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The Carbon Trust is seeking Expressions of Interest from a potentially wide range of partners interested in collaborating with us to develop a commercially viable pyrolysis oil upgrading process through applied research and development. Partners may include refinery technology developers, catalyst developers and research organisations involved in the study of pyrolysis processes, bioenergy and relevant related disciplines (especially chemical and process engineering).
Pyrolysis oil from sustainable sources of biomass has the potential to produce low-cost fuels with low system green house gas (GHG) emissions, if it could be integrated into a (conventional) refinery. However, the properties of the oil produced from current fast pyrolysis processes are far from suitable for direct integration. The Pyrolysis Challenge has the objective of producing oil with the properties required for integration through either:
a) modifying the pyrolysis process to produce better quality oil directly; or
b) upgrading the oil before, or at, the refinery.
Recognising the scale of this challenge, and also the opportunity that it presents, the Carbon Trust is planning to make a substantial investment to support this project – in the region of £5-6m.
We are now seeking partners to work with us and commit an element of matching support in order to deliver a world-class break-through project in this area. The expected outcomes of the project are as follows:
- proof of scientific and engineering principle for a novel process for low-cost and low GHG intensity upgrading of biomass pyrolysis oil
- complete characterisation of the upgraded oil, including details of characterisation processes and the impact of different feedstocks
- an assessment of the likely commercial and environmental value of any associated co-products (especially char), and processes for their exploitation
- development of a large lab-scale or small industrial demonstration unit (capable of delivering cubic meters of refinery-grade pyrolysis oil)
- modeling of the full scale process economics, whole system GHG intensity and key technical parameters (e.g., catalyst lifetime).
The proof of the value of the project would be whether it generates sufficient evidence for an oil major or refining technology company to be able to justify the investment case for a skid plant demonstration.
Short expressions of interest were submitted on 14th April. These are currently being assessed by internal and external evaluators and outcomes will developed and announced in due course. Further information on funding mechanisms can be found here.
The Carbon Trust is working with a team of consultants from ANGLE Technology and E4tech who are available to assist potential bidders to the Pyrolysis Challenge. To avoid conflicts of interest neither ANGLE nor E4Tech will be able to participate in consortia bidding for funding from the Pyrolysis Challenge. Any information provided to them will be kept in strict commercial confidence. The first point of contact for those seeking advice from ANGLE or E4tech is Dr Nick Goddard on 01483 295830 or N.Goddard@Angleplc.com.
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