1. Biofuels

2. General Scenario
Fossil fuels are expected to dominate the world’s energy supply portfolio for some decade to come.
However, satisfying future energy needs while meeting the challenge of energy security and mitigating the risk of climate change has brought energy conservation to the forefront of public discussion.
Among renewables, wind, solar and biofuels are growing rapidly, albeit from a small base.
Other technologies, such as hydrogen, are considered to hold promise, but face substantial challenges in terms of costs and large-scale implementation.

3. Solar Energy Conversion
Biofuels Production
Solar Energy Conversion
Lipids for biodiesel
Conversion Processes
(BtL, hydrogenation)
phytoplankton, micro-algae, bacteria
Plants for energy
CO2
Sun light
Biodiesel
Solar energy concentration
New photo-active material, nanotechnology
Energy efficiency
“Third Generation”
PV Systems
Hydrogen
E. E. generation via Hybrid Cycles

4. Biofuels
Biofuels appear to be the only realistic short term solution to provide a renewable energy alternative to fossil fuels in the transportation sector.
Their liquid nature and compatibility with traditional fuels are their main strength points.
As a fuel product, biofuels offer a number of technical advantages: they are sulphur and aromatics free and have good combustion properties.
However, biofuels have a lower heat content than petroleum derived fuels due to their oxygen content. This means that they are less efficient in terms of fuel economy (km per liter).

5. Energy Carriers for Transportation Fuels
Existing infrastructure is a major barrier for any new fuel/energy carrier incompatible with it.
Final Use
Carrier
Production
Process
Storage
Energy
Source
Distribution
Gasoline / Diesel
LPG (DME)
Natural Gas
Electric Power
Hydrogen
Bio-Fuels
Performance
&
Impact on Environment

6. Biofuels : current scenario
The European Union requires biofuels (biodiesel + bioethanol) to reach 10% of total automotive fuel consumptions by the year 2020.
US President has announced a target of 15% of the national gasoline pool by the year 2017.
However, the current generation of biofuels cannot be an answer to market demand because of their scale limitations due to cost and large land requirements.
Land use impacts, fertilizer requirements and water use are other important factors to be taken into account when considering the potential of biofuels.
Competition “fuel versus food” is a major issue to be circumvented not to impact on the living of poorer mankind and on the prices of food staples.

7. Current liquid biofuels are mainly Bio-ethanol/ETBE and Biodiesel
Rapeseed
Biodiesel
Sugar can
Low conversion efficiency
Only a small portion of the biomass is converted to fuel
Low yield per hectare (mainly for bio-diesel)
Low energy efficiency
High production cost

8. New Generation Biofuels
Current biofuel’s limitations are a technological challenge, stimulating intensive R&D efforts towards omnivorous, efficient conversion technologies able to:
use massive low cost resource (e.g. agriculture/forest waste, wood, grass, cane, etc.)
make the most of the biomass resource
integrate with manufacturing infrastructure
convert biomass to market compatible fuels (e. g. gasoline, diesel)
be linked to distribution infrastructure
be sustainable and economical

9. R&D activity on biofuels Medium to long term approach
Biomass to Liquids
biomass gasification followed by biofuel synthesis
compatible with ligno-cellulosic biomass
full use of input biomass
strong technical background
High yield biomass for energy use only
database on biomass and relevant conversion routes
Micro-organism based biofuels
no competition with edible crops
extremely high productivity
demo plant currently under evaluation

10. 2nd Generation Biofuels
Second generation biofuels are needed to close the gap:
Require massive low cost resource
Ag./forest waste, wood, grass, cane, …
Want omnivorous, efficient conversion technology
Makes the most of the resource
Should integrate with manufacturing infrastructure
Linked to distribution infrastructure
Need conversion to market compatible fuel
Gasoline, Diesel
Other issues: sustainability, economics

11. 2nd Generation Biofuels Biomass conversion Routes
BTL
Fischer
Tropsch
Synthesis
Gasification
BIOMASS
Vegetable Oil
Hydro processing
Green Diesel
OIL SEEDS

12. EcofiningTM process
Esterification (
conventional )
Hydroprocessing
(Green Diesel)
Vegetable
Oil
Methanol
Hydrogen
Biodiesel
Glycerol
Green diesel
FEED
PROCESS
PRODUCT
(EcofiningTM)
Alternative to conventional esterification, without glycerol co-production
High quality product (high heating value and cetane number, low density)
A joint effort of UOP and Eni to develop a processing route to convert vegetable oil to high quality diesel using conventional hydroprocessing technology that is already widely deployed in refineries and utilizes the existing refinery infrastructure and fuels distribution system.

13. 3rd Generation Biofuels
Growing biomass by means of micro-organisms (such as phytoplankton, micro-algae, bacteria) to produce lipids suitable for conversion into diesel fuel.
CO2 produced from power station and industrial plants can be used to feed the process (CO2 recycling and biofixation).
Biomass Collection
Lipid Extraction
CO2
Open ponds,
fotobioreactors or
hybrid systems
Conversion to Green Diesel
A promise of high productivity