Biomass conversion technologies and LCA implementation

1. Biomass conversion technologies and LCA implementation Davide Tonini, Brian Vad Mathiesen and Thomas Astrup CEESA meeting, Ålborg, 25-01-2010

2. Outline • Energy analysis of conversion technologies for biomass and waste – overview • Focus on efficiency of gasification technologies • Future work: LCA implementation

3. Conversion technologies • Primary biomass is converted to energy carriers (syngas, biogas, biofuels) and byproducts • Efficiencies and energy losses • Byproducts can be utilized for energy or soil amelioration

4. Anaerobic digestion • Crucial parameter for biogas yield: • VS content of substrate • Ash content of substrate • T and retention time (psicrophilic, mesophilic, thermophilic) • Availability of substrate (size of material, hydrolisis etc.) • Yield -----> Nm3/tonne FM • LHV biogas = 18-24 MJ/Nm3

5. Thermal gasification • Sub-stoichiometric thermal treatment of a fuel • Gasification agent: Air (direct gasification) Steam (indirect gasification) • Indicated for material with low ash content and high sintering point (slagging problems) • Main energy parameter: Cold gas efficiency ----> energy transferred from biomass to syngas • LHV syngas = 4 - 8 MJ/Nm3

6. Biomass fate in CEESA and IDAs [1] According to IDAs Klimaplan (Table 21, page 90, Baggrundsrapport). When referring to gas as carrier, the amount of biomass is recalculated based on typical efficiencies of the process considered (i.e. rapeseed to RME) [2] It is assumed that the energy required by industries is met both by gas and direct biomass combustion (mainly byproducts from biofuels production) [3] Compared to IDAs Klimaplan the energy demand for the industry sector is decreased from 80 to 60 PJ

7. Conversion technologies - overview

8. Gasification and anaerobic digestion – energy efficiency [1]CGE=Cold Gas Efficiency. It is the most important parameter to assess the energy efficiency of a gasification process [2] The energy content of the gas does not take into account the energy required for the plant heat/energy consumptions [3] Only the residual waste (after source separation) which is today used for energy purposes is here considered

9. Conclusion - technologies • Biomass availability is limitedespecially for biofuels • Need for energy crops (33.4 PJ of bio-jetfuel and 29.1 PJ of biodiesel) • Integration of gasification and anaerobic digestion with gas-fired SOFC power plant -------> estimation of energy savings and “decreased performance” of the connected power plants

10. Future work – LCA Future work: implementation of LCA by means of Simapro and EASEWASTE (for waste) Period: February – June 2010 LCA is Dependent on: • The choice of conversion technologies • The fate of the biomass • The scenarios • Direct and indirect LUC consequences (Lorie)

11. Implementation of LCA • Analysis of all energy and mass flows • Assessment of re-utilization of byproducts for energy or agriculture purposes (also char from gasification) • Indirect Land Use Change ------> Not included in the first assessment (further collaboration with Lorie)

12. Agricultural land 0.36 kt carbohydrate fodder 0.36 kt barley 0.36 kt palm meal 8.7 kt palm fruit Agricultural land Palm oil and meal production 8.4 kt palm oil 26.8 kt soy beans 4.8 kt soy oil Soy oil and meal production 4.8 kt soy oil Agricultural land 22 kt soy meal 22 kt soy meal 0.25 PJ rapeseed (3.6 kt rape oil) Methanol production 0.013 PJ methanol 22 kt animal fodder 22 kt rape meal Oil milling 0.54 PJ rape oil 1 PJ rapeseed 0.48 PJ RME 0.48 PJ RME Agricultural land Esterification 236 t catalyst Catalysts production 63 t KOH 236 t K-fertilizer Fertiliser production 1.39 kt glycerine 1.39 kt glycerine Glycerine production Biodiesel from rapeseed

13. Straw gasification 0.85 PJ syngas 1 PJ straw Use-on-land Biochar 73 kt straw Binding of carbon in the soil Depletion of carbon in the soil Decrease of crops yield Straw gasification

14. Wood gasification 0.93 PJ syngas 1 PJ wood chips Biochar Use-on-land Lost alternative? Wood gasification

15. 1 PJ grass Anaerobic digestion Biogas purification 0.32 PJ CH4 1 PJ grass 0.1 PJ fibers fraction 6.6 kt Animal feed Agricultural land 6.6 kt barley 6.6 kt barley Anaerobic digestion of grass

16. 1 PJ manure Separation & Anaerobic digestion Biogas purification 0.3 PJ CH4 1 PJ animal manure Digestate & liquid manure (3497 kt N, 867 kt P, 1746 kt K) Use-on-land Fertilizer production Fertilizer (3497 kt N, 867 kt P, 1746 kt K) Storage Fertilizer (3518 kt N, 854 kt P, 2043 kt K) Fertilizer production Use-on-land Fertilizer (2286 kt N, 854 kt P, 2043 kt K) Anaerobic digestion of manure

17. 0.96 t liquid fraction Anaerobic digestion 2 GJ biogas Waste refinery 1 t residual waste 0.4 t solid fraction Co-combustion in power plant 5 GJ RDF steam water 24 kg glass Glass recycling 24 kg glass enzymes Resources/energy Glass production 20 kg ferrous metals 20 kg steel Ferrous metals recycling 20 kg Iron Steel production 10 kg Aluminium Aluminium recycling 8 kg Al 8.2 kg Aluminium Aluminium production 13 kg plastic Plastic recycling 10.5 kt plastic 11.6 kt crude oil Plastic production Residual waste The Renaissance option

18. Thermal treatment 0.21 GJ el, 0.76 GJ heat 1 tonne residual waste Natural gas extraction Natural gas 180 kg ash Disposal in mineral landfill Oil extraction Oil 20 kg Fly ash Disposal in salt mine Coal CHP Residual waste incineration

19. Conclusion (remarks..) - LCA LCA implementation is dependent on: • Biomass availability • Choice of the conversion technologies (also own decision) • Indirect LUC for cultivation of energy crops

20. Thank you for the attention