Improving the market uptake of intermediate bioenergy carriers
Bioenergy is a pillar of the EU’s strategy towards lower carbon emissions. It continues to be the main source of renewable energy in the EU, with a share of almost 60 %. Biomass is, however, not always available. Furthermore, its transport, storage and use may be cumbersome, thereby hindering the production of high-value products such as aviation and marine fuels. Converting biomass into denser, easier to handle intermediate products, the so-called intermediary bioenergy carriers (IBCs), can help solve these problems. “Implementing IBC technologies, however, suffers from the ‘chicken-and-egg’ problem: to develop more production plants, there needs to be a market, but markets will not develop when there is not enough production. Ideally, IBCs will become ‘commodities’, freely traded in a competitive market, ensuring security of supply and stable off-take from many customers,” explains Patrick Reumerman, project coordinator. To make this happen, the EU-funded MUSIC project aimed to facilitate the market uptake of three types of IBCs, namely pyrolysis oil, torrefied biomass and microbial oil. This would be achieved by developing feedstock mobilisation strategies, improved cost-effective logistics, and the establishment of trade centres.
Pyrolysis oil, torrefied biomass and microbial oil case studies
To address the variety of different application options of IBCs, the project developed case studies. In the Greek case study, the logistics and feasibility of torrefied biomass value chains in specific heating applications, electricity generation, and energy-intensive industries were investigated. For instance, using torrefied biomass to replace lignite coal in Greek power plants. The Italian case study focused on the potential utilisation of agricultural residues to produce microbial oil. The microbial oil could be used as feedstock in ENI refineries located in Gela, Sicily, and Port Marghera, Veneto, to produce green transport fuels. The Nordic case study focused on the possible use of the renewable feedstocks from Nordic Forest industries to produce pyrolysis oil. The pyrolysis oil would then be transported to the Netherlands where it could be upgraded to a maritime biofuel, serving as a replacement for fossil fuels in the international maritime sector. Lastly, the international case study focused on the feasibility of using torrefied biomass in steel production. Torrefied biomass could be used in blast furnaces in ArcelorMittal’s steel mills across Europe as a substitute for fossil coal inputs.
Designing feasible supply chains
Discussing the results of the project, Reumerman notes: “Case studies were developed, spanning the whole value chain from feedstock to final application, and bottlenecks and showstoppers were identified. Stakeholders were informed, and barriers and drivers were identified. Recommendations were formulated and published to advise policy makers on the development of suitable framework conditions and the removal of barriers.” The key result of the project, however, was the ability to bring together all stakeholders across all the relevant value chains and raise awareness about the benefits of intermediary bioenergy carriers. “The project demonstrated the feasibility of creating viable value chains and identified the required technical developments,” adds Reumerman. What’s more, three White Papers on torrefied biomass, fast pyrolysis bio-oil, and microbial oil were published, presenting the benefits of these IBCs in a comprehensive, yet accessible way. “With the information and tools provided via the project, it is possible to develop and implement sustainable value chains and take advantage of the highly supportive policy framework currently being finalised at EU level in the form of RED III, the ReFuelEU Aviation initiative, and the FuelEU Maritime initiative,” concludes Reumerman.
Keywords
MUSIC, bioenergy, biomass, intermediary bioenergy carriers, pyrolysis oil, torrefied biomass, microbial oil
