(427b) The Value Proposition of Bio-Intermediates As Marine Fuel for Maritime Decarbonization

Marine biofuels have the potential to play an important role in decarbonizing the shipping industry and reducing its impact on the environment. They are an important solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping industry, which is responsible for a significant portion of global emissions. Biofuels are produced from renewable sources and can be used as a direct replacement for traditional fossil fuels. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, marine biofuels also offer other benefits, such as reducing air pollution and improving energy security by diversifying fuel sources. However, there are also challenges associated with the use of marine biofuels, such as the availability of sustainable feedstocks and the potential for increased competition with food production. It is important to carefully consider the environmental and social impacts of biofuel production and use and to ensure that sustainability criteria are met.

Catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) bio-oil is a bio-intermediate derived from biological sources, such as woody biomass and forest waste materials, and non-food crops, which can help reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and create a more circular economy. CFP bio-oil can be further processed into a wide range of value-added chemicals, including sustainable aviation and marine fuels, plastics, and other materials. One of the advantages of CFP bio-oil is that it is a renewable and sustainable drop-in fuel intermediate. Additionally, bio-oil typically has significantly lower life cycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil marine fuels, as it captures carbon from the atmosphere and stores it in the bio-oil and bio-char.

While the fast pyrolysis raw bio-oil is highly acidic and unstable, making it difficult to store and transport, CFP bio-oil exhibits more favorable fuel properties. Moreover, we have demonstrated that only a relatively mild upgrading of the bio-intermediate is required to enable its blending with commercial very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO). Consequently, this presentation will discuss the value proposition of using bio-intermediate derived from woody biomass via catalytic fast pyrolysis as marine fuel for maritime decarbonization, lying in its potential to provide a sustainable and low-cost alternative to traditional fossil fuels.

References:

1. Li S, Tan ECD, Dutta A, et al. Techno-economic Analysis of Sustainable Biofuels for Marine Transportation. Sci. Technol. 56(23), 17206–17214 (2022).
2. Tan ECD, Hawkins TR, Lee U, et al. Biofuel Options for Marine Applications: Technoeconomic and Life-Cycle Analyses. Sci. Technol. 55(11), 7561–7570 (2021).