Biofuels international news
Published Fri 03 Apr 2020
Company achieves world’s first fossil-free biomethanol plant in Sweden
International technology group ANDRITZ has started up a fossil-free biomethanol plant at the Södra Cell Mönsterås pulp mill in south-east Sweden.
The global company is using its self-developed A-Recovery+ concept that delivers commercial grade biomethanol by using a patented extraction process.
The plant has an annual production capacity of 6.3 million litres of biomethanol from forest biomass.
The fossil-free biomethanol can be used for applications in the pulp mill itself, or as a substitute for fossil-based methanol in the transport sector (biodiesel) and as a chemical base substance.
The concept offers next-generation solutions for the chemical recovery cycle of pulp mills, with the target of utilizing the pulp mill side streams to the maximum extent possible.
In addition to biomethanol production, A-Recovery+ also produces sulfuric acid from odorous gases and recovers lignin for the production of high-quality lignin to be used in advanced bioproducts.
With this first ever fossil-free biomethanol plant worldwide, ANDRITZ is strongly supporting Södra’s ambitions to make its operations entirely fossil-free and be climate-positive by the end of this decade.
To achieve this aim, Södra is aiming at eliminating fossil fuel use throughout its operations and producing innovative products that replace fossil-based raw materials.
American petrol station reaches E85 landmark
The number of fuel stations in the US offering Flex-Fuel E85 has reached a new milestone.
E85 (or flex fuel) is a term that refers to high-level ethanol-gasoline blends containing 51% to 83% ethanol, depending on geography and season.
A Casey’s General Store in Ankeny, Iowa, became the 5,000th station nationwide to sell E85.
While offering lower emissions than traditional fuel, the E85 blend also offers a price advantage to consumers.
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Geoff Cooper said: “Reaching the 5,000-station mark is a significant achievement for the ethanol industry and our partner in the retail sector.
“The continued expansion of E85 and other flex fuels is great news for drivers looking for savings at the pump and a way to help the environment.
“E85 has been available to the public for decades but has really caught on in recent years. We’re especially happy to see that this notable landmark was reached by our friends at Casey’s, a company that has long been dedicated to making ethanol-blended fuels available to their customers.”
“We are proud to be a part of this historic milestone as we continue bringing consumer-driven products like Unleaded 88 and E85 to the communities we serve. We are grateful for key industry partners like the Renewable Fuels Association that work hard to ensure the success of renewable fuels,” added Jake Comer, fuel pricing manager for Casey’s General Stores.
Swedish chemicals firm gets green light to produce hand sanitisers
More chemical companies are switching to the production of hand sanitisers as global demand grows in the current crisis.
Swedish firm Sekab is now producing the product for the healthcare system after getting a temporary exemption from the Swedish Chemicals Industry.
Within one to two weeks, Sekab expects to produce around 65,000 litres made from ethanol from Domsjö Fabriker biorefinery in Örnsköldsvik.
“The spread of the coronavirus must be delayed and the elderly protected from infection.
“Here in Örnsköldsvik, we have a centuries-old tradition of refining ethanol, and of course we want to help produce hand-spirit for the health care in this emergency location.
“Now, thanks to rapid action from the relevant authorities, we have been given a clear sign to produce both hand spirit and disinfectant,” said Tomas Nilsson, CEO of Sekab..
The hand sanitiser will be distributed according to the recommendation of the National Board of Health and Welfare to the businesses with the greatest need.
Companies to commercialise gas to liquids production system
Two companies have invested $100m (€91m) in R&D and combined technologies to convert natural and renewable gas sources into methanol, ultra-low sulphur diesel, naphtha and low carbon renewable fuels.
Gas Technologies LLC and INFRA Synthetic Fuels will market and commercialise their new integrated gas to liquid (GTL) plants capable of producing the ‘green’ fuels.
The global oversupply of natural gas including rapidly growing volumes of associated gas flared at the wellhead have created a burgeoning demand for low cost, small-scale gas-to-liquids (“GTL”) conversion technologies.
With the fossil fuel industry facing growing resistance to crude oil refining and crude oil-based petrochemicals, interest in natural gas, biogas, biomethane, landfill gas and coal mine methane as fuel and chemical sources continues to grow worldwide.
To commercialise this technology, the companies are focusing marketing efforts on mid-stream natural gas processors, pipeline companies and compressor stations.
These companies have access to low cost natural gas and associated gas gathering systems with available land to host the equipment.
Walter Breidenstein, CEO of GasTechnologies, said: “The demand for clean fuels and chemicals is growing rapidly.
“Given the recent price correction of crude oil, we have re-focused our marketing efforts on the natural gas sector. Our integrated low cost of clean fuel and chemical production at a scale as small as 1,000 barrels per day cannot be matched. The market has changed in our favor and we are poised to create tremendous value for our customers.”
Dmitry Popov, Director of INFRA Synthetic Fuels added: “Our 4th generation GTL systems coupled with our simple plant design using 95% off-the-shelf components is the lowest cost methane conversion to fuels technology available.
“As our catalyst produces a 100% stable liquid stream of synthetic crude that can be sold at site without further upgrading or costs. This technology is economically disruptive to anyone with a methane supply (natural, bio or renewable) that needs conversion to clean burning fuel products including diesel, naphtha and jet fuels.”
Both companies are working with insurance and EPC companies to offer separate and joint licensing packages with technology insurance guarantees of performance, turn-key complete systems, with or without financing, and attractive tolling models to eliminate balance sheet debt risk for midstream operators.