Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Gasoline from Biomass at $2.00 per Gallon?

We have looked at GTI / CRI IH2 process of biomass to gasoline conversion several times. Brian Westenhaus reports on some recent advances in the process which increase the feasibility of near to intermediate term biomass-to-gasoline at affordable costs.
GTI anticipates full-scale commercial plants converting 2,000 tons a day will be operating by 2014. Such a plant could produce more than 300,000 gallons of fuel a day, if the larger scale plants operate at the same efficiency as the pilot plants.

The prime driver for the amazingly fast commercial launch is assessments by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., the technology has the capability to produce gasoline at a cost of less than $2.00 per gallon. _Brian Westenhaus
The report by GTI was given at the 244th meeting of the American Chemical Society, and detailed progress made at a 50 kg/day pilot plant.

Article abstract (ACS)

ACS Press Release

The Al Fin Institute for Advanced Bio-Energy has focused upon the use of IH2 for converting algal biomass to fuels, chemicals, polymers, and more. Algae -- both micro-algae and macro-algae -- are some of the most prolific producers of biomass on the planet -- land or ocean. Combining the biomass production of algae with the high quality biomass-to-chemicals conversion of IH2, would seem to be an advantageous approach to advanced biofuels at this time.

Progress toward another advanced approach to biofuels -- fermentation of branched chain alcohols

More progress in bio-butanol research

Advanced biofuels is not about ethanol from corn (maize). The old "food vs. fuels" debate was malformed from its outset, but it is becoming increasingly irrelevant as science and technology leave it behind.

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2 comments:

  1. Whirlwind2211:10 AM

    Probably more empty promises they won't be able to deliever. I wish this stuff where real.

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  2. al fin12:11 PM

    Yes.

    All of these promises will continue to be empty -- until at least some of them are not empty any more.

    The big tight oil & gas bonanza in N. America (and going global) has set back some of these more ambitious bio-energy schemes.

    But the technology continues to get better -- with better catalysts, processes, infrastructures, and supply systems and feedstocks.

    Be happy that the urgency for these advanced biofuels is not as great as we had once thought.

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