Nowadays, biofuels have been known as a potential option to replace fossil fuels from the heavy-duty transportation sector (i.e., long-haul air-, marine- and heavy-duty road transports). One of the efficient ways to produce biofuels is the thermochemical conversion of biomass. Flexible Biomass and Power to Biofuel (BPtB) plants can be a promising solution for two main challenges in the energy sector: a) highly volatile electricity markets saturated with renewable resources and b) limitation of the only renewable carbon source, biomass. In this study, two flexible BPtB systems, including the integration of biomass gasification and reversible Solid Oxide Cell (SOC), are techno-environmentally investigated. In the first configuration, a solid oxide steam-electrolysis cell stores the renewable electricity in the form of Hydrogen, which is then added to the syngas to fully convert the carbon sources of the biomass into biofuel. In the second configuration, the produced syngas composition is tailored through a solid oxide co-electrolysis cell according to the downstream biofuel process. However, when the electricity price is high, SOC runs in fuel cell mode fed by syngas and produces electricity; therefore, the plants can operate flexibly regarding the electricity price. The two configurations are compared in terms of SOC performance, Heat Recovery System (HRS), Green House Gas (GHG) saving potential, overall energy efficiency for producing Methanol, and economical aspects.

2023

2024