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Investment and production costs of synthetic fuels – A literature survey

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  • Haarlemmer, Geert
  • Boissonnet, Guillaume
  • Peduzzi, Emanuela
  • Setier, Pierre-Alexandre

Abstract

Synthetic fuels, or synfuels, can be produced from gas, coal and biomass. The conversion of gas and coal is well established but lignocellulosic biomass conversion is slow to develop. This paper addresses the issue of the production cost of second generation biofuels via the thermo-chemical route, biomass to liquids (BtL). Techno-economic studies help identify promising conversion processes, but also introduce a false confidence in the technology that may lead to ill fated decisions. A large number of techno-economic studies have been published since the year 2000 showing a large variability in the results. This paper analyses the published data and presents causes of the observed variability, including a comparison with coal and gas to liquids.

Suggested Citation

  • Haarlemmer, Geert & Boissonnet, Guillaume & Peduzzi, Emanuela & Setier, Pierre-Alexandre, 2014. "Investment and production costs of synthetic fuels – A literature survey," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 667-676.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:66:y:2014:i:c:p:667-676
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2014.01.093
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    3. Casas-Ledón, Yannay & Flores, Mauricio & Jiménez, Romel & Ronsse, Frederik & Dewulf, Jo & Arteaga-Pérez, Luis E., 2019. "On the environmental and economic issues associated with the forestry residues-to-heat and electricity route in Chile: Sawdust gasification as a case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 763-776.
    4. Zhong, Dian & Zeng, Kuo & Li, Jun & Yang, Xinyi & Song, Yang & Zhu, Youjian & Flamant, Gilles & Nzihou, Ange & Yang, Haiping & Chen, Hanping, 2021. "3E analysis of a biomass-to-liquids production system based on solar gasification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    5. Bouraoui, Zeineb & Jeguirim, Mejdi & Guizani, Chamseddine & Limousy, Lionel & Dupont, Capucine & Gadiou, Roger, 2015. "Thermogravimetric study on the influence of structural, textural and chemical properties of biomass chars on CO2 gasification reactivity," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 703-710.
    6. Lane, Blake & Kinnon, Michael Mac & Shaffer, Brendan & Samuelsen, Scott, 2022. "Deployment planning tool for environmentally sensitive heavy-duty vehicles and fueling infrastructure," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    7. Qin, Shiyue & Zhang, Xuzhi & Wang, Ming & Cui, Hongyou & Li, Zhihe & Yi, Weiming, 2021. "Comparison of BGL and Lurgi gasification for coal to liquid fuels (CTL): Process modeling, simulation and thermodynamic analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    8. Jang, Won-Jun & Jeong, Dae-Woon & Shim, Jae-Oh & Kim, Hak-Min & Roh, Hyun-Seog & Son, In Hyuk & Lee, Seung Jae, 2016. "Combined steam and carbon dioxide reforming of methane and side reactions: Thermodynamic equilibrium analysis and experimental application," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 80-91.
    9. Markus Millinger & Kathleen Meisel & Maik Budzinski & Daniela Thrän, 2018. "Relative Greenhouse Gas Abatement Cost Competitiveness of Biofuels in Germany," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-23, March.
    10. Stempien, Jan Pawel & Ni, Meng & Sun, Qiang & Chan, Siew Hwa, 2015. "Thermodynamic analysis of combined Solid Oxide Electrolyzer and Fischer–Tropsch processes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 682-690.
    11. König, Daniel H. & Baucks, Nadine & Dietrich, Ralph-Uwe & Wörner, Antje, 2015. "Simulation and evaluation of a process concept for the generation of synthetic fuel from CO2 and H2," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 833-841.
    12. Kreutz, Thomas G. & Larson, Eric D. & Elsido, Cristina & Martelli, Emanuele & Greig, Chris & Williams, Robert H., 2020. "Techno-economic prospects for producing Fischer-Tropsch jet fuel and electricity from lignite and woody biomass with CO2 capture for EOR," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    13. Lopez, Gartzen & Alvarez, Jon & Amutio, Maider & Arregi, Aitor & Bilbao, Javier & Olazar, Martin, 2016. "Assessment of steam gasification kinetics of the char from lignocellulosic biomass in a conical spouted bed reactor," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 493-501.
    14. Marisol Garrouste & Michael T. Craig & Daniel Wendt & Maria Herrera Diaz & William Jenson & Qian Zhang & Brendan Kochunas, 2023. "Techno-Economic Analysis of Synthetic Fuel Production from Existing Nuclear Power Plants across the United States," Papers 2309.12085, arXiv.org.
    15. Snehesh, Ail Shivananda & Mukunda, H.S. & Mahapatra, Sadhan & Dasappa, S., 2017. "Fischer-Tropsch route for the conversion of biomass to liquid fuels - Technical and economic analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 182-191.
    16. Li, Yiming & Li, Changqing, 2019. "Fossil energy subsidies in China's modern coal chemical industry," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    17. Qin, Shiyue & Chang, Shiyan & Yao, Qiang, 2018. "Modeling, thermodynamic and techno-economic analysis of coal-to-liquids process with different entrained flow coal gasifiers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 413-432.

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