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New Insights into Biomass and Biofuels in Rapidly Changing Energy Scenario

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A: Sustainable Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2021) | Viewed by 10899

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Dr. Francisco Rosillo-Calle

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Honorary Senior Research Fellow, CEP, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College, South Kensington Campus, London SW7, UK
Interests: biomass resource assessment; biomass energy (bioenergy and biofuel production, conversion and use); agriculture and food security; social and environmental implications of biomass energy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

For many decades, few significant changes have taken place in the energy sector, in which fossil fuels were traditionally the king. This is particularly the case in transport. Biomass-based fuels have many ups and downs but never managed to enter the mainstream of the energy sector, except in some niche markets, e.g., ethanol in Brazil and the USA. Recently, a fundamental paradigm shift has begun, with huge implications.

Although fossil fuels will continue to dominate for a few decades to come, their role has gradually been eroded due to environmental sustainability and social, economic, and political pressures, and the fact that they have aimed by emerging technological alternatives, e.g., biofuels, hydrogen, electric vehicles, and solar. Environmental sustainability and bioeconomy are becoming key players in the field.

The current climate is, however, clouded with huge uncertainties due to rapid and radical changes, e.g., COVID-19, a scenario in which nobody seems to have a clear idea of what the future may be. Uncertainty is nothing new, but the present situation is unparalleled in many ways, particularly in the transport sector. This is because, although many alternatives are emerging, none appear as a clear winner. Hence, it is almost impossible to forecast what the future may be with any degree of certainty, except to say that the energy sector will be less monopolistic and more fragmented and diverse.

However, this unprecedented time is focusing minds on finding solutions. The current situation is unsustainable and even the most recalcitrant defenders of fossil fuels now accept that BAUS is simply unrealistic. As a result, huge investments are pouring into alternative energy sources.

In this rapidly emerging scenario, what role can biomass-based fuels play? Solid biomass has been around for centuries and liquid biofuels for transport for decades. The question is, what possible role can these sources play in future energy scenarios?

This Special Issue of Energies will try to answer some of these questions by examining the key areas, e.g., biomass for electricity and heat, biofuels for transport, and environmental sustainability, and identify the potential role of such fuels.

Guest Editor

Dr. Francisco Rosillo-Calle
Guest Editor

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Keywords

alternative fuels
aviation fuels
biomass-based energy scenarios
biomass energy alternatives
bioeconomy
biofuels for transport
biomass energy
Brazil
case studies
environmental sustainability

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 10578 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biofuels for Maritime Transportation: A Spatial, Techno-Economic, and Logistic Analysis in Brazil, Europe, South Africa, and the USA

by Francielle Carvalho, Joana Portugal-Pereira, Martin Junginger and Alexandre Szklo

Energies 2021, 14(16), 4980; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14164980 - 13 Aug 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3591

Abstract

Low or zero carbon fuels are crucial for maritime transportation decarbonization goals. This paper assesses potential localities for maritime biofuels (biobunkers) production in Brazil, Europe, South Africa, and United States considering geographical, logistic, and economic aspects. This assessment combines georeferenced and techno-economic analyses to identify suitable fuel production hotspots based on not only plant performance and costs but also on logistic integration and biomass seasonality. Five technology pathways were considered: Straight vegetable Oils (SVO), Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils (HVO), Fischer–Tropsch Biomass-to-liquids (FT-BTL), Alcohol oligomerization to middle distillates (ATD), and Hydrotreated Pyrolysis Oil (HDPO). Findings reveal that biomass concentration in Brazil makes it the region with highest biobunker potential, which are mostly close to coastal areas and surpasses regional demand. Although other regions registered more limited potentials, hotspots proximity to ports would enable fossil fuel replacements in these areas. For all cases, biobunker costs (USD 21–104/GJ) are higher than conventional marine fuels prices (USD 11–17/GJ). Only 15% of the hotspots’ carbon prices that would allow its competitiveness are lower than USD 100/tCO₂. Alternatives to incentivize biobunker production would be, first, to establish mandatory fuel blends and second, to join forces with other sectors that would be benefited from the co-production of advanced biofuels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Biomass and Biofuels in Rapidly Changing Energy Scenario)

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21 pages, 5592 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatially Explicit Assessment of the Feasibility of Sustainable Aviation Fuels Production in Brazil: Results of Three Case Studies

by Arnaldo Walter, Joaquim Seabra, Jansle Rocha, Marjorie Guarenghi, Nathália Vieira, Desirèe Damame and João Luís Santos

Energies 2021, 14(16), 4972; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14164972 - 13 Aug 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2693

Abstract

For international civil aviation to be able to significantly reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) needs to be made feasible. This paper presents the results of an assessment of the feasibility of production of SAF in Brazil, considering three certified routes, based on the dedicated production of eucalyptus, soy, sugarcane and corn. The results presented here refer to the production of biomass in selected locations, aiming to reduce GHG emissions and minimise production costs. Considering that the opportunity costs of feedstocks were not observed, the minimum selling price (MSP) of SAF in the reference case was estimated at 13.4 EUR·GJ⁻¹ for the production based on soybean oil (HEFA-SPK route), 21.0 EUR·GJ⁻¹ for the production based on ethanol from sugarcane and corn (ATJ-SPK) and 32.0 EUR·GJ⁻¹ from eucalyptus (FT-SPK). These values refer to SAF’s nth industrial plant and biomass costs that are compatible with the current agricultural yields in Brazil but which are also the highest. The MSP results are relatively low compared to the estimates available in the literature, but they do not show the strict economic viability of SAFs in the short- to medium-term, mainly because of the low prices of fossil fuels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Biomass and Biofuels in Rapidly Changing Energy Scenario)

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16 pages, 718 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Perspective Use of Fast Pyrolysis Bio-Oil (FPBO) in Maritime Transport: The Case of Brazil

by Luís Cortez, Telma Teixeira Franco, Gustavo Valença and Frank Rosillo-Calle

Energies 2021, 14(16), 4779; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14164779 - 6 Aug 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2533

Abstract

The maritime transportation sector (MTS) is undertaking a major global effort to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), e.g., sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and the concentration of particulates in suspension. Substantial investment is necessary to develop alternative sustainable fuels, engines, and fuel modifications. The alternative fuels considered in this study include liquified natural gas, nuclear energy, hydrogen, electricity, and biofuels. This paper focuses on biofuels, in particular fast pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO), a serious partial alternative in MTS. There are some drawbacks, e.g., biofuels usually require land necessary to produce the feedstock and the chemical compatibility of the resulting biofuel with current engines in MTS. The demand for sustainable feedstock production for MTS can be overcome by using cellulose-based and agroforestry residues, which do not compete with food production and can be obtained in large quantities and at a reasonably low cost. The compatibility of biofuels with either bunker fuel or diesel cycle engines can also be solved by upgrading biofuels, adjusting the refining process, or modifying the engine itself. The paper examines the possibilities presented by biofuels, focusing on FPBO in Brazil, for MTS. The key issues investigated include FPBO, production, and end use of feedstocks and the most promising alternatives; thermal conversion technologies; potential applications of FPBO in Brazil; sustainability; biofuels properties; fuels under consideration in MTS, challenges, and opportunities in a rapidly changing maritime fuel sector. Although the focus is on Brazil, the findings of this paper can be replicated in many other parts of the world. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Biomass and Biofuels in Rapidly Changing Energy Scenario)

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18 pages, 4831 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study of the Thermochemical Properties of Lignocellulosic Biomass from Energy Crops

by José Antonio Soriano, Reyes García-Contreras and Antonio José Carpio de Los Pinos

Energies 2021, 14(13), 3780; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14133780 - 23 Jun 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1487

Abstract

The cultivation of short rotation coppice (SRC) is a sustainable and ecological alternative for the production of energy vectors today. For its use, it is necessary to know the thermochemical properties of the biomass produced, as well as the differences between genotypes and varieties. In this work, the thermochemical properties of five different Populus clones grow up in Mediterranean basin, with two different age categories, are analyzed. The moisture content, wood density, heating value, ash content, energy density, composition and the volatile matter were measured, separating wood and crust fractions. The mean crust content for all clones was near to 10% but it is observed that the youngest clones have higher content of crust and humidity. The 3 year-old clones generally show lower humidity and ash content and higher density of wood and fixed carbon, consequently showing a higher heating value. In addition, 3 year-old clones are encouraged since they have a lower content of majority and minority elements in proportion that can generate less operating and environmental problems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Biomass and Biofuels in Rapidly Changing Energy Scenario)

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