Waste-to-Energy biofuel production potential for selected feedstocks in the conterminous United States

Skaggs, Richard L.; Coleman, André M.; Seiple, Timothy E.; Milbrandt, Anelia R.

doi:10.1016/j.rser.2017.09.107

Title: Waste-to-Energy biofuel production potential for selected feedstocks in the conterminous United States

Abstract

Waste-to-Energy (WtE) technologies offer the promise of diverting organic wastes, including wastewater sludge, livestock waste, and food waste, for beneficial energy use while reducing the quantities of waste that are disposed or released to the environment. To ensure economic and environmental viability of WtE feedstocks, it is critical to gain an understanding of the spatial and temporal variability of waste production. Detailed information about waste characteristics, capture/diversion, transport requirements, available conversion technologies and overall energy conversion efficiency is also required. Building on the development of a comprehensive WtE feedstock database that includes municipal wastewater sludge; animal manure; food processing waste; and fats, oils, and grease for the conterminous United States, we conducted a detailed analysis of the wastes’ potential for biofuel production on a site-specific basis. Our analysis indicates that with conversion by hydrothermal liquefaction, these wastes have the potential to produce up to 22.3 GL/y (5.9 BG/y) of a bio-crude oil intermediate that can be upgraded and refined into a variety of liquid fuels, in particular renewable diesel and aviation kerosene. Conversion to aviation kerosene can potentially meet 23.9% of current U.S. demand.

Authors:: Skaggs, Richard L.; Coleman, André M.; Seiple, Timothy E.; Milbrandt, Anelia R.

Publication Date:: Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2018

Research Org.:: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office

OSTI Identifier:: 1724309

Alternate Identifier(s):: OSTI ID: 1407462; OSTI ID: 1413519; OSTI ID: 1430420

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-6A20-68470; PNNL-SA-125982
Journal ID: ISSN 1364-0321; S1364032117313631; PII: S1364032117313631

Grant/Contract Number:: AC06-76RL01830; AC36-08GO28308; AC05-76RL01830

Resource Type:: Published Article

Journal Name:: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Name: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews Journal Volume: 82 Journal Issue: P3; Journal ID: ISSN 1364-0321

Publisher:: Elsevier

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

Subject:: 09 BIOMASS FUELS; waste-to-energy; WtE; beneficial use; waste resources; hydrothermal liquefaction; HTL; wastewater sludge; manure; food waste; fats, oils, and grease; FOG; biocrude; jet fuel; aviation kerosene; bioenergy; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; WtEBeneficial use; fats; oils; and grease; bio-crude

Citation Formats


                    Skaggs, Richard L., Coleman, André M., Seiple, Timothy E., and Milbrandt, Anelia R. Waste-to-Energy biofuel production potential for selected feedstocks in the conterminous United States.  United Kingdom: N. p., 2018. 
Web.  doi:10.1016/j.rser.2017.09.107.

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                    Skaggs, Richard L., Coleman, André M., Seiple, Timothy E., & Milbrandt, Anelia R. Waste-to-Energy biofuel production potential for selected feedstocks in the conterminous United States.  United Kingdom.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.09.107

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                    Skaggs, Richard L., Coleman, André M., Seiple, Timothy E., and Milbrandt, Anelia R. Thu .  
"Waste-to-Energy biofuel production potential for selected feedstocks in the conterminous United States".  United Kingdom.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.09.107.

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@article{osti_1724309,

  title        = {Waste-to-Energy biofuel production potential for selected feedstocks in the conterminous United States},

  author       = {Skaggs, Richard L. and Coleman, André M. and Seiple, Timothy E. and Milbrandt, Anelia R.},

  abstractNote = {Waste-to-Energy (WtE) technologies offer the promise of diverting organic wastes, including wastewater sludge, livestock waste, and food waste, for beneficial energy use while reducing the quantities of waste that are disposed or released to the environment. To ensure economic and environmental viability of WtE feedstocks, it is critical to gain an understanding of the spatial and temporal variability of waste production. Detailed information about waste characteristics, capture/diversion, transport requirements, available conversion technologies and overall energy conversion efficiency is also required. Building on the development of a comprehensive WtE feedstock database that includes municipal wastewater sludge; animal manure; food processing waste; and fats, oils, and grease for the conterminous United States, we conducted a detailed analysis of the wastes’ potential for biofuel production on a site-specific basis. Our analysis indicates that with conversion by hydrothermal liquefaction, these wastes have the potential to produce up to 22.3 GL/y (5.9 BG/y) of a bio-crude oil intermediate that can be upgraded and refined into a variety of liquid fuels, in particular renewable diesel and aviation kerosene. Conversion to aviation kerosene can potentially meet 23.9% of current U.S. demand.},

  doi          = {10.1016/j.rser.2017.09.107},

  journal      = {Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews},

  number       = P3,

  volume       = 82,

  place        = {United Kingdom},

  year         = {Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2018},

  month        = {Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2018}

}

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Cited by: 80 works

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Fig. 1: Waste management hierarchy defining prioritization of handling waste, where reduction/avoidance is the most preferred and sustainable, whereas disposal/release is the least preferred and sustainable option.

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Algal-based biofuel generation through flue gas and wastewater utilization: a sustainable prospective approach
journal, December 2019

Kothari, Richa; Ahmad, Shamshad; Pathak, Vinayak V.
Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery
DOI: 10.1007/s13399-019-00533-y

Characterization of waste bio-oil as an alternate source of renewable fuel for marine engines
journal, June 2019

Bruun, Nina; Khazraie Shoulaifar, Tooran; Hemming, Jarl
Biofuels
DOI: 10.1080/17597269.2019.1628481

Continuous Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Biomass in a Novel Pilot Plant with Heat Recovery and Hydraulic Oscillation
journal, October 2018

Anastasakis, Konstantinos; Biller, Patrick; Madsen, René
Energies, Vol. 11, Issue 10
DOI: 10.3390/en11102695

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Title: Waste-to-Energy biofuel production potential for selected feedstocks in the conterminous United States

Abstract

Citation Formats

Figures / Tables:

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