Alternative energy Biodiesel Fossil-free diesel fuel in sight Finnish fuel producer Neste Oil is developing a new generation of fossil-free diesel fuel. Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has given the Finns official permission to sell their product, NExBTL, as “renewable diesel”.

|| by Reiner Gatermann

Sami Oja is bursting with optimism. point, the Finn emphasises that ‘this is monoxide compared to sulphur-free diesel. ‘Technically speaking, we are several the same formula as that of our ultimate In a study commissioned by Neste Oil, the years ahead of our competitors.’ The goal: synthetic diesel from biomass (BTL) Institute for Energy and Environmental marketing director of the Finnish fuel using the gasification process based on the Research (IFEU) in Heidelberg concluded producer Neste Oil is referring to NExBTL, Fischer-Tropsch method’. that ‘NExBTL has superior properties over the second generation ‘renewable diesel But it may take many years to achieve this. current diesel products or alternative fuel’. Production began in autumn 2007 at Although the process has existed for decades, renewable fuels’ and ‘the results show Porvoo, 40 km east of Helsinki, and is set to industrial manufacture has not been possible a clear, but quantitatively different double to 340,000 tonnes per year by 2009. at acceptable prices. Research is now moving advantage in the energy and greenhouse As part of a joint venture with Neste, OMV apace and in 2009 Neste will commission a gas balance if NExBTL is used to replace AG is building a 200,000 tonne refinery at pilot plant in partnership with the Finnish- conventional diesel fuel.’ Schwechart in Austria for completion by Swedish forest products and paper group 2009, as well as a refinery with a capacity of Stora Enso in Varkaus, Finland. This opinion is shared by a large number of 800,000 tonnes per year in Singapore, which car manufacturers. The major players, such will be in operation by the end of 2010. Superior properties | as Audi, MAN, Mercedes Volvo, Scania and The advantages of NExBTL compared to Volkswagen have been testing NExBTL over Sami Oja sees very few similarities between Fame are considerable. First generation a long period, together with Bosch as a key next generation biomass-to-liquid fuel bio-diesel cannot be added to more than supplier. This had led MAN to conclude that (NExBTL) and its forerunner Fame. They about 5% of the fossil fuel without risking ‘due to the disadvantages of Fame, biobased both use bio-oils as a basic raw material, but engine damage, while there is no limit hydrocarbon diesels, such as NExBTL, will while Fame is produced by esterfication, for NExBTL. In theory, a truck can be run be favoured.’ At Volkswagen the view is NExBTL is produced using the catalytic almost 100% on ‘renewable diesel’ without that ‘hydrogenated plant oil is much more hydrotreating process at the heart of the any engine modifications. The fuel is suitable as a fuel, compared to Fame.’ Porvoo refinery. As part of this process, sulphur, oxygen, nitrogen and aromatic- Since January, Neste has been conducting vegetable or animal fats are hydrated after free and has a very high cetane number comprehensive tests lasting 10 months being pre-treated with phosphoric acid (84–99). In addition, it can be used at in Alberta, Canada. Following laboratory and caustic soda at temperatures of 320 temperatures as low as -300 C and has good tests, the new diesel fuels are now to be to 360°C and up to 80 bar pressure, before storage properties. This is in addition to tested under realistic traffic and weather being pumped into hydrotreating reactors. environmental and performance benefits. conditions. As part of this ‘Alberta In these reactors, oxygen is removed and Depending on how it is driven, a NExBTL- Renewable Diesel Demonstration’, some of the fuel (triglyceride) is converted into fuelled vehicle (Euro 4 motor) produces the 60 heavy goods vehicles will be driven separate branched-chain paraffins. This 40-60% less greenhouse gas emissions, using a NExBTL mixture. Jarmo Honkamaa, produces paraffinic hydrocarbons with up to 45% fewer particles, up to 20% less deputy chairman of the Finnish group, the chemical formula CnH2n+2. At this nitrogen oxide and up to 78% less carbon is confident of success, partly due to ‘our

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Biodiesel plant 1 in Porvoo, Finland. Erkki Ollikka/Neste Oil

superior properties at low temperatures’. capital. Due to public pressure, a Swedish EU countries. Even the use of rapeseed from In the Finnish capital Helsinki buses and oil company has ceased to supply NExBTL. non-European countries would produce a refuse collection trucks are already being saving of 30GJ and 1.2 t CO2. run on the ‘renewable diesel’ as part of tests Neste Oil currently uses both vegetable and One of the Finns’ next objectives is to lasting several years, while negotiations are animal fats, with palm oil representing the produce NExBTL without using any edible underway in Sweden for similar projects. major proportion. The Finns, however, set raw materials. But, as Sami Oja says, ‘there great store by the fact that their palm oil is are still insufficient non-food bio oils’. For During the refinery process, slurry, gases not produced from Malaysian plantations this reason, rapeseed, palm oil and soy oil and petrol residues are produced at the that were recently created on land where still dominate the market, but in future Finnish plant, but fuel gas and biogasoline rain forests have been cleared. ‘In order non-food bio-oils such as tallow, jatropha are described in the IFEU Analysis as to verify this, we know the origin of the and castor will be used. The Finns set great ‘important by-products’. In the analysis palm oil that we use exactly by segregating store by next generation renewable diesel, they are “credited” according to the useful our raw material flows. The sustainability particularly algae oil, while the ultimate functions they perform. In Porvoo all the of the production has been audited by goal is the use of ‘waste biomass from fuel gas is used in the cogeneration plant. an independent auditor. We are also forestry waste’. A production cost comparison with Fame committed to the use of certified palm The Finns have fought long and hard for is difficult, however. Investment levels oil when it becomes available and we are a distinction to be made between Fame are high and the cost of manufacture per working to develop non-food raw materials. and NExBTL and found a strong advocate tonne depends greatly on the raw material We are not aware of any other company in the Governor of California, Arnold mix. However, the considerably higher that has the same level of sustainability Schwarzenegger. As a result, only first quality compared to Fame should justify a in the biofuel, or in any other industry’, generation biofuel (Fame) is described price premium, according to IFEU. emphasises Sami Oja. ‘We publicise the as a biodiesel, while second generation origin of our raw materials, which is not biofuels (NExBTL) trade under the name of Palm oil | exactly common practice in this sector’. renewable diesel. The description ‘synthetic The use of raw materials is one of the key diesel from biomass’ (BTL = biomass to remaining problems. Neste mainly uses Of course, palm oil is currently the best liquid) is ultimately reserved for the third palm oil from Malaysia, which has been energy source. According to IFEU, compared generation. But Neste believes it has already criticised not only by Greenpeace but also to the same quantity of fossil diesel, one achieved this quality with its NExBTL. by a number of potential customers. For tonne of NExBTL saves 44 GJ of primary Neste Oil, in which the Finnish state holds example, the Stockholm ferry company energy and 1.4 tonne of CO2 equivalents. a 50.1% stake, hopes to be able to profit by Waxholmsbolaget insists that it has only The people in Heidelberg have also tested its technical edge. However, in the medium supplied with NExBTL that originates alternative raw materials and concluded term ‘we need other competitors with from animal fats. The ferry company that 33 GJ of primary energy and 25 t CO2 other technologies’, says Sami Oja, ‘we are travels between the skerries close to the can be saved by using rapeseed sourced from too small on our own’. 

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