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Combining expansion in pulp capacity with production of sustainable biofuels – Techno-economic and greenhouse gas emissions assessment of drop-in fuels from black liquor part-streams

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  • Jafri, Yawer
  • Wetterlund, Elisabeth
  • Mesfun, Sennai
  • Rådberg, Henrik
  • Mossberg, Johanna
  • Hulteberg, Christian
  • Furusjö, Erik

Abstract

Drop-in biofuels from forest by-products such as black liquor can help deliver deep reductions in transport greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil fuels in our vehicle fleet. Black liquor is produced at pulp mills that can increase their pulping capacity by upgrading some of it to drop-in biofuels but this is not well-studied. We evaluate the techno-economic and greenhouse gas performance of five drop-in biofuel pathways based on BL lignin separation with hydrotreatment or black liquor gasification with catalytic synthesis. We also assess how integrated biofuel production impacts different types of pulp mills and a petroleum refinery by using energy and material balances assembled from experimental data supplemented by expert input. Our results indicate that drop-in biofuels from black liquor part-streams can be produced for ~80 EUR2017/MWh, which puts black liquor on the same footing (or better) as comparable forest residue-based alternatives. The best pathways in both production routes have comparable costs and their principal biofuel products (petrol for black liquor gasification and diesel for lignin hydrotreatment) complement each other. All pathways surpass European Union’s sustainability criteria for greenhouse gas savings from new plants. Supplementing black liquor with pyrolysis oil or electrolysis hydrogen can improve biofuel production potentials and feedstock diversity, but better economic performance does not accompany these benefits. Fossil hydrogen represents the cheaper option for lignin hydrotreatment by some margin, but greenhouse gas savings from renewable hydrogen are nearly twice as great. Research on lignin upgrading in industrial conditions is recommended for reducing the presently significant performance uncertainties.

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  • Jafri, Yawer & Wetterlund, Elisabeth & Mesfun, Sennai & Rådberg, Henrik & Mossberg, Johanna & Hulteberg, Christian & Furusjö, Erik, 2020. "Combining expansion in pulp capacity with production of sustainable biofuels – Techno-economic and greenhouse gas emissions assessment of drop-in fuels from black liquor part-streams," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:279:y:2020:i:c:s0306261920313507
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115879
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jafri, Yawer & Wetterlund, Elisabeth & Anheden, Marie & Kulander, Ida & Håkansson, Åsa & Furusjö, Erik, 2019. "Multi-aspect evaluation of integrated forest-based biofuel production pathways: Part 1. Product yields & energetic performance," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 401-413.
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    3. Carvalho, Lara & Lundgren, Joakim & Wetterlund, Elisabeth & Wolf, Jens & Furusjö, Erik, 2018. "Methanol production via black liquor co-gasification with expanded raw material base – Techno-economic assessment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 570-584.
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    8. Brynolf, Selma & Taljegard, Maria & Grahn, Maria & Hansson, Julia, 2018. "Electrofuels for the transport sector: A review of production costs," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 1887-1905.
    9. Jafri, Yawer & Wetterlund, Elisabeth & Anheden, Marie & Kulander, Ida & Håkansson, Åsa & Furusjö, Erik, 2019. "Multi-aspect evaluation of integrated forest-based biofuel production pathways: Part 2. economics, GHG emissions, technology maturity and production potentials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 1312-1328.
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    1. Julia Hansson & Sofia Klugman & Tomas Lönnqvist & Nilay Elginoz & Julia Granacher & Pavinee Hasselberg & Fredrik Hedman & Nora Efraimsson & Sofie Johnsson & Sofia Poulikidou & Sahar Safarian & Kåre Tj, 2023. "Biodiesel from Bark and Black Liquor—A Techno-Economic, Social, and Environmental Assessment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-23, December.
    2. Sennai Mesfun & Gabriel Gustafsson & Anton Larsson & Mahrokh Samavati & Erik Furusjö, 2023. "Electrification of Biorefinery Concepts for Improved Productivity—Yield, Economic and GHG Performances," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-22, November.
    3. Zetterholm, Jonas & Mossberg, Johanna & Jafri, Yawer & Wetterlund, Elisabeth, 2022. "We need stable, long-term policy support! — Evaluating the economic rationale behind the prevalent investor lament for forest-based biofuel production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 318(C).

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