Besides Petroleum - The promise of bio fuels to contribute to the solution of current challenges

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Besides Petroleum The promise of bio fuels to contribute to the solution of current challenges Presentation on the International Conference: „Perspectives of Industrial Investment in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries“ Ras al Khaimah, UAE 06-08 November 2010 Dr. Horst Walther Pacific Propellants, Inc. a 2 nd generation biofuel refinery 6015 S Virginia St., Ste. E480 Reno, NV 89502, USA [email protected] +44 208 1237381

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Presentation on the International Conference: „Perspectives of Industrial Investment in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries“ Ras al Khaimah, UAE 06-08 November 2010 agend: Challenges kerosene, a volatile commodity future fuel expenses the target – set by IATA Solution bio fuels from algae algal cultivation strategies hydrocorbons vs. bio-fuel algae bio fuels offer huge potential for the Gulf Region a novel refinery process Proposal algae plus ppi a promising combination: partnering to complete the value chain

Transcript of Besides Petroleum - The promise of bio fuels to contribute to the solution of current challenges

Page 1: Besides Petroleum - The promise of bio fuels to contribute to the solution of current challenges

Besides PetroleumThe promise of bio fuels to contribute to the solution of current challenges

Presentation on the International Conference:„Perspectives of Industrial Investment in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries“

Ras al Khaimah, UAE06-08 November 2010

Dr. Horst WaltherPacific Propellants, Inc. a 2nd generation biofuel refinery

6015 S Virginia St., Ste. E480 Reno, NV 89502, USA [email protected] +44 208 1237381

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challenges

Burning fossil fuels increases atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide. Fossil fuels are a finite resource. Some industry sectors like aviation cannot switch to solar

electricity. Aviation industry accounts for 2% of greenhouse gas emissions due

to human activity. By 2050 aviation emissions are expected to almost equal the

amount from automobiles. IATA‘s goal is a 25 % reduction of emissions per passenger by

2020. Only a few renewable feedstock types offer sustaining economic

potential – e.g. algae. Today refining renewable feedstock into bio fuels requires huge

capital investments. Today's processes mostly deliver esters not hydrocarbons. There is a strong need to derive drop-in fuels from renewable

feedstock.

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challenges - kerosene, a volatile commodity

Jet fuel price once peaked at 180 USD / bbl. It is likely to approach this level over the next 5 years again.

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challenges - future fuel expenses

For airlines fuel expenses represent an ever growing fraction of their total operating expenses.

CAGR = Compound Annual Growth Rate

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challenges - the target – set by IATA

IATA targets to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% of 2005 level during the next 40 years – mostly by bio fuels drop-in.

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solution – bio fuels from algaeproductivity figures from the CELLANA consortium on marine algae

Algae are more productive than terrestrial energy crops

*Cellana plant: Kona Pilot Facility, Hawaii

*

There is the general expectation, that only bio fuels from algae have the potential to deliver the required volumes.

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solution - algal cultivation strategiesSeveral types of algae cultivation exist – each has advantages.

Open systems-typically outdoor open ponds

Closed systems-enclosed clear plastic vessels (bags or tubes) known as photo bioreactors, or dark tanks (such as fermentation tanks)

Offshore systems-growing algae in the open ocean-usually contained in some way (bags or ropes)

All established production types still offer several severe challenges to be considered as stable and competitive.

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solution - kerosene vs. bio-fuelas petro crude price increases – algae crude price decreases

Source: Booz & Company, Outlook on Climate Change and Aviation

The development can be boosted considerably provided adequate investments will be done.

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solution - algae bio fuels …offer huge potential for the Gulf Region

advantages of the Region:

pre-requisite for fast growth: long daily sunshine duration,

suitable temperatures: high growth rates expected,

abundant (sea) water available,

sufficient space (desert areas),

financial & intellectual potential,

traditional refinery infrastructure. But still considerable financial & intellectual investments are necessary

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solution – a novel refinery process

Algae are the fastest growing feedstock Depending on strain they contain 5 – 50% lipids. But further processing consumes a lot its energy content. For harvesting, dewatering, drying & blending innovation is

moving fast. To derive true hydrocarbons a cheap and efficient process was

still missing.

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The new pacific propellants bio refinery process promises to close the refining gap.

9 conversion techniques were known:

Fermentation of Sugar/Starch Crops Fermentation of Lignocellulosic

Biomass Transesterification of Triglycerides Gasification: Formation of Syngas Fast Pyrolysis Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Hydrogenation Conversion of Syngas Anaerobic Digestion

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proposal - algae plus ppia promising combination

Pacific propellants, Inc. has developed a unique process to convert bio fuel feedstock to hydrocarbons.

The ppi process offers advantages over established processes … delivers a fuel very similar to

traditional fuel from fossil sources. requires lower of capital costs

than traditional refinery processes. is linearly scalable from mobile

one container-units to large plants. operates at moderate

temperatures (~ 50 °C) and normal pressure.

does not require expensive or low availability materials for input.

does not produce any hazardous by-products

Decentralized plants, e.g. near airports, could capitalize on the local potential of the region.

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proposal – partnering to complete the value chain An existing large scale algae feedstock producer

Pacific propellants, Inc. and its unique bio refinery process.

Renewablefeedstock

Renewablefeedstock ppippi Renewable

jet fuelRenewable

jet fuel

For full value chain processing a joint venture of ppi a large scale algae feedstock producer is preferred.

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questions - comments – suggestions?