(467f) Retrol Vision: Preliminary Techno-Economical Analysis

One of the leading power companies in Denmark, Elsam Kraft A/S has earlier proposed a vision of the Danish energy sector, with a working title ?From petrol to REtrol'. The vision points to changes in the energy sector from being based on combined production of electricity and heat to one based on combined production of electricity, heat and liquid fuels. This combination introduces a new liquid fuel called REtrol (renewable petrol), produced by blending ordinary gasoline with ethanol and methanol. Ethanol and methanol are imagined to be produced from renewable sources (wind, water or biomass), recirculated CO2 and natural gas. The special emphasis is on integration of the REtrol production with the central heat and power plant (CHP). The vision includes processes such as enzymatic hydrolysis of ligno-cellulosic biomass, electrolysis of water using electricity from wind, capture of CO2 from the power plant flue gas by absorption, gasification of biomass and steam reforming of natural gas. In the present study, a preliminary techno-economical analysis of the REtrol vision is performed. The vision is evaluated in terms of feedstock conversion efficiency, REtrol production costs and environmental impact (CO2 emission). As it is seen, integration with the central heat and power plant offers benefit with respect to energy efficiency, economy and environment. It is also shown that the one of the most costly steps in REtrol vision is the ethanol production by enzymatic hydrolysis of ligno-cellulosic biomass (wheat straw).