Brazil-EU Cooperation for Development of Advanced Lignocellulosic Biofuels

Project Information

BECOOL

Grant agreement ID: 744821

DOI

10.3030/744821

Project closed

EC signature date 3 May 2017

Start date 1 June 2017

End date 31 May 2022

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 4 999 955,00

EU contribution

€ 4 999 955,00

Coordinated by

ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - BECOOL (Brazil-EU Cooperation for Development of Advanced Lignocellulosic Biofuels)

Reporting period: 2019-12-01 to 2022-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Strengthened cooperation between EU and Brazil could help to pave the way for the deployment of affordable and sustainable technologies and tools for the delivery of feasible value chains so to enhance the uptake of advanced biofuels in EU.
The overall objective of BECOOL is to provide highly efficient, sustainable and affordable value chains, to develop technologies and tools for the production of advanced biofuels in Europe. The project is structured in 3 main pillars covering in a balanced way the whole range of activities of the biofuels value chain (biomass production, logistics, conversion and exploitation).

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

In WP1 the sustainability and feasibility of integrated food-energy crop rotation systems (e.g. dedicated lignocellulosic feedstocks such as sunn hemp, fibre sorghum, kenaf and hemp integrated within a conventional maize-wheat rotation) was validated. The results after the completion of the entire rotation cycle (2017-2021) shows that the introduction of dedicated lignocellulosic crops have negligible effects in cereal grain production, while highlight the gaining in biomass production. Besides that the introduction of dedicated lignocellulosic crops had potentially positive effects on soil conservation. In addition, existing stands of perennial lignocellulosic crops (switchgrass, giant reed) in marginal lands represent an additional source of biomass for advanced biofuels. Besides that, it was estimated that up to 109 million dry tons of residual biomass is available every year in Southern Europe. The large majority of which is represented by agricultural residues (60 million) and the remaining by forestry residues. In WP2, logistical concepts and exemplary chains for advanced lignocellulosic biofuels for different feedstocks, regions and conditions have been described. Three tools (BeWhere, Bioloco and LocaGIStics) were updated, re-designed and enriched (with GLOBIOM model), and used in an integrated way to design and evaluate the most cost-effective logistic value chains and their sustainability. This integration allowed to estimate the cost build up, the average cost and the GHG mitigation potential of intermediate energy carriers and final products obtained from lignocellulosic biomass value chains in specific sites. Several gasification routes (gasification, fast/slow pyrolysis and intermediates) for the conversion of a wide range of feedstocks were tested in WP3. Successful gasification of lignocellulosic feedstock and full line of gasification to Fischer Tropsch biofuels at pilot scale was demonstrated. The use of liquid intermediate energy carriers such as pyrolysis oil as feed for gasification widens the feedstock base and removes the ash-related obstacles. It was made clear that the type of biomass feedstock does not affect the main FT product quality and the synthesis gas composition. Moreover, the integration of biochar in the production route not only increase the energy efficiency of the value chain, but matches the latest provisions of REDII. Process validation and benchmarking was done using Aspen Plus models. As for WP4, successful proof of concepts of the biochemical conversion of a wide array of lignocellulosic feedstock was provided and validated the scalability of the process, using the FABIOLATM technology as a means of fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass prior to enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of the sugar streams. To date the C6 to alcohols routes show the greatest potential for scale up using this technology. The results of the attributional and consequential assessments (WP5) combined indicate that all the thermochemical value chains assessed in BECOOL to produce advanced biofuels meet GHG reduction target of 65% required by RED II, and up to 80% for giant reed, 96% for eucalyptus, compared to the fossil fuel reference. The production costs of FT fuels can be competitive with the costs of other GHG mitigation options, economies of scale and industrial deployment can sensibly reduce the high CAPEX costs and the final cost of the fuels. In WP6, all the project outputs were duly disseminated to key stakeholders with online and promotion activities; all public materials produced by the consortium were made available on the project website.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The BECOOL ambition to deploy at least 50% more feedstock, through innovative cropping systems (WP1) and improved supply logistics concept (WP2) for biofuels production have been demonstrated possible. BECOOL crop rotations schemes demonstrated positive environmental (improve soil health, water storage, avoid nutrients leaching, enhance biodiversity) and social impacts (increase farmers’ income, diversified food, feed, and energy markets). Besides that, BECOOL assessment of biomass residues availability, relevant for the recent European legislation, have put in evidence the need to integrated such waste feedstocks from agricultural and forest activities to produce sustainable advanced biofuels. With the information on cropping system performance (WP1) and the conversion technology requirements (WP3&4), different logistical sourcing chains have been evaluated. These logistic solutions enabled BECOOL to find the optimal chain organization, at minimum at gate cost and GHG emissions, given the specific biomass spatial distribution patterns within the specific bioclimatic context. Therefore directly impacting on a better understanding of the influence of different logistical choices on advanced biofuel chains, level of mobilization needed, mix of biomass, effect of geographic distribution of biomass. The outcomes from thermochemical and biochemical conversion trials (WP 3&4) of various biomass feedstocks (giant reed, fibre sorghum, eucalyptus, hydrolysis lignin) and intermediates (fast pyrolysis bio-oil, pyrolysis oil-char slurries) have a direct impact on future conversion technology strategies. Use of liquid energy carriers like pyrolysis oil as feed for gasification widens the feedstock base further and removes some ash-related obstacles. Important to note that biomass feedstock type does not affect the main FT product quality/synthesis gas composition. Moreover, the GHG performances of the biofuel chain is improved by the production of biochar and the integration of slow pyrolysis process for biomass drying; form the LCA and LCC perspective the GHG emissions and cost are lowered. Moreover, the work of WP4 has provided proof of concepts of the biochemical conversion of diverse European feedstocks and validated the scalability of explored technologies. Moreover, the long-term impacts of the data generated in BECOOL has being valorized through societal, economic, and environmental assessments. It would be possible to mobilize sufficient feedstock in the EU27 at a competitive price in line with the expectation of the FitFor55 second generation biofuels EU internal demands by 2030 (>10 Mtoe in 2030). BECOOL value chains for advanced biofuels meet the GHG reduction targets required in REDII, thus expanding the portfolio of advanced fuels in Europe and meeting GHG targets in the transport sector. BECOOL advanced biofuels could reduce GHG emissions up to 80% by using giant reed and up to 92% by using eucalyptus (WP5).

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