ERTC 2024
Positioning the SAF industry for success The potential for feedstock diversification and the FT process is immense, and the technology is currently being licenced for deployment at scale. However, the indus- try must address several challenges to fully realise the benefits of feedstock diversity. ○ Feedstock supply and logistics: Ensuring a consistent and long-term sup- ply of diverse feedstocks requires efficient logistics and supply chain management. Support to develop robust supply chains and infrastructure is essential to enable large-scale production. ○ Economic competitiveness: Production costs for synthetic fuels are currently higher than conventional fossil fuels. Bridging this cost difference requires economies of scale, deploying the best available technology, and supportive policies to drive projects to com- pletion and supply the SAF needed to meet international targets and mandates. ○ Environmental impact: The environmen- tal impact of feedstock cultivation, col- lection, and processing must be carefully managed. Practices such as responsible forestry management and minimising land- use changes can align and enable biofuel production. Ultimately, internationally rec- ognised and standardised full life cycle car- bon intensity assessments are essential to
to overcome challenges and unlock the full potential of feedstock diversity for SAF.
support the overall environmental benefits of biofuels.
depends on supportive policies and regula- tory frameworks. Governments around the world are recognising the importance of sustainable fuels and implementing man- dates and incentives to drive their produc- tion and adoption. ○ United States: The US government is promoting the production of biofu- els through various initiatives. The SAF Grand Challenge is targeting the produc- tion of 3 billion gallons by 2030 and 35 bil- lion by 2050. The Department of Energy (DOE) is investing in research and develop- ment to improve biofuel production tech- nologies and expand the range of eligible feedstocks. ○ European Union: The EU has set targets for SAF production, with mandates requir- ing 6% of aviation fuel to be SAF by 2030, increasing to 70% by 2050. These targets include specific quotas for renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO, or e-fuels) produced via power-to-liquids processes, which use CO₂ and electrolytic H₂. ○ United Kingdom: The UK aims to achieve a 10% SAF target by 2030, with a focus on creating domestic production capabilities. It also has a sub-mandate for e-fuels and recognises the need for feedstock diver- sity by introducing a cap on the use of HEFA feedstocks.
Conclusion Processing eligible SAF feedstocks and capturing CO₂ for SAF production can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pro- vide economic benefits. Estimates by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) show that the use of SAF can lead to more than an 80% reduction in net carbon emissions over the full life cycle compared to fossil-derived jet fuel.⁵ Adopting diverse feedstocks for fuel production offers a long-term solution for creating synthetic fuels and meeting the increasing SAF targets around the world. Utilising a variety of feedstocks stabilises fuel supply chains and reduces vulnerability to market fluctuations. Overall, harnessing feedstock diversity is an important accelerator to produce syn- thetic fuels at scale, and the syngas-based FT CANS technology can play a key role in delivering this ambition. The continued deployment of FT CANS technology will be pivotal in meeting the increasing global demand for synthetic fuels. As the industry evolves, collaboration between governments, industry stakehold- ers, and research institutions will be crucial
References 1 UCO Imports: Unfair Competition with EU UCO Industry? June 11, 2024: www.transporten- vironment.org/uploads/files/TE_UCO-Study_ Stratas_11062024_2024-06-17-103904_bjrt. pdf 2 Pile Burning, US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Pile burning is a type of pre- scribed fire where firefighters pile and burn for- est debris to reduce an area’s wildfire risk: www. fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/landmanagement/resourc emanagement/?cid=fsm91_058291 3 ICAO document, CORSIA Default Life Cycle Emissions vcalues for CORSIA Eligible Fuels, June 2022: www.icao.int/environmental-pro- tection/CORSIA/Documents/CORSIA_Eligible_ Fuels/ICAO%20document%2006%20-%20 Default%20Life%20Cycle%20Emissions%20 -%20June%202022.pdf 4 Johnson Matthey technology review, Innovation in Fischer-Tropsch: A Sustainable Approach to Fuels Production: https://technology.mat- they.com/content/journals/10.1595/2056513 21X16143384043486 5 International Air Transport Association (IATA), Net zero 2050: sustainable aviation fuels: www.iata.org/en/iata-repository/pressroom/ fact-sheets/fact-sheet---alternative-fuels/
Contact: javier.torroba@matthey.com
Defining a robust plastics recycling pathway
cecile plain and nicolas menet AXENS
sibility study for a refinery in Western Europe. The refinery aimed to identify the optimal processing configuration to chemically recycle post-consumer plas- tic waste using its existing infrastructure. Additionally, the refinery sought to partially replace fossil feedstock and reduce its overall CO₂ footprint. In just a few weeks, that study enabled the establishment of a complete screening of the options and, through a financial analysis of the different cases, the definition of a robust pathway for getting the refinery to play a role in the plastic’s circular economy. The study was articulated in two main phases: screening and development of the selected configuration. Screening During the screening phase, eight different processing configurations were compared to determine the most efficient and effec- tive approach. This included, but was not limited to: • Construction of a grassroots pyrolysis plant, leveraging Axens’ expertise in that field as the co-licensor with Plastic Energy of the proven and robust TAC technology. • Processing of the pyrolysis oil in existing refinery assets to produce petrochemical feedstock or petrochemical intermediates. Evaluating co-processing in various units, such as the FCC, involved assessing the impacts on existing units, including feedstock composition and impurities. Additionally, the evaluation included prod- uct yield assessment and process scheme optimisation. • Revamp of an existing hydrotreatment unit into a dedicated purification unit, leveraging Axens’ Rewind Mix technology expertise.
The rising demand for plastics presents two main challenges: the environmental impact of production and waste and the reliance on fossil resources. Enhancing plastic waste management through reducing, reusing, and recycling is crucial. Recycling plastics reduces the need for fossil resources and maximises waste utilisation. Most recycled plastics come from mechanical recycling, with limitations such as requiring homoge- neous waste and not removing additives, leading to material degradation. Axens and IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN) have been developing advanced recycling pro- cesses to eliminate additives and impuri- ties, achieving quality comparable to virgin materials. Several of these technologies are now available and leveraged in the plan- ning and development of chemical recycling projects. The plastic industry, and notably pet- rochemical companies, when considering the implementation of a chemical recycling unit in their plant, are confronted with sev- eral options that need sorting and clarify- ing (such as integration into existing plant, capacity, staged investment, feedstock sourcing, integration of the waste feed- stock preparation unit, balance between feedstock preparation, and severity of operation). At this crucial stage, decisions made on shallow bases and guesswork can lead to many delays and cost overruns dur- ing project execution and operation. Axens, through its consulting department Axens Horizon, is proposing upfront studies that bring a global and coherent approach to the evaluation process of a plastics chemical recycling project. For example, Axens’ consulting group recently conducted a comprehensive fea-
Figure 1 Feasibility Study scope
The initial technical-economic ranking of the different solutions enabled clients to select the configuration that was then fur- ther developed. Technical development This phase involved detailed techni- cal assessment development, includ- ing material balance, utilities, and off-site requirements. • Economic development: Economic aspects were addressed, including Capex and Opex. • Financial and sensitivity analysis: A thorough financial analysis was conducted, along with sensitivity analysis, to under- stand the economic viability under differ- ent scenarios. Crucial variables impacting potential profitability were identified. • Environmental impact: This was eval- uated considering preliminary life cycle assessment for each pathway to quantify potential CO₂ reduction.
In some other studies for petrochemical and refinery companies, the study scope was further enlarged to include screening the different options to produce plastics intermediates from renewable feedstock. Economics and preliminary life cycle anal- ysis were used in the process to rank the different bio and circular pathways for the given site studied. Each of the cases is, of course, highly subject to the evolution of the legislative framework, which is still under definition for several elements. Together with the site owner, Axens experts ensure that the plan is robust enough to accommodate possible changes in legislation implementation. In each of these study cases, Axens Horizon delivered to site stakeholders a long-term planning document that guides the future growth and development of the site.
Contacts: Cecile.plain@axens.net Nicolas.menet@axens.net
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