be converted also through pyrolysis, gasification, hydrothermal liquefaction, and
anaerobic digestion. Vegetable oils can be converted through transesterification but
also through hydrotreating, producing hydrotreated vegetable oils. This chapter will
take into consideration the following biofuels:
– Biodiesel
– Bioethanol
– BTL (Biomass to Liquids)
– HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils)
These have been selected among the existing ones because they are believed to have
higher market potential.
As it is reported in the World Energy Outlook 2018 of the International Energy
Agency (IEA), transport accounts for a fifth of global energy demand and is
responsible for a quarter of energy-related CO 2 emissions. More than 95% of today’s
transport sector emissions are from oil (IEA 2018) and the demand for the transport
of people and of goods is projected to increase significantly through to 2040.
Global transport biofuel consumption has increased by more than 5% in 2017 and
has reached 150 billion liters, of which three-quarters is ethanol. In energy terms,
biofuel consumption is about 86 Mtoe, of which two-thirds is ethanol. Biofuel
promotion policies are now in place in 68 countries. While large volumes of
advanced biofuels could be produced sustainably, their development has been
slowed by their costs. In fact, producing a barrel of second-generation biodiesel
can cost around $140/barrel today (IEA 2018). Assuming that advanced biofuels are
not responsible of net CO 2 emissions, a carbon tax above $150 per ton of CO 2 would
Fig. 1.1 Most important conversion processes to produce biofuels from biomass (Demirbas
2009b)
1 Biofuels: Types and Process Overview
3
anaerobic digestion. Vegetable oils can be converted through transesterification but
also through hydrotreating, producing hydrotreated vegetable oils. This chapter will
take into consideration the following biofuels:
– Biodiesel
– Bioethanol
– BTL (Biomass to Liquids)
– HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils)
These have been selected among the existing ones because they are believed to have
higher market potential.
As it is reported in the World Energy Outlook 2018 of the International Energy
Agency (IEA), transport accounts for a fifth of global energy demand and is
responsible for a quarter of energy-related CO 2 emissions. More than 95% of today’s
transport sector emissions are from oil (IEA 2018) and the demand for the transport
of people and of goods is projected to increase significantly through to 2040.
Global transport biofuel consumption has increased by more than 5% in 2017 and
has reached 150 billion liters, of which three-quarters is ethanol. In energy terms,
biofuel consumption is about 86 Mtoe, of which two-thirds is ethanol. Biofuel
promotion policies are now in place in 68 countries. While large volumes of
advanced biofuels could be produced sustainably, their development has been
slowed by their costs. In fact, producing a barrel of second-generation biodiesel
can cost around $140/barrel today (IEA 2018). Assuming that advanced biofuels are
not responsible of net CO 2 emissions, a carbon tax above $150 per ton of CO 2 would
Fig. 1.1 Most important conversion processes to produce biofuels from biomass (Demirbas
2009b)
1 Biofuels: Types and Process Overview
3