Optimising the European Bio-refinery processes

The use of biomass for fuel, chemicals, materials and a range of products will make it a major contributor to European sustainable development. But first Europe has to nurture an infrastructure of cooperation to create effective bio-refinery processes explains Franck Dumeignil.

The development and implementation of bio-refinery processes is the prime goal of the Framework Programme Seven funded EuroBioRef project, as today's bio-refineries are reliant on a limited number of biomass sources, are not optimised for efficiency, and there is a disconnect between the many stakeholders involved in this young industry. Biomass is a 'wonder-resource', with potential for not only fuels, but also a number of products such as chemicals, polymers and materials, to the point where it could be a driving force for a sustainable economy.

Efficiency in the bio-refinery processes is key and, by integrating the stakeholders involved at all levels, new synergies, cost efficiencies and improved methods can be achieved. Today, most of the existing bio-refinery concepts use a limited number of raw materials and technologies, based around a single type of biomass - the focus is usually on producing biofuels (biodiesel or bioethanol). Only a fraction of the biomass is converted into higher value chemical products. A state-of-the-art bio-refinery is represented, for example, by an integrated bio-ethanol production including fermentation of biomass, distillation of ethanol, treatment of by-products in a bio-gas unit as well as combined heat and power generation, covering the energy demand of the processes. Excess methane/electricity is exported to the public grids.

The EuroBioRef project illustrates the possibilities for bio-refinery design, developing a highly integrated and diversified concept applying multiple feedstocks, multiple technologies and multiple bio-products. The approach allows for the analysis of various production platforms throughout Europe in order to choose optimised economic solutions.

The project aims to overcome the fragmentation in the biomass industry, attempting to facilitate better networking, coordination and cooperation among a wide variety of actors. There are 28 project partners involved in the EuroBioRef project from 14 different countries: large and small chemical and biochemical industries; academics and researchers from the whole biomass value chain; and also relevant European organisations. The new concept will specifically adopt a flexible, modular process design adapted to large-scale but also small-scale production units, which will be easier to install in various European areas.

This approach will be a vast improvement to the existing situation and should ensure the production of bio-jet fuels and multiple products in a flexible and optimised way, taking advantage of the differences in biomass components and intermediates, as well as improving cost efficiency by as much as 30 per cent through improved reaction and separation effectiveness, reduced capital investments, improved plant and feedstock flexibility and reduction of production time and logistics. Further, it will reduce by 30 per cent the energy used and produce zero waste. Raw material management will also mean that a reduction of feedstock consumption will be possible to the tune of at least 10 per cent. Large-scale research, testing, optimisation and demonstrations of processes in the production of a range of products will be necessary.

For a bio-based economy to become possible it was realised that a new Europe-spanning integrated approach was needed at the refinement stage. For instance, currently, the standard bio-refinery concept relies on massive economies of scale at one-dedicated site to achieve higher performance. It implies risks for investors, as logistical requirements drastically increase with the size of a single plant, and market dynamics may cause simplistic product output optimisation to fall short. In contrast, the EuroBioRef concept achieves integration across the whole system, from feedstock to product diversification and adapts to regional conditions, integrating into existing infrastructure, minimising risks to investors.

The flexible approach means widening bio-refinery implementation to the full geographical range of Europe and offers opportunities for export of bio-refinery technology packages to more local markets and feedstock hotspots in developing countries. Examples include Eastern Europe, which has a high potential based on feedstock availability, but no bio-refineries - such refineries are presently confined to Northern and Western Europe. The EuroBioRef project is ultimately looking to bridge the gap between the Agriculture industry and Chemical industry by integrating the whole biomass chain - and potentially re-energise the entire bio-mass production industry.

For more information on the project, contact Project Coordinator Franck Dumeignil

at franck.dumeignil@univ-lille1.fr

Published: Wednesday, 24th February 2010 by Tom Freeman

Comment on this article

Comments

No comments for this article, be the first to comment