New f3 report presents evaluation of a process combination technology for potential future demonstration unit

In a new report from an f3 project, a certain case of business development for production of second generation transportation fuels is presented. The project, titled Transportation fuels from lignocellulose in a process combination, has been performed as a joint study between Lantmännen Agroetanol AB and Cellulose Fuels Sweden AB, patent holder of a process combination potentially using a wide range of bio­mass as raw material. One of its features is that it is dedicated solely to production of transportation fuels, meaning no by-product mar­kets have to be considered. This creates a freedom of establishment restricted only by the transpor­tation fuel market. According to previ­ous evaluations, the process combination could produce fuels from wood and straw at cost levels comparable to the present costs for first-generation fuels.

The aim of the f3 project has been to evaluate the process combination from a technical and economical view in order to pro­vide a decision basis for further work towards a demonstration of the total process combination. This is pursued as a case study on Lantmännen Agroetanol’s ethanol plant at Händelö, Norrköping, with the aim of evaluating the possibilities for the establishment of a demonstration unit.

Results from the project include calculations of mass and energy balances, expected investment and production costs. A conclusion is that the establishment if the process combination needs to involve partners, both considering the substantial investment and the fact that the sub-processes originate from other industries.