Week 4 – Session 25.

2
Biofuels part 2

Nathalie HOUDART

MOOC ENERGY TRANSITION

IFP SCHOOL
Introduction
In this course we will cover the different processes used to make biofuels, then we will
look at their impact on greenhouse gas emissions.

How do we produce Biofuel?

Let’s compare the 3 generations of biofuels.

Mainly the 1st generation can be considered as a mature and developed

technology. However, this biofuels type requires intense growth and risks threatening
the food chain - ‘fuel vs food’.

Biofuels production

1st generation 2nd generation 3rd generation

No competition with food crops

No competition with food crops
Able to use waste & salt water
Mature and developed
Higher productivity
technology Co-product or waste as raw
Able to absorb large amount of
material
CO2 emissions

Technology is at research level

Competition with food crops Technology is still in
(early stage)
development
Requires a lot of water and
Fuel vs Food nutrients
Ready for production
More expensive

As a consequence, 2nd generation biofuels have been developed, they are not in
competition with food crops. They have a large range of raw materials, as co-
products or waste. But their technology is still in development. – even if some are
ready for production.

3rd generation biofuels are not in competition with food crops either. This technology
is able to use waste water and salt water. It has a higher productivity. It can absorb a
large amount of CO2 emissions. Unfortunately it is not mature or marketable yet. It is
also more expensive.

Therefore, we will focus on the 2nd generation from now on, as we consider it is the
most promising technology among the biofuels families today. So let’s talk about
second generation biofuels production!

Biofuels, pt. 1 Page 1 on 6

How are biofuels produced from biomass? Which processes are required?

Different processes are possible to produce biokerosene, biodiesel or gasoline but I

will present a simplified process of 2nd generation biofuels production. We can apply
a thermochemical pathway, (as known as gasification). or a biochemical pathway
using enzymes. Firstly, we will talk about a thermochemical pathway.

2nd generation – Lignocellulosic biomass resources

SYNTHESIS

GASIFICATION

Thermochemical
way
Blending with
Diesel oil
Agricultural residues Syngas Hydrocarbons
(straw)
Forest residues
FERMENTATION
ENZYMATIC
HYDROLYSIS

Biochemical
way Blending with
Dedicated crops
Sugars Ethanol gasoline
(short rotation
coppices)

From the biomass we produce a gas, called syngas. From this gas, we are able to
produce biosourced hydrocarbons, which can be mixed with diesel oil. This process
could be adapted for bio-kerosene and ethanol production as well.

Regarding the gasoline pathway, thanks to a biochemical way we transform crops

into sugar using an enzymatic agent. The next step is a fermentation process, in order
to transform the sugar into alcohol, which is the ethanol we can find in gas stations. It
is just like producing beer.

This ethanol can be mixed with gasoline or sold in pure form. You can find in the
bonus area a video on the Futurol Process if you want to find out a little bit more.

What Impact on GHS (greenhouse gas emissions)?

Now, what is the impact of producing and using biofuels instead of fuel oil on
Greenhouse gas emissions? We do know biofuels have a positive impact. But how
big is it?

In order to measure the biofuels impact, we can calculate the well to wheel
balance. This means, we measure all the Greenhouse gas emitted by the production
of the fuels for the vehicle. In the case of fossil fuels, each step of fuel production is
taken into account: crude oil extraction, its transport, refining, the fuel transport,
supply at the pump and the burning of fuel by the vehicle.

Biofuels, pt. 1 Page 2 on 6

 CO2 Balance (Well To Wheel)

Extraction Transport Refining Supply

In the case of biofuels, each step of biofuel production is taken into account as well.
However, we can have significant CO2 emissions reductions, because part of the
CO2 which is emitted is captured by the vegetation during its growth. Greenhouse
gas emissions are therefore lower for biofuels.

CO2 Balance (Well To Wheel)

Biofuels, pt. 1 Page 3 on 6

Let’s look at the well to wheel balance of Ethanol compared to Fossil Fuels.

Greenhouse gas emissions Ethanol vs Fossil fuels

100
Sugar cane
90

80 Corn (natural gas as process fuel in CHP plant)

71
69
70
Wheat (straw as process fuel in CHP plant)
62
60 56
53
50 Wheat (natural gas as process fuel in CHP plant)
45

40
32 Wheat (natural gas as process fuel in
conventional boiler)
30
Source: Directive 2009/28/EC

20 Wheat (lignite as process fuel in CHP plant)

10
Sugar beet
0

Figure: GHG emissions reductions for Ethanol compared to fossil fuels

In blue, you can see 1st generation biofuels. For example, using sugar beet for
ethanol production compared to using fossil will reduce by 62% of Greenhouse gas.

Greenhouse gas emissions Ethanol vs Fossil fuels

100
Sugar cane

90 87
Corn (natural gas as process fuel in CHP plant)
80
80 76
Wheat (straw as process fuel in CHP plant)
71
69
70
Wheat (natural gas as process fuel in CHP plant)
62
60 56
53 Wheat (natural gas as process fuel in
conventional boiler)
50
45
Wheat (lignite as process fuel in CHP plant)
40
32 Sugar beet
30
Source: Directive 2009/28/EC

Farmed wood
20
Waste wood
10

Wheat straw
0

Figure: GHG emissions reductions for Ethanol compared to fossil fuels

In green you can see 2nd generation biofuels: they save more greenhouse gas
emission than the first generation ones. Comparing to gasoline production with
crude, there is Greenhouse gas emissions reduction between 76% and 87%. Note
utilities plants efficiency and the Fuel type burnt also have an impact on Greenhouse
gas emissions.

Biofuels, pt. 1 Page 4 on 6

Then let’s compare Greenhouse gas of Biodiesel to fossil Fuels. As you can see on the
graph, 2nd generation ethanol production (in green) emits much less than the first
generation production (in blue)

Greenhouse gas emissions of Biodiesel vs Fossil fuels

100
95 Rape seed
93
90 88

Sunflower
80

70 Soybean
62
60 58
Palm oil (process not specified)

50
45
40 Palm oil (process with methane capture at oil
40 36 mill)

30 Waste vegetable or animal (1) oil

Source: Directive 2009/28/EC

20
Waste wood Fischer-Tropsch

10
Farmed wood Fischer-Tropsch
0

Figure: GHG emissions reductions for Biodiesell compared to fossil fuels

Biofuels, pt. 1 Page 5 on 6

Conclusion

In the end, PLEASE remember that:

1st generation biofuels is a mature technology.

For second generation one, commercialization is only beginning with a few

conversion units being built around the world. Third generation biofuels technology is
not mature yet. Second generation and Third generation biofuels come from non-
food biomass.

Secondly, you now know processes are different depending on the biomass source
used and the biofuels type produced: thermochemical way for ethanol or
biochemical way for biodiesel.

Finally, biofuels help to decrease Greenhouse gas emissions by reducing up to 95% of

Greenhouse gas compared to Fossil Fuels.

2nd generation biofuels reduce more Greenhouse gas emissions than 1st generation
biofuels. We expect 3rd generation biofuels to reduce even more emissions.

To finish, you have now finished the IFP School Biofuels part, thank you for your
attention You will now have a short mini-game to test your knowledge about this
topic! Good luck!

Biofuels, pt. 1 Page 6 on 6