PTQ Q3 2023 Issue

Maximising renewable feed co-processing at an FCC

Collaboration is key to accelerate the energy transition and make best use of existing assets, like the FCC unit

Stefan Brandt and Drey Holder W. R. Grace & Co. Gary Lee Parkland

T he energy transition is demanding the decarbonisa- tion of our way of living. Many different paths have been identified to contribute to the decarbonisation of the transportation sector. The inclusion of existing assets in such efforts is important to achieve rapid decarbonisa- tion gains in the transportation fuel sector. The refining industry responded to the target of fossil carbon emission reduction by including renewable feedstock components in the refinery operation to reduce the carbon intensity of the resulting fuels.¹ Refiners are approaching the processing of renewable feeds in many ways. For instance, some are building new renewable diesel or sustainable aviation fuel units, co-pro- cessing renewable feeds at hydrotreaters or FCCs, or con- verting existing process equipment to process a portion of renewable feed. Often identifying and securing a consistent renewable feed source can be difficult for refiners. In addition, government regulations vary, leading to market uncertainty and causing renewable feed processing to be profitable in some locations but not in others. This creates opportunities for refiners, and some are actively pursuing those opportuni - ties (see Figure 1 ). In Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, Parkland has been working with feedstock suppliers, government, and Grace in the co-processing of renewable feed at its FCC: Feedstock suppliers • Working with multiple Canadian renewable feedstock sup- pliers, including Metro Vancouver, in support of its waste-to- biocrude HTL demonstration plant.

Government bodies • The British Columbia (BC) government is supporting the studies of co-processing pathways. • The Canadian Federal government is developing its own standards. Industrial research • University of British Columbia has a dedicated program to work with Parkland to support co-processing. • Grace is collaborating with Parkland to test co-processing of renewable feeds in an FCC pilot plant. The BC Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) requires fuel suppliers to progressively decrease the average carbon intensity of the liquid transportation fuels they supply and encourages fuel suppliers to invest in low‐carbon fuel alter - natives. A 30% carbon intensity reduction is required by 2030 when compared to a 2010 baseline. In addition, the Canadian Fuel Standard (CFS) was published in July 2022, with compliance starting in July 2023. Like the LCFS, the CFS mandates a 15% carbon intensity reduction across the country by 2030. More fuels are obligated under the CFS, including propane and fuel oils. Co-processing When renewable feedstocks are co-processed in a refin - ery, the transportation fuels produced from these feed- stocks have lower carbon intensity, in some cases 80% lower 1 than conventional fuels, and can be used in existing vehicles without any modifications. Knowing this, Parkland conducted its first commercial trial of canola oil at its FCC in

Ingredients

Innovation

Low-carbon fuels

Environmental benets

Canola oil

2022 renewable fuels production through co-processing removed the equivalent of 95,000 cars o the road in BC

Animal fats

Paper & pulp waste

Co-processed fuels

Fuels with 1/8th of the carbon intensity, used without modication in transportation vehicles

Crude oil

Figure 1 What is co-processing?

PTQ Q3 2023