Biomass gasification overview

Conference of the European Biogas Association 2014Ilkka Hannula, Esa KurkelaVTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

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1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 20201985 2025 2030

LAHTI II, 160 MW WASTE-TO-ENERGY

WASTE-TO-ENERGY PLANTSWITH MATERIAL RECOVERYo HIGH ELECTRIC EFFICIENCYo RECOVERY OF VALUABLE METALS

WASTE-TO-ENERGY PLANTSWITH MATERIAL RECOVERYo HIGH ELECTRIC EFFICIENCYo RECOVERY OF VALUABLE METALS

LIME-KILNGASIFIERS

REPLACEMENT OFFOSSIL FUELSIN BOILERS AND KILNSo WOOD, AGROBIOMASSo 10-200 MW FUEL

BIOMASS/WASTEGASIFIERS FOR POWER

CBF/BFBGASIFICATION R&DAND PILOTING

R&D ono HOT GAS FILTRATIONo WASTE AND STRAW

GASIFICATION

R&D NEEDS 2013 - 17o FILTER ASH UTILISATIONo RECOVERY OF METALSo IMPROVED GAS CLEANING

JOUTSENO LIME KILN 2012

Biomass and waste gasification for boilers and kilns

LAHTI 60 MW

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Production of Synthesis Gas from Solid FuelsInitial step - two main approaches

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Biomass gasification for fuels and chemicals

PEAT AMMONIA PLANTOULU, FINLAND

SYNGAS R&D FOR BIOFUELSo GASIFICATION PROCESS DEVELOPMENTo CATALYTIC REFROMINGo FINAL GAS CLEANINGo TESTING OF SYNTHESIS CATALYSTS

GASIFICATIONR&D AND PILOTINGUSA, GERMANY,SWEDEN, FINLAND

2010 2015 20201985 2005 203020001995 2025

BIO-DME PLANTPITEÅ, SWEDEN

GTI PILOT, USA

NSE BIOFUELS, FINLAND

BIO-FUELS ANDCHEMICALSo DIESEL, MeOH, DME,

SNG, H2, GASOLINEo OLEFINS, OTHER CHEMICALSo FOREST & AGRO-INDUSTRY

INTEGRATIONo INTEGRATION TO HEAT

AND POWERo INTEGRATION TO SOLAR &

WIND ENERGYo NEW WASTE-TO-FUEL

CONCEPTS

SKIVE CHP, DENMARK

CEGABTL 2015 - 2017o IMPROVED LARGE-SCALE

GASIFICATION PROCESSo NEW PROCESSES FOR SMALLER SCALEo SIMPLER, CHEAPER GAS CLEANINGo NEW CONCEPTS FOR INTEGRATED

PRODUCTION OF FUELS, POWER AND HEAT

Updated Techno-EconomicAssessment• Detailed evaluation of 20

individual plant configurations• MeOH, DME, FTL & MTG• Plant configurations technically

proven at pre-commercial scale• Impact of further R&D to the

overall economics estimated• Large scale: 300 MWth of

biomass (~1500 mtpd, dry)• Nth plant economics• Available for download:

http://bit.ly/192Vl3G

*Liquid transportation fuels via large-scale fluidised-bed gasification of lignocellulosic biomass, Hannula, Ilkka; & Kurkela, Esa 2013. VTT, Espoo. 114 p. + app. 3 p. VTT Technology: 91

• Mature technology• No investment support• No CO2 credits• No tax assumptions

Gasoline@150$/bbl

Gasoline@100$/bbl

Before taxRef.margin: 13.4$/bbl

1€ = 1.33$ (2010)

Levelised production cost estimates*300 MW biomass @ 17 €/MWh, 0.12 ann. factorElectricity 50 €/MWh, DH 30 €/MWh@5500 h/a

DUAL-BED STEAM GASIFIERFeatures- No oxygen needed- Large steam consumption- Challenging to pressurise- Reactor size limited to

100MWth?

Biomass

Steam Air

Fluegas

~80 % ofcarbon to

product gasand tars

Source: Göteborg Energi

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Fully indirectproduction route(no oxygen needed)

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Levelised production cost estimates100 MW biomass @ 18 €/MWh, 0.12 ann. factorElectricity 50 €/MWh, DH 30 €/MWh@5500 h/a

Fully indirectproduction route(no oxygen needed)

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Levelised production cost estimates100 MW biomass @ 18 €/MWh, 0.12 ann. factorElectricity 50 €/MWh, DH 30 €/MWh@5500 h/a

Fully indirectproduction route(no oxygen needed)

External costs not included- pressurisation- distribution- vehicle related costs

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Take home messages

Successful biomass gasification plants built continuously since late 1970Suitable technology depends on feedstock, scale and applicationMore demanding applications require cleaner gas –> increase in CAPEXLarge CAPEX calls for large scale and high on-stream factorsWaste gasification brings down feedstock costs but puts additionalrequirements for technologyNo clear answer to “what fuel to produce”. Solution is systemic.Technology for synthetic biofuels production technically demonstratedat precommercial scale –> near-term deployment possible

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