maandag 28 mei 2012
NAABB Chooses Harvesting and Extraction Technologies
May 24, 2012
AlgaeIndustryMagazine.com
(Editor’s note: This story replaces one posted 5-22-12)
The National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts (NAABB) has selected three harvesting and one extraction technology for Phase II scale up development. The three harvesting technologies include an electrolytic flocculation system from Texas AgriLife Research (Texas A&M), new cross-flow membrane technologies from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and the ultrasonic algal biofuel harvester from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The selected extraction technology is a specialized mesoporous nanomaterial technology for extraction of high value lipids, e.g., tocopherol, being developed by Iowa State University (ISU).
The electrolytic flocculation system utilizes technology developed for the wastewater treatment industry. It is therefore the most advanced of the selected technologies and has been demonstrated, by Texas AgriLife Research, for algal culture processing at scales of ~600 L/hr. The cross-flow membrane technologies utilize the well-known concept of cross-flow filtration to minimize surface fouling and cleaning issues.
The PNNL technology utilizes a new class of thin porous metal flat sheet membranes, recently invented, with uniform pores effective in capturing the small algae cells that are encountered in common biofuels systems, along with membrane materials and surfaces that are very promising in addressing common fouling problems caused by algae adhesion and/or bio-film growth.
The LANL technology is based on LANL’s R&D 100 Award-winning Ultrasonic Algal Biofuel Harvester. The ultrasonic harvester utilizes sound waves to concentrate and cause flocculation of the algae into a separate concentrated flowing stream.
The mesoporous nanoparticle technologies from ISU utilize nanomaterials with a selective binding agent that can efficiently bind specific molecules within the algal oils for extraction and has been demonstrated in the extraction of tocopherol from algal oil. All of these technologies have demonstrated high efficiency and energy minimization when compared to traditional technologies currently in the market.
The NAABB selected these four harvesting and extraction technologies for scale-up following a rigorous review. Five harvesting technologies and four extraction technologies being developed within the NAABB program were compared to each other and to market benchmarks for projected operational costs and energy consumption for this down select process.
dinsdag 22 mei 2012
Low-Cost Nanosheet Catalyst Discovered to Split Hydrogen from Water
ScienceDaily (May 11, 2012) — Hydrogen gas offers one of the most promising sustainable energy alternatives to limited fossil fuels. But traditional methods of producing pure hydrogen face significant challenges in unlocking its full potential, either by releasing harmful carbon dioxide into the atmosphere or requiring rare and expensive chemical elements such as platinum.
Now, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a new electrocatalyst that addresses one of these problems by generating hydrogen gas from water cleanly and with much more affordable materials. The novel form of catalytic nickel-molybdenum-nitride -- described in a paper published online May 8, 2012 in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition -- surprised scientists with its high-performing nanosheet structure, introducing a new model for effective hydrogen catalysis.
"We wanted to design an optimal catalyst with high activity and low costs that could generate hydrogen as a high-density, clean energy source," said Brookhaven Lab chemist Kotaro Sasaki, who first conceived the idea for this research. "We discovered this exciting compound that actually outperformed our expectations."
Goldilocks chemistry
Water provides an ideal source of pure hydrogen -- abundant and free of harmful greenhouse gas byproducts. The electrolysis of water, or splitting water (H2O) into oxygen (O2) and hydrogen (H2), requires external electricity and an efficient catalyst to break chemical bonds while shifting around protons and electrons. To justify the effort, the amount of energy put into the reaction must be as small as possible while still exceeding the minimum required by thermodynamics, a figure associated with what is called overpotential.
For a catalyst to facilitate an efficient reaction, it must combine high durability, high catalytic activity, and high surface area. The strength of an element's bond to hydrogen determines its reaction level -- too weak, and there's no activity; too strong, and the initial activity poisons the catalyst.
"We needed to create high, stable activity by combining one non-noble element that binds hydrogen too weakly with another that binds too strongly," said James Muckerman, the senior chemist who led the project. "The result becomes this well-balanced Goldilocks compound -- just right."
Unfortunately, the strongest traditional candidate for an electrocatlytic Goldilocks comes with a prohibitive price tag.
Problems with platinum
Platinum is the gold standard for electrocatalysis, combining low overpotential with high activity for the chemical reactions in water-splitting. But with rapidly rising costs -- already hovering around $50,000 per kilogram -- platinum and other noble metals discourage widespread investment.
"People love platinum, but the limited global supply not only drives up price, but casts doubts on its long-term viability," Muckerman said. "There may not be enough of it to support a global hydrogen economy."
In contrast, the principal metals in the new compound developed by the Brookhaven team are both abundant and cheap: $20 per kilogram for nickel and $32 per kilogram for molybdenum. Combined, that's 1000 times less expensive than platinum. But with energy sources, performance is often a more important consideration than price.
Turning nickel into platinum
In this new catalyst, nickel takes the reactive place of platinum, but it lacks a comparable electron density. The scientists needed to identify complementary elements to make nickel a viable substitute, and they introduced metallic molybdenum to enhance its reactivity. While effective, it still couldn't match the performance levels of platinum.
"We needed to introduce another element to alter the electronic states of the nickel-molybdenum, and we knew that nitrogen had been used for bulk materials, or objects larger than one micrometer," said research associate Wei-Fu Chen, the paper's lead author. "But this was difficult for nanoscale materials, with dimensions measuring billionths of a meter."
The scientists expected the applied nitrogen to modify the structure of the nickel-molybdenum, producing discrete, sphere-like nanoparticles. But they discovered something else.
Subjecting the compound to a high-temperature ammonia environment infused the nickel-molybdenum with nitrogen, but it also transformed the particles into unexpected two-dimensional nanosheets. The nanosheet structures offer highly accessible reactive sites -- consider the surface area difference between bed sheets laid out flat and those crumpled up into balls -- and therefore more reaction potential.
Using a high-resolution transmission microscope in Brookhaven Lab's Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department, as well as x-ray probes at the National Synchrotron Light Source, the scientists determined the material's 2D structure and probed its local electronic configurations.
"Despite the fact that metal nitrides have been extensively used, this is the first example of one forming a nanosheet," Chen said. "Nitrogen made a huge difference -- it expanded the lattice of nickel-molybdenum, increased its electron density, made an electronic structure approaching that of noble metals, and prevented corrosion."
Hydrogen future
The new catalyst performs nearly as well as platinum, achieving electrocatalytic activity and stability unmatched by any other non-noble metal compounds. "The production process is both simple and scalable," Muckerman said, "making nickel-molybdenum-nitride appropriate for wide industrial applications."
While this catalyst does not represent a complete solution to the challenge of creating affordable hydrogen gas, it does offer a major reduction in the cost of essential equipment. The team emphasized that the breakthrough emerged through fundamental exploration, which allowed for the surprising discovery of the nanosheet structure.
"Brookhaven Lab has a very active fuel cell and electrocatalysis group," Muckerman said. "We needed to figure out fundamental approaches that could potentially be game-changing, and that's the spirit in which we're doing this work. It's about coming up with a new paradigm that will guide future research."
Additional collaborators on this research were: Anatoly Frenkel of Yeshiva University, Nebojsa Marinkovic of the University of Delaware, and Chao Ma, Yimei Zhu and Radoslav Adzic of Brookhaven Lab.
The research was funded by Brookhaven's Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program. The National Sychrotron Light Source and other Brookhaven user facilities are supported by the DOE Office of Science.
maandag 23 april 2012
Kein Platz an der Sonne
Die Pleiten von Q-Cells, Solon und First Solar werden in Deutschland nicht die letzten bleiben. Sie sind Folgen einer völlig verfehlten Subventionspolitik.
Mit der in dieser Woche angekündigten Schließung von First Solar in Frankfurt/Oder verlieren nicht nur 1200 Menschen in einer strukturschwachen Region ihren Arbeitsplatz. Das Aus für eine der größten Solarfabriken in Deutschland zeigt erneut, dass Wirtschaftslenkung per Subventionen einfach nicht funktioniert.
Deutschland hat der Welt den Gefallen erwiesen, die Erneuerbaren Energien global marktfähig zu machen. Der Beginn war das von den Grünen maßgeblich geforderte 1000-Dächer-Programm, das später zum 100.000-Dächer-Programm aufgestockt wurde. Später wurden jedem, der Photovoltaik-Zellen auf sein Dach schraubte, für 25 Jahre garantierte Renditen in Form von Stromeinspeisegarantien versprochen. Das war ein Angebot, das für jeden, der rechnen konnte und ein Dach zur Verfügung hatte, einfach zu gut war, um es liegen zu lassen.
Eines der größten Umverteilungsprogramme in der deutschen Geschichte
Interessant wäre es, im Nachhinein zu erfahren, ob den grünen Vordenkern dieses Programms – unter anderen der verstorbene Solarpionier Hermann Scheer – klar war, dass sie damit nicht nur die Photovoltaik global marktreif machten, sondern auch eines der größten Umverteilungsprogramme der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik in Gang setzten.
Denn die Solardächer stehen vor allem im reichen Süden der Republik auf den Dächern von Wohlhabenden. Die Windräder stehen zwar im ärmeren, aber windreicheren Norden, gehören aber – oft über Fondskonstruktionen – den Wohlhabenden der Republik. Ihre Rendite, die Einspeisevergütung, jedoch zahlen alle Stromkunden, und natürlich aufgrund ihrer hohen Zahl vor allem die Ärmeren und die Mittelschicht. Schon jetzt ist das Volumen der Umverteilung höher als der Länderfinanzausgleich und wird in den kommenden Jahren weiter ansteigen.
Neben dieser problematischen Geldumleitung von Arm zu Reich fütterte die staatlich garantierte Einspeisevergütung eine Industrie an, die in wenigen Jahren explosionsartig wuchs. Plötzlich wurden aus kleinen Solarklitschen Weltmarktführer, ein Unternehmen nach dem anderen machte in Deutschland Solarfabriken auf. Bevorzugt natürlich in Ostdeutschland, wo es zusätzliche Subventionen abzugreifen gab.
Doch statt nach dem gelungenen Start der neuen Industriebranche die Subventionen zurückzufahren, begann die übliche Lobbyarbeit. Längst hatten die Grünen Unterstützung bekommen, die mit ihnen gegen Kürzungen stritt – eine kuriose Koalition von Sozialdemokraten, die aus ideologischen Gründen für weitere Förderung waren, und auch von allen Möglichen aus CDU und vor allem CSU, die erkannt hatten, wie stark ihre Wählerklientel finanziell von der Förderung profitierte (inklusive nicht weniger CSU-Abgeordneter mit Solardächern sowie Wind- oder Wasserrädern auf heimischen Grund).
So nahm das Unheil vorhersehbar seinen Lauf, um nun im totalen Crash zu enden. Zwar sind die Erneuerbaren etabliert, doch den langfristigen Gewinn werden andere Nationen abräumen. Angefüttert vom deutschen Stromkunden, sind die Firmen hierzulande viel zu sehr verfettet und träge, um dem extrem scharfen Wettbewerb der Branche standhalten zu können. Q-Cells, Solon, First Solar – bei diesen Pleiten wird es wohl leider nicht bleiben.
Das ist ein verheerendes Ergebnis. Es hätte nicht so kommen müssen, wenn die staatliche Fütterung früher zurückgefahren worden wäre – wenn also die Unternehmen schon vor drei, vier Jahren auf Entzug gesetzt worden wären und die Einspeisevergütung zurückgefahren worden wäre.
Wir werden noch den Kopf schütteln
Wenn überhaupt Subventionen, dann muss schon mit dem Start das Ende der Zahlungen definiert werden, beziehungsweise der Abbaupfad der Förderung. Alles andere führt zu den Marktverzerrungen, die im Fall der Solarförderung überdeutlich zu sehen sind, aber auch in allen anderen Subventionsbranchen üblich sind.
In einigen Jahrzehnten werden wir zudem die Köpfe schütteln, wie wir so dumm gewesen sein konnten, Solarmodule im sonnenarmen Deutschland auf die Dächer zu schrauben. Die Technologie gehört in den Sonnengürtel der Welt, am besten in die Wüsten. Mit solarthermischen Kraftwerken, wie sie beispielsweise von der Desertec-Stiftung in Tunesien unterstützt werden, lässt sich dort Strom für die Region, aber auch für den Export nach Europa zu wettbewerbsfähigen Preisen bei der dreifachen Sonnenstrahlung gewinnen. Das Potenzial dort ist unendlich: Sechs Stunden Sonneneinstrahlung reichen aus, um so viel Energie zu gewinnen, dass die Menschheit ein Jahr mit Strom versorgt werden kann.
Die Autorin hat eine kurze Geschichte der Desertec-Idee geschrieben, welche bei Amazon als E-Book erhältlich ist.
Mit der in dieser Woche angekündigten Schließung von First Solar in Frankfurt/Oder verlieren nicht nur 1200 Menschen in einer strukturschwachen Region ihren Arbeitsplatz. Das Aus für eine der größten Solarfabriken in Deutschland zeigt erneut, dass Wirtschaftslenkung per Subventionen einfach nicht funktioniert.
Deutschland hat der Welt den Gefallen erwiesen, die Erneuerbaren Energien global marktfähig zu machen. Der Beginn war das von den Grünen maßgeblich geforderte 1000-Dächer-Programm, das später zum 100.000-Dächer-Programm aufgestockt wurde. Später wurden jedem, der Photovoltaik-Zellen auf sein Dach schraubte, für 25 Jahre garantierte Renditen in Form von Stromeinspeisegarantien versprochen. Das war ein Angebot, das für jeden, der rechnen konnte und ein Dach zur Verfügung hatte, einfach zu gut war, um es liegen zu lassen.
Eines der größten Umverteilungsprogramme in der deutschen Geschichte
Interessant wäre es, im Nachhinein zu erfahren, ob den grünen Vordenkern dieses Programms – unter anderen der verstorbene Solarpionier Hermann Scheer – klar war, dass sie damit nicht nur die Photovoltaik global marktreif machten, sondern auch eines der größten Umverteilungsprogramme der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik in Gang setzten.
Denn die Solardächer stehen vor allem im reichen Süden der Republik auf den Dächern von Wohlhabenden. Die Windräder stehen zwar im ärmeren, aber windreicheren Norden, gehören aber – oft über Fondskonstruktionen – den Wohlhabenden der Republik. Ihre Rendite, die Einspeisevergütung, jedoch zahlen alle Stromkunden, und natürlich aufgrund ihrer hohen Zahl vor allem die Ärmeren und die Mittelschicht. Schon jetzt ist das Volumen der Umverteilung höher als der Länderfinanzausgleich und wird in den kommenden Jahren weiter ansteigen.
Neben dieser problematischen Geldumleitung von Arm zu Reich fütterte die staatlich garantierte Einspeisevergütung eine Industrie an, die in wenigen Jahren explosionsartig wuchs. Plötzlich wurden aus kleinen Solarklitschen Weltmarktführer, ein Unternehmen nach dem anderen machte in Deutschland Solarfabriken auf. Bevorzugt natürlich in Ostdeutschland, wo es zusätzliche Subventionen abzugreifen gab.
Doch statt nach dem gelungenen Start der neuen Industriebranche die Subventionen zurückzufahren, begann die übliche Lobbyarbeit. Längst hatten die Grünen Unterstützung bekommen, die mit ihnen gegen Kürzungen stritt – eine kuriose Koalition von Sozialdemokraten, die aus ideologischen Gründen für weitere Förderung waren, und auch von allen Möglichen aus CDU und vor allem CSU, die erkannt hatten, wie stark ihre Wählerklientel finanziell von der Förderung profitierte (inklusive nicht weniger CSU-Abgeordneter mit Solardächern sowie Wind- oder Wasserrädern auf heimischen Grund).
So nahm das Unheil vorhersehbar seinen Lauf, um nun im totalen Crash zu enden. Zwar sind die Erneuerbaren etabliert, doch den langfristigen Gewinn werden andere Nationen abräumen. Angefüttert vom deutschen Stromkunden, sind die Firmen hierzulande viel zu sehr verfettet und träge, um dem extrem scharfen Wettbewerb der Branche standhalten zu können. Q-Cells, Solon, First Solar – bei diesen Pleiten wird es wohl leider nicht bleiben.
Das ist ein verheerendes Ergebnis. Es hätte nicht so kommen müssen, wenn die staatliche Fütterung früher zurückgefahren worden wäre – wenn also die Unternehmen schon vor drei, vier Jahren auf Entzug gesetzt worden wären und die Einspeisevergütung zurückgefahren worden wäre.
Wir werden noch den Kopf schütteln
Wenn überhaupt Subventionen, dann muss schon mit dem Start das Ende der Zahlungen definiert werden, beziehungsweise der Abbaupfad der Förderung. Alles andere führt zu den Marktverzerrungen, die im Fall der Solarförderung überdeutlich zu sehen sind, aber auch in allen anderen Subventionsbranchen üblich sind.
In einigen Jahrzehnten werden wir zudem die Köpfe schütteln, wie wir so dumm gewesen sein konnten, Solarmodule im sonnenarmen Deutschland auf die Dächer zu schrauben. Die Technologie gehört in den Sonnengürtel der Welt, am besten in die Wüsten. Mit solarthermischen Kraftwerken, wie sie beispielsweise von der Desertec-Stiftung in Tunesien unterstützt werden, lässt sich dort Strom für die Region, aber auch für den Export nach Europa zu wettbewerbsfähigen Preisen bei der dreifachen Sonnenstrahlung gewinnen. Das Potenzial dort ist unendlich: Sechs Stunden Sonneneinstrahlung reichen aus, um so viel Energie zu gewinnen, dass die Menschheit ein Jahr mit Strom versorgt werden kann.
Die Autorin hat eine kurze Geschichte der Desertec-Idee geschrieben, welche bei Amazon als E-Book erhältlich ist.
vrijdag 13 april 2012
PetroAlgae, CRI link to produce fuels using IH2 drop-in fuel technology
July 20, 2011
In Florida, PetroAlgae announced that it has entered into an agreement with CRI Catalyst Company to use Integrated hydropyrolysis and hydroconversion technology for the conversion of PetroAlgae’s micro-crop residues
into renewable fuels. Combination of the two technologies results in an integrated system that produces cellulosic gasoline, diesel, and jet hydrocarbon fuels, or premium blend stocks.
The agreement is a direct result of tests converting PetroAlgae’s micro-crop residue into cellulosic hydrocarbon fuels and blend stocks using the IH2 technology, which was orikginally developed at the Gas Technology Institute.
In unrelated news, PetroAlgae announced today the completion of a continuous 6-week feeding trial of a statistically significant sample of 36 dairy cows in the barns at the University of Minnesota. It measured PetroAlgae micro-crop meal against 17.5% protein alfalfa diets. The PetroAlgae diet matched the alfalfa diet in days in milk, milk yield, body score and body weight.
“The results of this study show that PetroAlgae micro-crop meal is a desirable ingredient for high producing dairy cattle and that it performed comparably to high-protein alfalfa meal,” said Dr. Noah Litherland, who performed the study at the University of Minnesota. “There is also an intriguing opportunity to alter the lipid composition of the meat and milk for added human health benefit.”
In Florida, PetroAlgae announced that it has entered into an agreement with CRI Catalyst Company to use Integrated hydropyrolysis and hydroconversion technology for the conversion of PetroAlgae’s micro-crop residues
into renewable fuels. Combination of the two technologies results in an integrated system that produces cellulosic gasoline, diesel, and jet hydrocarbon fuels, or premium blend stocks.
The agreement is a direct result of tests converting PetroAlgae’s micro-crop residue into cellulosic hydrocarbon fuels and blend stocks using the IH2 technology, which was orikginally developed at the Gas Technology Institute.
In unrelated news, PetroAlgae announced today the completion of a continuous 6-week feeding trial of a statistically significant sample of 36 dairy cows in the barns at the University of Minnesota. It measured PetroAlgae micro-crop meal against 17.5% protein alfalfa diets. The PetroAlgae diet matched the alfalfa diet in days in milk, milk yield, body score and body weight.
“The results of this study show that PetroAlgae micro-crop meal is a desirable ingredient for high producing dairy cattle and that it performed comparably to high-protein alfalfa meal,” said Dr. Noah Litherland, who performed the study at the University of Minnesota. “There is also an intriguing opportunity to alter the lipid composition of the meat and milk for added human health benefit.”
maandag 2 april 2012
SES Signs Deal with Statoil for Seaweed to Biofuel
March 18, 2012
AlgaeIndustryMagazine.com
Trondheim, Norway-based Seaweed Energy Solutions AS (SES) has signed a cooperation agreement with Statoil, marking a major step forward for SES’s strategic goal of turning seaweed into a commercially viable alternative energy source.
Statoil has agreed to co-fund SES for ongoing technology development. The agreement includes plans for a large-scale demonstration project. It marks the first time that SES has won the backing of a leading energy company for its plan of developing seaweed as an important source of energy. Funding details were not announced.
“We are pleased that Statoil believes in seaweed as a future energy crop and that Statoil trusts our technology and our team to make large-scale cultivation of seaweed a commercial reality. We welcome Statoil´s valuable experience in offshore oil & gas and marine renewables,” said Pal Bakken, chief executive and founder of SES.
SES is a pioneer in the development of cultivated seaweed as an alternative energy source, the cornerstone of its technology being the patented Seaweed Carrier, a large purpose-built underwater structure for cultivating seaweed for mass production.
SES is currently carrying out cultivation tests at various locations off the coasts of Norway and Portugal with the support of Stolt Sea Farm, a leader in aquaculture, and Aqualine, a major global supplier of flexible aquaculture structures. It also has partnerships with a number of scientific institutions in Norway and Portugal.
For more information, contact Pål Bakken at bakken@seaweedenergysolutions.com
AlgaeIndustryMagazine.com
Trondheim, Norway-based Seaweed Energy Solutions AS (SES) has signed a cooperation agreement with Statoil, marking a major step forward for SES’s strategic goal of turning seaweed into a commercially viable alternative energy source.
Statoil has agreed to co-fund SES for ongoing technology development. The agreement includes plans for a large-scale demonstration project. It marks the first time that SES has won the backing of a leading energy company for its plan of developing seaweed as an important source of energy. Funding details were not announced.
“We are pleased that Statoil believes in seaweed as a future energy crop and that Statoil trusts our technology and our team to make large-scale cultivation of seaweed a commercial reality. We welcome Statoil´s valuable experience in offshore oil & gas and marine renewables,” said Pal Bakken, chief executive and founder of SES.
SES is a pioneer in the development of cultivated seaweed as an alternative energy source, the cornerstone of its technology being the patented Seaweed Carrier, a large purpose-built underwater structure for cultivating seaweed for mass production.
SES is currently carrying out cultivation tests at various locations off the coasts of Norway and Portugal with the support of Stolt Sea Farm, a leader in aquaculture, and Aqualine, a major global supplier of flexible aquaculture structures. It also has partnerships with a number of scientific institutions in Norway and Portugal.
For more information, contact Pål Bakken at bakken@seaweedenergysolutions.com
dinsdag 20 maart 2012
Europees project zet in op snellere productie van biowaterstof
Waterstofproductie uit biomassa door bacteriën kan heel efficiënt gaan, al duurt dat proces lang. In het nieuwe Europese project HyTIME gaan negen partijen -kennisinstellingen en bedrijven- de komende drie jaar manieren onderzoeken om de waterstofproductie te verhogen. Het project zet in op een continu fermentatieproces dat 1 tot 10 kilo waterstof per dag produceert. Het project wordt geleid door Wageningen UR Food & Biobased Research. Daarnaast nemen in het project deel Heijmans Techniek & Mobiliteit B.V. en HyGear B.V.(Nederland), Awite Bioenergie GmbH en RWTH Aachen University (Duitsland), het Environment Park SPA (Italië), Vienna University of Technology (Oostenrijk), Wiedemann-Polska Projekt (Polen) and Veolia Environment Recherche & Innovation (Frankrijk).
In HyTIME willen de onderzoekers de biomassa die overblijft na de productie van waterstof in het fermentatieproces in een anaerobe, onder zuurstofvrije condities, stap omzetten naar biogas en methaan. Biomethaan kan gebruikt worden als een biobrandstof, in warmtekrachtcentrale voor de productie van warmte en elektriciteit of als transportbrandstof. Het project werkt op basis van de momenteel meest efficiënte technologieën en via optimalisatie van de fermentatieprocessen aan een volledig werkend systeem.
De omzetting van waterstof naar energie verloopt zeer efficiënt, waardoor het goed gebruikt kan worden als brandstof. Bacteriën produceren waterstof uit biologische materialen (zoals gras, stro, maar ook niet meer te verkopen groenten en fruit) onder zuurstofvrije condities. Deze thermofiele bacteriën leveren de hoogste opbrengst bij een temperatuur van 70 graden Celsius. Dat is gebleken uit eerdere waterstofprojecten die geleid werden door Food & Biobased Research: Biohydrogen, EET-BioH2 en HYVOLUTION. Coördinator van HyTIME is, evenals in de voorgaande waterstofprojecten, Pieternel Claassen, onderzoeker bij Food & Biobased Research.
Bron: Wageningen UR
In HyTIME willen de onderzoekers de biomassa die overblijft na de productie van waterstof in het fermentatieproces in een anaerobe, onder zuurstofvrije condities, stap omzetten naar biogas en methaan. Biomethaan kan gebruikt worden als een biobrandstof, in warmtekrachtcentrale voor de productie van warmte en elektriciteit of als transportbrandstof. Het project werkt op basis van de momenteel meest efficiënte technologieën en via optimalisatie van de fermentatieprocessen aan een volledig werkend systeem.
De omzetting van waterstof naar energie verloopt zeer efficiënt, waardoor het goed gebruikt kan worden als brandstof. Bacteriën produceren waterstof uit biologische materialen (zoals gras, stro, maar ook niet meer te verkopen groenten en fruit) onder zuurstofvrije condities. Deze thermofiele bacteriën leveren de hoogste opbrengst bij een temperatuur van 70 graden Celsius. Dat is gebleken uit eerdere waterstofprojecten die geleid werden door Food & Biobased Research: Biohydrogen, EET-BioH2 en HYVOLUTION. Coördinator van HyTIME is, evenals in de voorgaande waterstofprojecten, Pieternel Claassen, onderzoeker bij Food & Biobased Research.
Bron: Wageningen UR
vrijdag 24 februari 2012
New IH2 Advanced Biofuels Plant Broadens Options for Converting Biomass into Transportation Fuels
02/14/12 Des Plaines, IL
The IH2 technology is a catalytic thermochemical process that promises to be a very cost-effective route to produce liquid transportation fuels from renewable resources. GTI recently added a new Pilot-Scale IH2 Plant to broaden biomass-to-liquid hydrocarbon fuel conversion.
The IH2 process converts virtually any type of non-food biomass feedstock—such as wood, agricultural residues, algae, and aquatic plants. High-quality hydrocarbon fuels and/or blend stocks (in the gasoline, jet and diesel range) have been produced by the IH2 technology in tests at GTI using a broad spectrum of biomass feed. The IH2 products are fungible with fossil-derived fuels and are completely compatible with current infrastructure. In this way the IH2 process differs from other biofuel technologies that produce crude or oxygen-containing intermediates that need substantial further upgrading. GTI has licensed the IH2 technology to CRI Catalyst Company (CRI), an international company headquartered in Houston, TX, for worldwide deployment. The timeline to market is short, and commercial introduction is expected in early 2014.picture of GTI's IH2 pilot plant
"IH2 technology will increase the supply of economical, renewable, and sustainable transportation fuels in the marketplace and lower the greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector," notes Vann Bush, GTI Managing Director of Energy Conversion. "It will help to meet the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard obligation and the global appetite for fuels with local resources – good for regional economies and better for the environment than conventional alternatives."
Adds Alan Del Paggio CRI Vice President, Upstream and Renewables, "This pilot plant will continue to demonstrate the IH2 process as a differentiated biofuels technology. The process is designed to have low environmental impact. Since the commercial IH2 technology produces its own hydrogen and a surplus of water to be self-sufficient, it can operate in a stand-alone configuration anywhere there is sufficient biomass feed for conversion. And the process achieves >90% greenhouse gas reductions in comparison to fossil fuels."
picture of GTI's IH2 pilot plant The new pilot plant's ability to operate continuously provides an ideal platform for process optimization and detailed characterization. The facility processes 50 kilograms of dry biomass per day to demonstrate biomass handling and conversion for multiple feedstocks and produce product in sufficient quantities for fuels certification and engine testing, and will allow the IH2 process research team to validate process economics. CRI provided much of the funding for the new pilot plant.
GTI has received funding support for R&D and preliminary engineering for testing the IH2 process in the laboratory and pilot plant from the U.S. Department of Energy (EERE Office of Biomass Program). Participants in GTI's projects include Cargill, CRI, Johnson Timber, Parabel (a company formerly known as PetroAlgae), Aquaflow, Blue Marble Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Michigan Technological University.
The first extended runs of the pilot plant will be performed using Parabel microcrops and wood.
About Gas Technology Institute (GTI)
GTI is a leading research, development and training organization that has been addressing the nation's energy and environmental challenges by developing technology-based solutions for consumers, industry, and government for more than 70 years.
About CRI Catalyst Company
CRI Catalyst Company is part of CRI/Criterion Inc., an international company headquartered in Houston, TX, that supplies advanced catalysts, services, and technology solutions to the global refining, petrochemical and renewable fuel communities. CRI operates research laboratories, development facilities, manufacturing plants and business units throughout the world. It is dedicated to providing a broad customer base with effective and cost-efficient catalysts and technologies. CRI has a range of products with specific focus on environmental applications, hydrogen separation and recovery, selective oxidation and hydrogenation and the production of renewable fuels
"http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/biomass2010/pdfs/biomass2010_track3_s2_marker.pdf"
http://www.aicheproceedings.org/2009/Fall/data/papers/Paper171241.pdf
The IH2 technology is a catalytic thermochemical process that promises to be a very cost-effective route to produce liquid transportation fuels from renewable resources. GTI recently added a new Pilot-Scale IH2 Plant to broaden biomass-to-liquid hydrocarbon fuel conversion.
The IH2 process converts virtually any type of non-food biomass feedstock—such as wood, agricultural residues, algae, and aquatic plants. High-quality hydrocarbon fuels and/or blend stocks (in the gasoline, jet and diesel range) have been produced by the IH2 technology in tests at GTI using a broad spectrum of biomass feed. The IH2 products are fungible with fossil-derived fuels and are completely compatible with current infrastructure. In this way the IH2 process differs from other biofuel technologies that produce crude or oxygen-containing intermediates that need substantial further upgrading. GTI has licensed the IH2 technology to CRI Catalyst Company (CRI), an international company headquartered in Houston, TX, for worldwide deployment. The timeline to market is short, and commercial introduction is expected in early 2014.picture of GTI's IH2 pilot plant
"IH2 technology will increase the supply of economical, renewable, and sustainable transportation fuels in the marketplace and lower the greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector," notes Vann Bush, GTI Managing Director of Energy Conversion. "It will help to meet the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard obligation and the global appetite for fuels with local resources – good for regional economies and better for the environment than conventional alternatives."
Adds Alan Del Paggio CRI Vice President, Upstream and Renewables, "This pilot plant will continue to demonstrate the IH2 process as a differentiated biofuels technology. The process is designed to have low environmental impact. Since the commercial IH2 technology produces its own hydrogen and a surplus of water to be self-sufficient, it can operate in a stand-alone configuration anywhere there is sufficient biomass feed for conversion. And the process achieves >90% greenhouse gas reductions in comparison to fossil fuels."
picture of GTI's IH2 pilot plant The new pilot plant's ability to operate continuously provides an ideal platform for process optimization and detailed characterization. The facility processes 50 kilograms of dry biomass per day to demonstrate biomass handling and conversion for multiple feedstocks and produce product in sufficient quantities for fuels certification and engine testing, and will allow the IH2 process research team to validate process economics. CRI provided much of the funding for the new pilot plant.
GTI has received funding support for R&D and preliminary engineering for testing the IH2 process in the laboratory and pilot plant from the U.S. Department of Energy (EERE Office of Biomass Program). Participants in GTI's projects include Cargill, CRI, Johnson Timber, Parabel (a company formerly known as PetroAlgae), Aquaflow, Blue Marble Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Michigan Technological University.
The first extended runs of the pilot plant will be performed using Parabel microcrops and wood.
About Gas Technology Institute (GTI)
GTI is a leading research, development and training organization that has been addressing the nation's energy and environmental challenges by developing technology-based solutions for consumers, industry, and government for more than 70 years.
About CRI Catalyst Company
CRI Catalyst Company is part of CRI/Criterion Inc., an international company headquartered in Houston, TX, that supplies advanced catalysts, services, and technology solutions to the global refining, petrochemical and renewable fuel communities. CRI operates research laboratories, development facilities, manufacturing plants and business units throughout the world. It is dedicated to providing a broad customer base with effective and cost-efficient catalysts and technologies. CRI has a range of products with specific focus on environmental applications, hydrogen separation and recovery, selective oxidation and hydrogenation and the production of renewable fuels
"http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/biomass2010/pdfs/biomass2010_track3_s2_marker.pdf"
http://www.aicheproceedings.org/2009/Fall/data/papers/Paper171241.pdf
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