methanol produced, which, once the plant is in operation, could make Proman the largest marketer of biomethanol globally. Press release: “ Proman closes its investment in Québec’s first carbon-recycling and biofuels plant and will lead bio-methanol marketing ”, 29/01/2021. Related posts: “ Varennes Carbon Recycling – Enerkem to construct an advanced biorefinery in Quebec ”, 10/12/2020. Figure 1. Varennes Carbon Recycling project infographic (taken from the press release) The plant is expected to ramp up to a production level of 100,000 tons of bio and circular methanol per year, using Enerkem’s proprietary technology to convert non-rec...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS.  Enerkem has announced the construction of a biofuel plant in Varennes with a group of strategic partners (including Hydro-Québec , Proman , Shell and Suncor ) and with the support of the Québec and Canadian governments. The plant will leverage green hydrogen and oxygen produced through electrolysis (87-megawatt electrolyzer), transforming Quebec’s excess hydroelectricity capacity into value-added biofuels and renewable chemicals.  Press release: “ CAD$875 million biofuel plant in Varennes, Québec Enerkem proposed partnership with Shell, Suncor and Proman with the leadership of the Québec government and support from the Canadian government ”, 08/12/2020.  Related posts:  - “ Enerkem begins production of cellulosic ethanol from MSW at its Edmonton biorefinery ”, 18/09/2017.  - “ Air Liquide, AkzoNobel, Enerkem and the Port of Rotterdam sign agreement to cover the initial investment of the Rotterdam waste-to-chemistry pr...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.  Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels, LLC (NWABF) has announced that it is in final funding discussions to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for its Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) project, which will produce and supply more than 60 million gallons annually for Delta Air Lines .  Press release: “ Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels In Final Talks with Top-tier Investors for SAF Project ”, 11/11/2020.  Related post: “ Delta invests in the feasibility study of a facility to produce sustainable aviation fuel from forest floor debris ”, 02/10/2019.  Figure 1. NWABF is in final funding discussions for its SAF project  In 2019, Delta Air Lines invested 2 M$ to collaborate with NWABF to study the financial feasibility of an advanced biofuel production facility . Earlier this year, NWABF also announced the selection of Black & Veatch as EPC contractor.  NWABF has assembled a world-class team of technology compani...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS.  Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), Indian oil & gas company based in Mangalore, is planning to build a second generation (2G) ethanol facility in the State of Karnataka (India). A local distributed model will integrate the gas fermentation technology of LanzaTech with the gasification technology from Ankur Scientific .  Press release: “ Advanced Biofuel Facility Gets Green Light in India ”, 15/9/2020.  Related posts:  - “ LanzaTech and Shougang Group announce the start-up of the world’s first commercial waste gas to ethanol plant ”, 9/6/2018.  - “ NextChem and LanzaTech partner to produce renewable ethanol ”, 28/7/2020.   Figure 1. Gasification process of Ankur Scientific - Ultra clean gas mode (taken from the website of the company)   MRPL has awarded LanzaTech the contract to commence the basic engineering for an integrated processing facility to convert locally available agricultu...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. NextChem has signed an agreement with LanzaTech for the license of its carbon recycling process. In this way, the Italian company will expand its circular economy and chemical recycling technology portfolio (CircularDistrict) with the production of renewable ethanol. Press release: “ Nextchem and LanzaTech Sign an agreement to promote circular ethanol production ”, 17/7/2020. Figure 1. Nextchem and LanzaTech join forces to produce renewable ethanol The CircularDistrict model of NextChem, subsidiary of  Maire Tecnimont  that operates in the field of green chemistry, already had circular hydrogen and circular methanol production technologies (currently in the engineering phase). Now, it will be also possible to obtain ethanol, an important chemical for sustainable fuels and disinfectant production. NextChem will exclusively license this technology in Italy and, on a project basis, in some foreign markets. ...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Clariant and Ineratec have entered a partnership to develop and commercialize novel technologies for the production of renewable fuels and chemicals. Clariant will provide its extensive catalysis expertise to support Ineratec’s small scale (container-sized) technologies. Press release: “ Clariant catalysts powers Ineratec's green fuel production technology ”, 9/7/2020. Figure 1. Clariant and Ineratec join forces to develop emerging technologies for small-scale production of green fuels and chemicals Ineratec, spin-off of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), is specialized in modular chemical reactor technologies. The striking feature of this company’s solution is that the entire chemical process is carried out in transportable container units. The microstructured core of the modular Ineratec reactors provides a large surface for heat and mass transport. Highly exothermic reactions, such as methanol synth...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. Velocys has announced that planning permission has been given to Altalto Immingham, the UK’s first commercial waste-to-jet plant, by North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC)’s Planning Committee. Also, it has secured a further 1 M£ funding for the project from British Airways PLC and Shell International Petroleum Company Limited , payable before 30th June 2020. Press releases: - “ JDA extension with British Airways and Shell signed ”, 12/5/2020.   - “ NELC Planning Committee approves waste-to-jet-fuel plant ”, 20/5/2020. Figure 1. Plant view looking North-East (taken from Altalto website) Altalto project The project is being executed under a Joint Development Agreement between British Airways, Shell and Velocys. They are developing plans to build the first commercial scale waste-to-transport-fuels plant in the UK. Altalto is derived from the Latin, ‘Altus’ meaning ‘high’ and ‘Alter’ meaning ‘o...