2. INDEX
5.1 BIOCOMBUSTIBLES:ALTERNATIVA A LOS CARBURANTES FOSILES EN LA AUTOMOCION Y LA INDUSTRIA.
5.2 BIODIESEL:PRODUCCION, CARACTERISTICAS, RETOS TECNOLOGICOS Y COSTES ASOCIADOS.
5.3 IMPACTO MEDIOAMBIENTAL DE LA UTILIZACION DEL BIODIESEL.
5.4 EMISIONES DIESEL FRENTE AL BIODIESEL: VALORACION ECOTEST.
5.5 BIOETANOL:PRODUCCION Y TRANSFORMACION ENERGETICA.
5.6 PROCESOS DE PRETRATAMIENTO FISICOS, QUIMICOS Y BIOLOGICOS.
5.7 OBJETIVOS Y PRODUCCION DE BIOETANOL EN ESPAÑA Y EN LA UNION EUROPEA
5.8 DESARROLLO DE TECNOLOGIAS DE PROCESO Y MATERIAS PRIMAS ALTERNATIVAS.
5.9 COSTES, VENTAJAS E INCONVENIENTES DEL BIOETANOL.
5.10 COMBINACION CON OTRAS FUENTES DE ENERGIA.
5.11 PLANTAS DE BIOCOMBUSTIBLE ACTUALES Y EXPECTATIVAS DE FUTURO. PRODUCCION NACIONAL Y EUROPEA.
3. 5.1 BIOFUELS: AN ALTERNATIVE TO FOSSIL FUELS IN
AUTOMOTIVE AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS.
Biofuels are: - Economical
- Renewable
- Sustainable
Car manufacturers aim to reduce CO2 emissions and develop and
commercially deploy hybrid vehicles. A general objective is the use
of alternative fuels derived from renewable sources to avoid
dependence on oil-producing countries, such as biofuels and
hydrogen.
4. 5.1 BIOFUELS: AN ALTERNATIVE TO FOSSIL FUELS IN
AUTOMOTIVE AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS.
Advantages of biofuels:
• Environmental:
- Production of less CO2.
- Greater biodegradability compared to fossil fuels. They pose less
danger to river and oceanic waters.
• Socioeconomic:
- Generation in the same area where it is subsequently consumed.
- Job creation.
5. THE MAIN APPLICATION AREA OF BIOFUELS:
Fuel for automotive use. Ideal for internal combustion engines.
They can be used:
- Natural or recycled vegetable oils,
- Their ethers (biodiesel)
- Certain groups of alcohols (methanol and ethanol)
Mixed or in pure form.
Still under development.
Biodiesel can already be used in conventional diesel engines without prior technical
modifications to the engines.
5.1 BIOFUELS: AN ALTERNATIVE TO FOSSIL FUELS IN
AUTOMOTIVE AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS.
6. For gasoline engines: the availability of bioethanol, methanol, and ethanol should
be increased. Another current option is with electricity. It can be produced and
transported using storage batteries or energy converters. It does not produce
greenhouse gas emissions and is non-polluting.
NEGATIVE EFFECTS:
In the area of vegetable oils: their use as fuel competes directly with food
production and has sometimes caused price increases.
5.1 BIOFUELS: AN ALTERNATIVE TO FOSSIL FUELS IN
AUTOMOTIVE AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS.
7. The requirements for sustainable and environmentally friendly fuels are as follows:
- Production capacity in sufficient quantities to meet demand.
- Production costs that are correct and competitive compared to fossil fuels.
- Sufficient logistics for distribution and supply in a feasible and viable manner.
- Suitability for internal combustion engines or other energy conversion systems.
- High potential for reducing CO2 emissions into the environment compared to
other conventional fuels.
5.1 BIOFUELS: AN ALTERNATIVE TO FOSSIL FUELS IN
AUTOMOTIVE AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS.
8. 5.2 BIODIESEL: Production, characteristics,
technological challenges, and associated costs.
The production of biodiesel depends on the level of free fatty acids present in the
raw material from which the biodiesel is obtained.
1st step: Extraction of oil retained in the seeds, either through MECHANICAL
PRESSING (more sustainable and cheaper) or with CHEMICAL EXTRACTION USING
SOLVENTS (less ecological and economical, suitable for high productions). If the
oil is from used cooking oil prepared for recycling, it must undergo cleaning and
stabilization (removal of water present by evaporation and food residues). This is
done by heating and subsequent filtering.
9. 2nd step: A clean base oil is necessary, with a free fatty acid concentration of
less than 5% to proceed to the TRANSESTERIFICATION process.
This process separates the components present to obtain biodiesel and
glycerin. Oil is mixed with a small percentage of methanol and a base
catalyst in an endothermic reaction (heat-absorbing). The glycerin settles at
the bottom of the container for refining and demethanolization. Meanwhile,
the biodiesel floats, being less dense, and is redirected to the next phase. If
the percentage is greater than 5%, ESTERIFICATION is required to reduce the
percentage to less than 5%.
5.2 BIODIESEL: Production, characteristics,
technological challenges, and associated costs.
10. ESTERIFICATION:
The percentage of free fatty acids solidifies at low temperatures.
The process involves extracting the free fatty acids from the semi-processed biodiesel
to leave the oil with a concentration of less than 1%.
3rd step: WASHING.
With the aid of water currents, all substances soluble in biodiesel are removed
(biodiesel itself is not soluble).
The most important byproduct removed is glycerin, which undergoes further refining.
Finally, the dehydration process removes any water that may remain from the washing
process. The biodiesel is heated to evaporate the water.
5.2 BIODIESEL: Production, characteristics,
technological challenges, and associated costs.
11. CHARACTERISTICS OF BIODIESEL:
• Density
• Transparency/shine
• Color
• Presence of sulfur
• Cetane index
• Viscosity
• Flash point
• Cold filter plugging point
• Residual carbon percentage
5.2 BIODIESEL: Production, characteristics,
technological challenges, and associated costs.
13. TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES:
• The current production cost is higher than that of petroleum-derived diesel, partly due to the
the cost of the raw materials from which it is obtained.
• Exploring the support capabilities of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) regarding the
research of new energy crops, more efficient production processes, and the search for
alternative markets for the glycerin generated in the biodiesel process. The objective of the
markets is to absorb glycerin and transform it into essential goods.
• Specific biodiesel additives.
• Standardized quality standards. Controversy arguments:
• Climate change.
• Energy balance.
• Deforestation and biodiversity loss.
• Food security.
5.2 BIODIESEL: Production, characteristics,
technological challenges, and associated costs.
14. - CROPS: The use of nitrogen-derived fertilizers for biofuel cultivation results in
higher NOx emissions than those from the combustion of petroleum-derived
fuels.
- FOOD SECTOR: Altering the prices of agricultural productions, making them
inaccessible for the poorest.
- LABOR: Worker rights are not respected, especially in poor countries.
5.3 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF BIODIESEL
UTILIZATION.
15. Analysis by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) considers gas emissions and
their health effects.
- CONCLUSIONS: From a health perspective, biodiesel reduces health risks associated
with fossil diesel. Biodiesel, regardless of its purity percentage, reduces the emission
of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their nitrogen derivatives.
5.4 DIESEL EMISSIONS VS. BIODIESEL: ECOTEST
ASSESSMENT.
16. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ECOTEST.
Allows assessing the environmental impact of any car by considering two key points:
• Emissions produced by the car.
• Car behavior under as realistic driving conditions as possible.
It allows searching for cars by type and displays their environmental virtues,
represented by stars with a maximum of 5 (the highest level of environmental
respect).
5.4 DIESEL EMISSIONS VS. BIODIESEL: ECOTEST
ASSESSMENT.
19. - Solubilizing lignin.
- Lignocellulose.
Pre-treatments are the most costly stages of the process of converting lignocellulosic
material into ethanol, accounting for up to 30% of the total cost.
The most widespread method is delignification, which improves the accessibility of
polysaccharides for subsequent enzymatic attack, ultimately aiming to produce
fermentable sugars and achieve hydrolysis yields close to 100%.
5.6 PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL, AND BIOLOGICAL
PRE-TREATMENT PROCESSES.
20. Leaders in the production and consumption of BIOETHANOL: the USA and BRAZIL:
The EU (25% bioethanol and 75% biodiesel): is the third-largest market for fuels. They give
priority use of energy crops towards the food sector. European consumption is higher than
its production, hence the need for ethanol imports.
The EU countries with the highest bioethanol production capacity are France, Belgium, the
Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Great Britain, Poland, and Spain.
Spain and France are self-sufficient.
Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Hungary, and Austria are surplus.
Germany and Great Britain are deficit due to their high domestic consumption, requiring
up to 50% of their annual consumption to be imported.
5.7 Objectives and Bioethanol Production in
Spain and the European Union.
21. The production capacity of European facilities amounts to 76 plants in Europe. Spain
only has 5 plants.
They primarily use wheat, corn, and byproducts from sugar obtained from sugar
beets.
Out of the 5 in Spain, 3 utilize cereals to produce bioethanol, one uses ethyl alcohol,
and another produces second-generation bioethanol from wheat and barley straw.
95% comes from cereals, and 5% from ethyl alcohol from wines. Corn is the leader,
but the variety changes according to the prices in the current markets, where wheat is
also present. Barley comes in third place.
5.7 Objectives and Bioethanol Production in
Spain and the European Union.
22. New lines of research:
• Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF).
• Biological pretreatment from lignocellulosic materials.
New materials:
• Alternative and recycled raw materials.
• Traditional crops. Disadvantages: competition in the food market and
deforestation of tropical areas. Various studies doubt that greenhouse gas
emissions will decrease, as heavy agricultural machinery and fertilizers are used in
production.
5.8 DEVELOPMENT OF PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES
AND ALTERNATIVE RAW MATERIALS.
23. Oils from (under research):
• Vegetable species.
• Lignocellulosic oil. Three methods for its transformation:
• Gasification.
• Pyrolysis.
• Liquefaction.
• Microorganism oils.
• Residual oil. It undergoes severe pretreatment to purify the used oil. The main
advantage: not only does it recycle a waste product, but it also obtains raw material for
producing biofuel. Disadvantages: modifying existing processes, altering the
development of new procedures to transform them into economically demanding
products with very specific specifications.
5.8 DEVELOPMENT OF PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES
AND ALTERNATIVE RAW MATERIALS.
24. - INVESTMENT COSTS. A typical plant can produce 200,000 tons/year, which would
amount to 180 million euros.
- OPERATING COSTS. The largest expense would be the periodic procurement of
raw materials and their price volatility. €21/ton for transportation, and up to
€500/ton for raw materials. Average revenue: €325/ton.
5.9 COSTS, ADVANTAGES, AND DISADVANTAGES
OF BIOETHANOL.
25. Currently: Limited support for technological development in biofuel production, both
biodiesel and bioethanol.
Mechanisms to promote the use of sustainable fuels:
• Mandatory regulations
• Incentives
• Fleet requirements
5.9 COSTS, ADVANTAGES, AND DISADVANTAGES
OF BIOETHANOL.
26. ADVANTAGES
• The transportation sector is the largest consumer of final energy in Spain (40% of
the total). The movement of goods and passengers by road accounts for 80% of
the previous consumption. We have a high dependency on oil (98%).
• Policies and strategies are being implemented to increase the competitiveness
and sustainability of the sector, focusing on electric vehicles or the use of biofuels.
• Reduction of energy dependence
• Combatting climate change
• Development of rural areas.
5.9 COSTS, ADVANTAGES, AND DISADVANTAGES
OF BIOETHANOL.
27. DRAWBACKS:
• Uncertainty about its production. It must guarantee 100% sustainability
throughout the production chain.
• Deforestation of virgin forests to replace them with profitable plants for
bioethanol production, destroying the environment.
• Limited representation in traditional biofuel markets.
• Resistant users.
• Bioethanol and its derivatives still do not have enough power to penetrate new
sectors.
5.9 COSTS, ADVANTAGES, AND DISADVANTAGES
OF BIOETHANOL.
28. 1. FUEL AND ELECTRICITY HYBRIDIZATION.
Combining two sources of energy for better, more efficient, and less polluting vehicle
propulsion.
Advantages:
• 100% autonomy.
• Can travel longer distances than a conventional vehicle.
• Avoids fuel consumption during idle, thus saving fuel.
• Emissions reductions compared to traditional vehicles.
5.10 COMBINATION WITH OTHER ENERGY
SOURCES.
29. 2. BLENDING OF CONVENTIONAL FUELS AND BIOFUELS.
The blend should not exceed 10% by volume in countries with cold or temperate
climates, doubling the previous percentage in warmer regions.
Biodiesel has physical and chemical characteristics similar to diesel fuel. It can be
blended in almost any proportion with petroleum-derived diesel and used in typical
diesel vehicles without requiring modifications to the basic engine configuration.
5.10 COMBINATION WITH OTHER ENERGY
SOURCES
30. 3. HYDROGEN. (Unit 8)
It can be obtained through the chemical decomposition of water into oxygen and
hydrogen by applying an electric current (electrolysis).
Hydrogen is an energy carrier, representing stored energy, and can be combusted to
generate thermal energy or propel an engine.
Hydrogen is pumped into fuel cells that operate according to specific chemical
processes, not through combustion, to generate electricity to power vehicles.
Once hydrogen has flowed through the compartments of the fuel cell, it reacts with
the oxygen present in the air to produce water and energy.
5.10 COMBINATION WITH OTHER ENERGY
SOURCES
31. 3. HYDROGEN. (Unit 8)
An economy based on hydrogen as an energy carrier would undoubtedly improve
citizens' health, air quality, and notably mitigate climate change.
ADVANTAGES:
• Hydrogen is volatile and dissipates quickly without producing toxicity.
• It does not generate pollution when extracted from water. No chemical or toxic
by-products are created.
• There is a wide variety of fuel cell sizes available.
• The energy efficiency of converting chemical energy into electricity is the highest
achieved by humans.
5.10 COMBINATION WITH OTHER ENERGY
SOURCES
32. 5.11 PLANTAS DE BIOCOMBUSTIBLE ACTUALES Y
EXPECTATIVAS DE FUTURO. PRODUCCION NACIONAL Y
EUROPEA.
Unfair competition from
American biodiesel and the
existence of Argentinean and
Indonesian trade practices that
distort the market.
33. 5.11 PLANTAS DE BIOCOMBUSTIBLE ACTUALES Y
EXPECTATIVAS DE FUTURO. PRODUCCION NACIONAL Y
EUROPEA.
Currently, many of these plants
are shut down, and the rest
operate below maximum
production capacity, creating an
economic-financial situation that
makes their future viability
unsustainable.
34. 5.11 PLANTAS DE BIOCOMBUSTIBLE ACTUALES Y
EXPECTATIVAS DE FUTURO. PRODUCCION NACIONAL Y
EUROPEA.
35. 5.11 PLANTAS DE BIOCOMBUSTIBLE ACTUALES Y
EXPECTATIVAS DE FUTURO. PRODUCCION NACIONAL Y
EUROPEA.
Factors that will condition the evolution of the sector:
• Price policies
• Tastes
• Preferences
• Customer trust in these biofuels.
• Progressive introduction of hybrid or purely electric engines in transportation and their use in
new markets.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), biofuels covered only 2.8% of the world's fuel
supply in 2010.
The main instrument to promote the adoption of biodiesel and bioethanol:
FISCAL INCENTIVES: reductions or total exemptions from taxes applied to biofuels.
36. 5.11 PLANTAS DE BIOCOMBUSTIBLE ACTUALES Y
EXPECTATIVAS DE FUTURO. PRODUCCION NACIONAL
Y EUROPEA.
The European scenario has been marked by two events:
• The global economic crisis, which has led to plant closures as well as the
abandonment of decisions to undertake new biofuel plant projects.
• The first signs of economic recovery linked to increased fuel consumption.
37. 5.11 PLANTAS DE BIOCOMBUSTIBLE ACTUALES Y
EXPECTATIVAS DE FUTURO. PRODUCCION NACIONAL
Y EUROPEA.
THE BIOETHANOL MARKET.
The most common raw materials used in the production of bioethanol are sugarcane,
molasses, sugar beet, and cereals.
Sugarcane is the most common raw material in Brazil. The other nation where
significant sugarcane production occurs is Colombia.
In the EU, several tens of millions of tons were allocated to bioethanol production.
The use of cereal only accounted for 4% of the harvested crop.
Germany and France have strengthened their production positions after making a
commitment to this market.
38. 5.11 PLANTAS DE BIOCOMBUSTIBLE ACTUALES Y
EXPECTATIVAS DE FUTURO. PRODUCCION NACIONAL
Y EUROPEA.
THE BIODIESEL MARKET.
The raw materials are vegetable oils. A few years ago, the consumption of vegetable
oils for biodiesel production exceeded 9% of global production.
In the EU, several tens of millions of tons of raw materials have been used. The most
commonly used ones are soybean, rapeseed, palm, and sunflower oils. The
fundamental criterion for ensuring success is the mandatory use in certain countries
and sectors. The EU is the largest consumer globally.
Exporting countries: Argentina and the USA.
Among the most important quality standards internationally, the European EN 14214
is cited, which emphasizes the sustainability of plantations.
