The 6th International Conference on Biomass Energy (ICBE2018)

435 / 2018-09-01 16:54:48

Drop-in biofuel/biojet production, current status and potential

Plenary track > C. Liquid Biofuel

Drop-in biofuels that are “functionally identical to petroleum fuels and fully compatible with existing infrastructure” would prove advantageous for long distance transport sectors such as aviation, marine, rail and long distance trucking. The UBC FPB/B group and IEA Bioenergy Task 39 is in the process of updating its report where drop-in biofuels were grouped into the four categories of, oleochemical, thermochemical, biochemical and hybrid technologies. Although commercial volumes of “conventional” drop-in biofuels are currently produced through the oleochemical pathway, to make products such as renewable diesel and biojet fuel, the cost, sustainability and availability of the lipid/fatty acid feedstocks are significant challenges that need to be addressed. In the longer-term, commercial growth in drop-in biofuels will be based on lignocellulosic feedstocks. However, these technologies have been slow to develop and have been hampered by several technoeconomic challenges. In the near-term, (1-5 years) it is likely that, “conventional” drop-in biofuels will be produced predominantly, via the oleochemical route, due to the relative simplicity and maturity of this pathway. However, biomass derived biojet fuels will be required in the mid-to-longer term. British Columbia, with its extensive forest resources, established supply chains, oil refineries/international airports and the highest percentage of third-party certified forests in the world is well placed to pioneer the development of biomass derived, sustainably sourced advanced biojet platforms. The presentation will also summarise some of the strategies, such as introducing a low carbon fuels standard (LCFS), that are being used to encourage the development of drop-in biofuels and the challenges encountered in quantifying the lower carbon impact of producing and using drop-in biofuels.