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New TECH Report - Processing Challenges of Renewable Feedstocks (2024 Program)
Processing Challenges of Renewable Feedstocks is one in a series of reports published as part of NexantECA’s 2024 Technoeconomics – Energy & Chemicals (TECH) program
Overview
The recent emphasis on mitigation of climate change has seen an increase in developments for decarbonization solutions. Decarbonization solutions that have been deployed or are under development include carbon capture and storage, production and utilization of hydrogen, and electrification of processes with renewable electricity. However, these technologies require additional costs which can be significant and may not be sufficiently subsidized to be economically viable. The mentioned decarbonization solutions also have risks and uncertainties. For instance, the long-term effects of carbon sequestration in underground geological formations are unknown. Hydrogen production and electrification of processes require the supply of renewable electricity to be constant and stable for continuity of operations.
Renewable feedstocks are an alternative decarbonization solution, providing an alternative source of carbon instead of fossil-based feedstocks, reducing the carbon intensities. Existing infrastructure, processes and reactors can be adapted or maintained to reduce the additional investments by utilizing renewable feedstocks.
However, there are inherent properties of renewable feedstocks that are often inferior to conventional, fossil-based feedstocks, causing operational issues to existing processes. Pre-treatment technologies are needed to mitigate these operational issues. However, the variety of renewable feedstocks and their heterogeneous properties require different pre-treatment processes. The pre-treatment processes may also incur additional operating costs which may render the use of renewable feedstocks not economically viable. Therefore, this report addresses the following questions:
- What are the available renewable feedstocks and what are the relevant conversion pathways for decarbonization?
- What are the properties of the renewable feedstocks that prevent them from being ‘drop-in’ raw materials?
- What issues are caused by the properties of renewable feedstocks?
- What are the required pre-treatment technologies and what is the cost?
- Is it economical to use pre-treated renewable feedstocks in existing processes?
- Who are the major players and what are some recent developments in pre-treatment processes?
Technologies Overview
The process challenges and pre-treatment technologies for utilizing renewable feedstocks by Air Liquide, Axens, Clariant, Enerkem, Neste, Sinopec and others are discussed in this report.
Types of Renewable Feedstocks, Conversion Pathways and End-Uses
Process Economics
Detailed cost of production for several pre-treatment technologies are presented. Raw material costs and the yield of the pre-treatment technology determines the economic viability of utilization of the renewable feedstocks.
Contact a member to our Insights & Analytics team to find out more about this report
About Us - NexantECA, the Energy and Chemicals Advisory company is the leading advisor to the energy, refining, and chemical industries. Our clientele ranges from major oil and chemical companies, governments, investors, and financial institutions to regulators, development agencies, and law firms. Using a combination of business and technical expertise, with deep and broad understanding of markets, technologies and economics, NexantECA provides solutions that our clients have relied upon for over 50 years.
