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

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
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:
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 = MJ/Nm3

5. Thermal gasification Sub-stoichiometric thermal treatment of a fuel
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 = MJ/Nm3

6. Biomass fate in CEESA and IDAs
Biomass fate in CEESA and IDAs
Potential
technology
Energy
carrier
Carrier energy required in IDA 2050 (PJ)1
Biomass required in IDA 2050 (PJ)[1]
BAU-Biomass potential
in CEESA (PJ)
Carrier energy potential
in CEESA (PJ)1
Biofuel to transport
methane
anaerobic digest.
5.7
18.4
bio jet-fuel -
jetfuel
33.4 ?
biodiesel
transesterification
29.1
61.8
3.4
1.6
Individual heating
small boilers
gas
3.1
3.8
Industry (1)[2]
gas turbines
60[3]
73.2
46.5
Industry (2)
steam turbine-cogen.
biomass
13.5
District heating plants
large boilers
6.5
7.9
Decentralized CHP
gasif.-SOFC-dec.
28.7
85.8
Centralized CHP
gasif.-SOFC-cen.
41.7
Waste incineration
incineration
waste
44.4 47
Total
251
194.3
[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
Conversion technologies - overview
Biomass potential
Potential conversion technologies
Main byproducts generated
Biomass PJ
tonne
LHV (GJ/t)
Biofuels
Gasif. AD
Comb.
Selected
Byproduct 1
amount (PJ)
Byproduct 2
amount (t)
rapeseed
3.4
123,690
27.5 X
to RME
rape meal
1.2
K2SO4
802
willow
0.5
33,784
14.8
gasification
char
grass
6.8
453,333
15.0
Anaer. Dig.
fibers
4.5
proteins
68,000
straw 65
4,482,759
14.5
tar
beet top
0.2
98,039
2.0
digestate
animal manure 27
5,400,000
5.0
liq. Fract. (t)
1,791,375
fiber fraction 2
147,438
13.6
mill residues
0.9
45,455
19.8
beet pulp
1.7
328,947
5.2
molasses
447,761
2.7
potato pulp
0.3
105,634
2.8
brewer's grain
0.6
141,176
4.3
whey
3,111,111
wood chips
7.7
407,407
18.9
fire wood 26
1,276,011
20.4
unexploited forest 17
834,315
wood pellets
2.6
127,601
wood residues
6.3
318,182
waste 47
4,700,000
10.0
combustion
bottom ash
fly ash
TOTAL
219
 6.7

8. Gasification and anaerobic digestion – energy efficiency
Gasification and anaerobic digestion – energy efficiency
Biomass
(PJ)
Heat (PJ)
El (PJ)
CGE[1]
Gas yield (Nm3/t)
LHVgas (GJ/Nm3)
Gross[2] energy in gas (PJ)
rapeseed
Not relevant here
willow
0.5
0.07
0.01
0.93
2118
0.0065
grass
6.8
0.23
0.05
210
1.9
straw
65.0
7.79
0.66
0.85
1896
55.3
beet top
0.2
0.06 67
manure
8.6
1.03
0.25
0.0223
2.6
fiber fraction
2.0
0.43
0.04
3203
0.0036
1.7
mill residue
0.9
0.12
2833
0.8
beet pulp
0.20
molasses
1.2
0.27
0.7
potato pulp
0.3
0.02
brewer's grain
0.6
0.08
320 (?)
1.1 (?)
whey
2.8
1.85
0.45 44
2.4
wood chips
7.7
1.01
0.09
2704
7.2
fire wood
26.0
3.41
0.29
2915
24.2
Forest unexploited increm.
17.0
2.23
0.19
15.8
wood pellets
0.34
0.03
wood residues
6.3
0.83
5.9
waste[3]
TOTAL
143
19.8
2.2
121.4
[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
Conclusion - technologies
Biomass availability is limited especially 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
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. Biodiesel from rapeseed
0.013 PJ methanol
0.25 PJ rapeseed (3.6 kt rape oil)
0.48 PJ RME
1.39 kt glycerine
236 t K-fertilizer
63 t KOH
22 kt soy meal
4.8 kt soy oil
0.54 PJ rape oil
22 kt rape meal
1 PJ rapeseed
26.8 kt soy beans
8.7 kt palm fruit
0.36 kt barley
Agricultural land
Catalysts production
Fertiliser production
Glycerine production
Oil milling
Esterification
0.48 PJ RME
236 t catalyst
22 kt animal fodder
Soy oil and meal production
Palm oil and meal production
8.4 kt palm oil
0.36 kt carbohydrate fodder
0.36 kt palm meal
Methanol production
Biodiesel from rapeseed

13. Straw gasification 15-04-2018 0.85 PJ syngas 1 PJ straw Biochar
Use-on-land
Depletion of carbon in the soil
Decrease of crops yield
Straw gasification
73 kt straw
Binding of carbon in the soil

14. Wood gasification 15-04-2018 0.93 PJ syngas 1 PJ wood chips Biochar
Use-on-land
Lost alternative?

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

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

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

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

19. Conclusion (remarks..) - LCA
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
Thank you for the attention