Energy Generation From

Thermo-Chemical conversion
of Biomass

What is Biomass ?

Biomass is biological material derived from living,

or recently living organisms. In the context of
biomass for energy this is often used to mean plant
based material, but biomass can equally apply to
both animal and vegetable derived material.

CONTD.
Essentially, biomass is stored solar energy which
man can convert to electricity, fuel and heat.
Through photosynthesis, the energy from the sun is
stored in the chemical relations of the plant
material. Typically, biomass energy comes from
three sources: agricultural crop residues, municipal
and industrial waste, and energy plantations
Examples of this energy source include:
Fast growing trees and grasses
Agricultural residues like used vegetable oils, or
corn
Wood waste like paper trash, yard clippings,
sawdust, or wood chips
Methane that is captured from landfills,
livestock, and municipal waste water treatment.

Why is there a need to use Biomass ?

Environmental

Biomass - Wood Renewable Energy Cycle

Political
Commercial
4

Conversion Technologies
Thermal conversion

Combustion

Combustion is the process with which everyone is

familiar by which flammable materials are
allowed to burn in the presence of air or oxygen
with the release of heat.

CONTD.
Pyrolysis
Pyrolysis is the precursor to gasification, and takes place as part of
both gasification and combustion. It consists of thermal
decomposition in the absence of oxygen. It is essentially based on a
long established process, being the basis of charcoal burning.

Gasification

The newest method for

generating electricity is
gasification. This method
captures 65-70% of the
energy present in solid fuels
by converting it first to
combustible gases. These
gases are then burnt as we
currently burn natural gas,
and create energy.

1.Biomass resources in China

Straw from agriculture
650 Mton, 50% can be
used as energy,
210 MTCE
Biomass Energy
Potential:
385 MTCE

Forest industry and

timber work waste:
270Mton, 30% can be
used as energy, 50MTCE
Biogas from livestock
excreta and waste water
100MTCE
Municipal solid waste
155 Mton, about 25MTCE

Energy crops and plants industry are not established!

Promote rural economy

1.Biomass resources in China

1.1 Agricultural waste
The amount of straw that can be utilized as
modern energy increased by 1~2% every year.
60% of the total amount can be used as energy.
After 2030, about 400~500 mil. tons of straw can
be used as energy, 200~300 M TCE.

The consumption of straw for different

purposes(2004)
Unit: million tons
Consumption

Total
546

Potential as fuel

Return
to soil

Feedstuff

Paper
making

82

153

21

290

Burned as
fuel

The rest

152

138

Power generation is the most efficient

technology before the maturation of

1.Biomass resources in China

1.2 Forestry residues
125 million tons
71.66 M TCE

Logging and timber processing

77.60M tons
44.23 MTCE

Firewood
48.13 M tons
27.43 M TCE

The preferential option for forestry residues

should be raw materials for industries,
then be used as fuel

10

1.Biomass resources in China

1.3 Livestock excreta
It is estimated that by the year of 2010 and 2020, the
excreta yield will be 2.5 and 4billion tons.
The collectable resource will be 180 and 290 M TCE

Complex composition and high water content

Low energy utilization Efficiency
Environmental protection requirement
11

1.Biomass resources in China

1.4 Industrial organic wastes
50 billion m3 biogas can be produced from
food processing wastes 35 MTCE

1.5 Municipal solid waste

MSW production increased by 8% each year.
More than 80% of the total was treated by
landfill.
Average calorific value of MSW : 4~5 MJ/kg
According to the data of 2004 (150 M tons)
25 M TCE.
If 10% used for energy2.5 M TCE
12

1.Biomass resources in China

1.5 Waste Vegetable Oil & Tallow
Biodiesel: 2 million tons/year
Cottonseed Oil

Waste oil and fat

1 million tons/year

1 million tons/year of cottonseed

oil can be collected for biodiesel
production
1.6 million tons of cottonseed oil
9 million tons of cottonseed
4.86 million tons/year cotton
production
13

1.Biomass resources in China

1.6 Energy crops
Marginal Land Availability in China
32-75 million ha.

Set-aside
Set-aside land:
land:
7.34~9.37
7.34~9.37
million
million ha.
ha.
Energy
Energy crops
crops

Cropland
Cropland not
not in
in use
use in
in wintertime:
wintertime:
--8.66
8.66 million
million ha.
ha.
Set
Set aside
aside woodland:
woodland:
-- 16~57
16~57 million
million ha.
ha.

Woody
Woody crops
crops

Existing
Existing oil
oil plant
plant forest
forest

3.43
3.43 million
million ha.
ha.
Biodiesel
Biodiesel resource
resource
14

1.Biomass resources in China

Estimation: Energy crops
production

Cropland
Cropland not
not in
in use
use in
in wintertime
wintertime
--8.66
8.66 million
million ha.
ha.

Set-aside
Set-aside land
land
7.34~9.37
7.34~9.37
million
million ha.
ha.
Energy Crops
Production
Productivity
(ton/ha)
Sweet
60-80(haulm)
sorghum
3-5(grain)
40%
Sweet
15-20
potato 20%
Cassava
20-30
20%
Sugar cane
60-70
10%

Total

Ethanol equivalence
Potential
(ton/ha)
(MTCE/yr)
4-6

18.35

2-3

3.67

4-6

7.34

4-6

3.67

Oil
plant
9.53 MTCE/yr

33.03
15

1.Biomass resources in China

Estimation: Woody crops
2010: 800 thousand ha. of woody oil plant
2020: 13 million ha. of woody plant, 54 million tons dry material

.Woody crops
8.9 million ha.

Woody oil plant

4.1 million ha.
35 million TCE/yr
6.7 million tons of biodiesel
16

1.Biomass resources in China

Biomass resource potential evaluation: MTCE
Item
Existing biomass resource
Utilized
Available
Increment of biomass resource
Agriculture and forest industy
Energy crops
Marginal land planting
Total
Practically Available

2006
500
220
280
0

500
280

2010
500
200
300
30
20
10
0
530
330

2020
500
180
320
230
140
40
50
730
550

2030 2050
500
500
150
100
350
400
470
580
300
400
70
80
100
100
970 1080
820
980

17

1.Biomass resources in China

The potential biomass development capacity:

about 1 billion TCE
Types of Biomass
a. Waste material

Large amount-clean
energy

b. Energy crops
Scale-up

c. Non-edible species
Food securityMarginal land for
production

Fundamentals
Fundamentals
Priority:
Resource utilization and
environmental protection
Development of energy crop
agriculture and energy
forest industry-enlarge the
supply of biomass resource
Marginal land
developmentProtect existing
cropland, forest and
grassland

18

2. Status of Biomass Energy Utilization

Power generation

Liquid fuel

Types of
Biomass Energy
Utilization

B
C

Gas fuel
D

Pelletized fuel
19

2. Status of Biomass Energy Utilization

Characteristics of Biomass utilization:
About 14% of the primary energy consumption in the
world:
Outside China:
Power generation>Fuel ethanol>Biodiesel>Industrial biogas
In China:
Household biogas>Fuel ethanol>others including power
generation
The motivation differences:
Developed countries: CO2 emission reduction, environmental
protection;
Developing countries: Energy supplements, promote
agriculture development
20

Profitable point
point
Profitable

techonolgy
of techonolgy
Maturity of
Maturity

2. Status of Biomass Energy Utilization

High subsidy
technologies
Stage II

Bioethanol from
Pelleting
Biodiesel from oil sugar and starch
plants
Biodiesel from
waste oil
Direct
Direct combustion
combustion
power
power generation
generation
Gsification
Gsification power
power
generation
generation

Bioethanol
Bioethanol from
from
cellulose
cellulose
Synfuel from

Low subsidy
technologies

Stage III
CHP

Engineering demonstration

Polygeneration
utilization

gasification

Stage IV

Stage I
H22 from biomass

Biogas

Advanced
technologies

New technologies
need to be explored

Market competition force

21

2. Status of Biomass Energy Utilization

There stages of biomass utilization technology:
Commercialized technologies:
High subsidy technologies: Biodiesel from oil plants, bioethanol from
sugar and starch
Low subsidy technologies: Biogas, pelleting, direct combustion power
generation

Engineering demonstration
Fuel ethanol from cellulose, gasification power generation, synfuel from
gasification, direct liquefaction, combined cooling-heating-power
generation(CHP);

Technologies under development

Algae utilization, biosynthesis, H2 from biomass

Technologies need to be explored

Polygeneration, et al.
22

2. Status of Biomass Energy Utilization

Engineering
Industry
Engineering
Industry
Commercialization
Commercialization
demonstration demonstration
demonstration
demonstration

techonolgy
of techonolgy
Maturity of
Maturity

The trend of biomass energy utilization

Combustion
power
generation

Biogas

Bioethanol
Bioethanol from
from
cellulose
Biodiesel from cellulose

plant oil

Indirect
liquefaction

Pelleting
Fuel ethanol

Direct
liquefaction

Gasification
power
generation

H22 from biomass

2010

2020
23

2. Status of Biomass Energy Utilization

Bio-ethanol
Status in China

Just started
Mainly from
corn

In the near future

Marginal land for the

production of cassava,
sweet sorghum

Mid to long term direction

Promote the development of fuel ethanol from cellulose

24

2. Status of Biomass Energy Utilization

At present, power generation is still the main
technology for biomass waste utilization

Trend of biomass power generation

Developments of different kinds of technology
CHP and comprehensive utilization
Small to medium scale and stand alone power

system

25

2. Status of Biomass Energy Utilization

Factors affect the generation capacity
Factors
Generation eff.
Biomass cost
Investment&
management

Direct
Gasification Remarks
combustion
Part of 12MW direct combustion
>25MW
>6MW

can also use high parameter

generation system

<10MW
>6MW

<10MW
>3MW

<60,000ton/yr

6MW-10MW, the bigger the better;

The capacity for direct combustion: 6-12MW
The capacity for gasification(BIGCC): 4-12MW;
26

3.Targets of R&D in China

Basic principles for the energy utilization of biomass
Clean fuel for rural area :
Fuel gas and solid fuel

Power
generation,
comprehensive
utilization

Resource
cultivation and
exploitation

Promote the
development of
liquid fuelsubstitution of
fossil fuel

27

Missions of development

3.Targets of R&D
In the near future(2010):
Biomass power generation: 600MW
Biomass liquid fuel: 2 million ton/yr
3~5% of agriculture and forestry waste can be used
Mid-term target(2020)
Biomass power generation: 3000MW
Biomass liquid fuel: 15 million ton/yr
15~20% of agriculture and forestry waste can be used
Mid-term target(2030)
Biomass power generation: 5000MW
Biomass liquid fuel: 50 million ton/yr
30~40% of agriculture and forestry waste can be used
28

3.Targets of R&D
Direction of Development

Development of Resources:
Short to mid-term: mainly agriculture and forestry waste; Give
attention to energy crops and energy plants
Long term: Mainly energy agriculture and energy forestry; Give
attention to new resources, such as energy algae..
Route of Technology Development:
Short to mid-term: Biogas, pelleting, fuel ethanol, biodiesel,
power generation, CHP.
Mid to long term: Synfuel from gasification, ethanol from
cellulose, biochemical engineering;
Long term: Algae technology, ocean biomass, H2 production
29

4.Technology Road Maps

Summary of technologies
High moisture
content biomass
Product
separation

Non-edible
sugar and
starch

Separation

Fermentation

CH4/H2

Combustion

Power

Gas fuel

Hydrolysis

Cellulose

Pretreatment

Heat & Power

Gasification
Synthesis

Residue

Non-edible
oil & fat

Microbe

Component
separation

Pyrolysis &
catalytic
cracking
Esterify

Refining

Liquid fuel

Chemicals
30

4.Technology Road Maps

Technologies for bio-conversion

Residue

Drying

Chemical
conversion

Separation &
Concentrating
Combustion

Micro-algae

Synchro
fermentation

Cellulose
enzyme

Hydrolysis

Straw &
sugar
crops

Pretreatment

Bacteria
reconstruction

Stepped
Fermentation

Ethanol

Residue

Butanol

H2
CH4
Ethene

Acetic
acid
SiO2
Fertilizer
Heat/
Power
Feedingstuff
31

4.Technology Road Maps

Road Map for Biomass Bio-Conversion
2010
2010

Pretreatment
Pretreatment
Genetic
Genetic tech.
tech. for
for
bacteria
bacteria
cultivatio
cultivatio
Residue
Residue
combustion
combustiontech
tech

Exploration

Pilot scale

Cellulose
Cellulose
fermentation
fermentation fuel
fuel
ethanol
ethanol 3000t/Y
3000t/Y
Cellulose
Cellulose enzyme
enzyme
solid
solidstate
state
fermentation
fermentation
SiO2
SiO2 from
from ash
ash

2015
2015

2020
2020

Cellulose
Cellulose ethanol
ethanol
10000t/Y
10000t/Y
Solid
Solidstate
state
fermation
fermation
Coupled
Coupled Vaporized
Vaporized
tech.
tech.

Bench
Bench scale
scale H2
H2
from
frommicro-algae
micro-algae

H2
H2 from
from micromicroalgae:
algae:
demonstration
demonstration

Coupled
Coupledtech.
tech.for
for
CH4/H2
CH4/H2 production
production

3
100M
100M3CH4/H2
CH4/H2
Demonstration
Demonstration

Continuous
Continuous
fermentation
fermentation for
for
biogas
biogas

Large
Large scale
scale biogas
biogas
3
10000M
10000M3

Demonstration

Large
Large scale
scale
application
application

Industrialization

Large scale
application

Large
Large scale
scale
bio-gas
bio-gas
application
application

Nearly zero
emission

Large scale
scale high-grade
high-grade
Large
clean fuel
fuel application
application
clean

2005
2005

32

4.Technology Road Maps

Technologies for solid biomass thermalchemical conversion

Solid biomass

Pyrolysis
liquefaction

Bio-oil

Separation

Chemicals

Chemical
modulation

Boiler Fuel

Refining
Combustion
Gasification

Fuel
gas

Catalytic de-oxygen
liquefaction

Heat &
Power

CH4

Reforming

Syngas

Vehicle fuel

H2
Catalytic
synthesis

Fractionation

DME
Methanol
Diesel
33
Gasoline

4.Technology Road Maps

Road Map for biomass thermal chemical conversion
2010
2010

2015
2015

Industrialization
Industrialization of
of
BIGCC
BIGCC

BIGCC
BIGCC
Advanced
Advanced
gasificaiton
gasificaiton

Demonstration
Demonstration
>3000t/a
>3000t/a

Gas
Gas refinery
refinery

Pilot
Pilotscale
scale
1000t/a
1000t/a

CO2
CO2 rich
rich
synthesis
synthesis

Pilot
Pilotscale
scale
1000t/a
1000t/a

Selectivity
Selectivity
liquefaction
liquefaction
Bio-oil
Bio-oil separation
separation
&&refinery
refinery

Exploration

Pilot scale

2020
2020

Large
Largescale
scale application
application

Syngas
Syngassynthesis
synthesis
>3000t/a
>3000t/a

Indirect
Indirectliquefation
liquefation
>10000t/a
>10000t/a

1000t/a
1000t/a

3000t/a
3000t/a

Direct
Directliquefaction
liquefaction
>10000t/a
>10000t/a

200t/a
200t/a

1000t/a
1000t/a

Demonstration

Industrialization

Large scale
application

Nearly zero
emission

Large scale
scale biomass
biomass energy
energy application
application
Large

2007
2007

34

4.Technology Road Maps

Chemicals

Esterification

Other lipid

Lipid
abstraction

Oil plant
& algae

Lipid

Residue

Enzyme

Separation

Technologies for biodiesel

Catalyst

Biodiesel
Fertilizer
Glycerin

High value
conversion

High value
conversion

acetone
Glycol

Feedingstuff
Medicine

35

4.Technology Road Maps

Road Map for Biodiesel
2010
2010

Continuous
Continuous
reaction
reaction

Pilot
Pilotplant
plant3000t/Y
3000t/Y

Magnetism
Magnetismnanonanocatalytic
reaction
catalytic reaction

Glycerin
Glycerin high
high value
value
conversion
conversion

Residue
Residuehigh
high
value
conversion
value conversion

Medicine
Medicine component
component
abstraction
abstraction

Exploration

Pilot scale

Demonstration

2015
2015

2020
2020
30000t/Y
30000t/Y

500t/Y
500t/Y

Industrialization

Large
Large scale
scale
polygeneration
polygeneration
process
process

Pilot
Pilotscale
scale
comprehensive
comprehensive
utilization
utilization

Large scale
application

Nearly zero
emission

Large scale
scale high
high grade
grade liquid
liquid fuel
fuel
Large
application
application

2005
2005

36

http:// www.giec.ac.cn

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