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The KFB Program on Biobased Fuels for Vehicles

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The KFB Program on Biobased Fuels for Vehicles 5E9lo XF6 -% NFb --9 to \ ^IKFB SWEDISH TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH BOARD oifinrHffiWioN of tub document b unlwit®^ s constituted today, the transport sector is notsustainable in the long run because it is based almost entirely on non- replenishable natural resources which, when combusted, Arelease emissions that can cause serious harm to human beings, animals and the natural environment. Therefore, in order to achieve a sustainable transportsystem, it is imperative to achieve a means of propulsion which is based on renewable energy sources in every phase of production and distribution. It will take time to develop and test such a transport system. The responsibility for developingsuch a sustainable transport system is an assignment which must be approached as a common cause, involving both the official agencies of society and the business sector and international cooperation. The KFB program for biobased fuels - engine alcohols and biogas - has been underway since the summer of 1991, and will be concluded at the end of 1997 or early 1998. The objective is to allow various concerned parties, politicians, producers, distributors, vehicle operators, etc., a basis for deciding about possible future investments in biofuels. KFB Information 1996:11 ISSN 1104-4659 December, 1996 DISCLAIMER Portions of this document may be illegible in electronic image products. Images are produced from the best available original document Innehall Why Biobased Fuels?...................................................................................4 KFB’s Assignment........................................................................................................................ 5 First, absolute alcohol................................................................................................................. 6 ... then mixed fuels..................................................................................................................... 6 ... and biogas................................................................................................................................ 6 A Variety of Approaches............................................................................. 7 Adaptation and Distribution of Fuels.......................................................................................7 Evaluations................................................................................................................................... 8 Information.................................................................................................................................. 9 Miscellaneous.............................................................................................................................. 9 Work Currently Underway, in the Planning Stage, or Completed 10 Comprehensive Studies............... 10 Absolute Alcohol.......................... II Mixed Fuels................................... 14 Biogas............................................. 14 Pivotal Areas of Challenge 16 Technology..................................................................................................................................16 Environment and Health........................................................................................................ 16 Economy..................................................................................................................................... 17 Why Biobased Fuels? Every kind of combustion produces waste especially carbon dioxide, C02 . The products. Many of them are harmful to our amount of C02 in the atmosphere is environment and to our health. The constantly increasing, and many combustion engines of cars, buses and researchers believe that in time this can trucks produce large quantities of such mean large-scale and dramatic climatic undesirable substances as carbon anomalies all over the world. monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitric oxides Consequently, the Swedish and hydrocarbons. It is true that new and Government has determined that we must ’’cleaner” fuels, as well as moreenergy- reduce C02 emissions. But that will be efficient engines and the introduction of difficult to achieveas long as our vehicles catalytic converters, have improved the run on fossil fuels; in that case, there is no situation appreciably, even though a large other prospect than an increase of C02 in part of this environmental gain is negated the atmosphere. by increasing transportation, higher speeds, The solution may be biobased fuels derived heavier vehicles, and so on. Still, there is at from renewable raw materials, such as least one major exceptionto this progress: we have not yet come to terms with the Sulphur dioxide emissionof the so-called greenhouse gases, tons/year 10 000-1 The figures illustrate the emissions of nitric 9 000- oxides, hydrocarbons, sulphur dioxideand 8 000- carbon dioxidefrom road traffic. Emissions of 7 000- the first three have decreased and are expected to go on decreasing, while the 6 000- emission of carbon dioxide is increasing and is 5 000- expected tokeep on increasing. The 4 000- introduction of new alternatives (e.g. biobased fuels and electric/hybrid electric vehicles) may 2 000- possibly reverse the trend for carbon dioxide as well. (Source:Swedish National Road Administration 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Environmental Report 1993.) Nitric oxides and Hydrocarbons tons/year CaMMWMMmMMt «BBee**H8S3Sfc Carbon dioxide tons/year 200 000"i 20 000 000-i 180 000- 18 ooo ooo- 160 000 16 000 000 140 000 14 000 000 120 000 12 000 000- 100 000- 10 000 000 80 000- 8 000 000 60 000 6 000 000- 40 000 4 000 000- 20 000 2 000 000- 0-r----r-—r- 1980 1985 1988 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 4 wood products and grains. This would In December 1992, the executive mean that C02 is locked into a closed committee of KFB initiated a program for circuit: the same amount of C02 that is this activity. The aims of the program are released from combustionis absorbed by specified as follows: plants for their growth. The total amount of C02 does not increase. (Observe, however, □ to develop, test and assess technology that this presumes the use of biobased and systems for the use of alcohols as energy also during the transport, motor fuels, production and distribution of these fuels.) □ to encourage large producers and users ICFB’s Assignment to participate actively in development and The energy policy proposition (1990/9188) demonstration projects; prepared the foundation for the Parliamentary decision to allocate KFB □ to increase knowledge about the long­ (Swedish Transport and Communications term utility, cost and environmental Research Board) SEK 30 million per year potential of engine alcohols; for four years to support research and demonstration projects involving the use of □ to determine whether, and to what engine alcohols. Among other things, the extent, engine alcohols are ready to be Government’s proposal states the introduced on a large scale. following. The use of alcohol-based motor fuels KFB’s program focuses primarily on heavy has advantages from the point of view both vehicles because we judge that they of the environment and of national represent a major environmental impact. security. It is important to stimulate the Among the main tasks of KFB is to support development of technology for alternative the development of smoothly-functioning fuels and to conduct experiments with and environmentally-friendly public vehicles in urban areas to gain experience transportation. Hence the development of in handling and using alternative fuels. different kinds of buses is an important Ethanol, also appli­ cable to Biogas 5 ingredient in the program. diesel oil and gasoline is interesting as a Cooperation and co-financingwith solution in and of itself, since it means other authorities, researchers, producers introducing as much biobased engine and users of vehicles and fuels are alcohol fuel as possible into the propulsion prerequisites for implementing the pro­ system. The quickest way to achieve this is gram. A number of projects were begun with low-level admixture in diesel oil and/ with appropriations from other sources or gasoline. prior to the extant biofuel program, but That is why KFB’s current efforts also nevertheless provide results that can be involve fuel blends that include alcohol. employed in its evaluation. The challenge is to come up with mixed fuels that can be used in most of today’s - First, absolute alcohol.... and naturally, tomorrow’s - vehicles. KFB From the outset, efforts were directed is therefore conducting tests involving primarily in the direction of absolute different types of vehicles and fuel mixtu­ alcohols. The pointof departure was the res. environmental problems in urban areas, In order to achieve a vigorous and where propulsion with absolute alcohol meaningful introduction of mixed fuels, it offersthe greatest potential for the better­ will also be necessary to examine questions ment of both health and the environment. touching on both the production of fuels and the compositionof fuels, as well as ... then mixed fuels... various kinds of politicalincentives. However, it will take a long time fora technology that requires entirely new ... and biogas engines, for example, to have an effect. Yet another alternative fuel cropped up Mixed fuels, which can be used in today’s during the summer of 1993: methane gas engines, are thus interesting during a derived from biobased raw materials.
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