From the Sugar Platform to Biofuels and Biochemicals
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From the Sugar Platform to biofuels and biochemicals Final report for the European Commission Directorate-General Energy N° ENER/C2/423-2012/SI2.673791 April 2015 V2.1 A consortium led by E4tech (UK) Ltd with Consorzio per la Ricerca e la Dimostrazione sulle Energie Rinnovabili (RE-CORD) and Stichting Dienst Landbouwkundig Onderzoek, Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR) | Strategic thinking in sustainable energy From the Sugar Platform to biofuels and biochemicals Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 6 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 11 1.1. Background ............................................................................................................................. 11 1.2. Objectives ............................................................................................................................... 12 1.3. Project scope ........................................................................................................................... 12 2. Mapping of the different possible pathways .................................................................................... 13 3. Assessment of technology development status ............................................................................... 25 4. Market size ........................................................................................................................................ 31 5. Case studies ....................................................................................................................................... 33 5.1. Selection criteria ..................................................................................................................... 33 5.2. Acrylic acid .............................................................................................................................. 34 5.3. Adipic acid ............................................................................................................................... 38 5.4. 1,4-Butanediol (BDO) .............................................................................................................. 43 5.5. Farnesene ................................................................................................................................ 47 5.6. 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid (FDCA) .......................................................................................... 51 5.7. Isobutene ................................................................................................................................ 54 5.8. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) ............................................................................................... 58 5.9. Polyethylene (PE) .................................................................................................................... 63 5.10. Polylactic acid .......................................................................................................................... 66 5.11. Succinic acid ............................................................................................................................ 72 5.12. Summary ................................................................................................................................. 75 6. Current European industry competitiveness .................................................................................... 78 6.1. Competiveness assessment criteria ........................................................................................ 78 6.2. Competing regions assessment .............................................................................................. 80 6.3. European competitiveness ..................................................................................................... 93 7. Assessment of technology opportunities and barriers ..................................................................... 96 7.1. Pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass ............................................................................... 96 7.2. Downstream conversion of sugars ....................................................................................... 102 From the Sugar Platform to biofuels and biochemicals 8. R&D gaps and industry needs ......................................................................................................... 107 8.1. Technical gaps in research .................................................................................................... 107 8.2. Non-technical barriers and gaps in support policy ............................................................... 111 Appendix A - Literature survey .................................................................................................................. 119 Appendix B - Assessment of suitable feedstocks ...................................................................................... 123 Appendix C - Product descriptions ............................................................................................................ 131 Appendix D - Potential impacts of lower crude oil prices ......................................................................... 143 Appendix E - Safety issues regarding the use of micro-organisms in biofuels processing ........................ 146 Appendix F - Development of criteria for assessing socio-economic impacts .......................................... 152 Appendix G - Glossary of acronyms ........................................................................................................... 154 Appendix H - References ........................................................................................................................... 159 From the Sugar Platform to biofuels and biochemicals Copyright notice: Copyright © 2015 European Union. All rights reserved. Certain parts are licensed under conditions to the EU. Disclaimer: The information and views set out in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Commission. The Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this study. Neither the Commission nor any person acting on the Commission's behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein. Authors: E4tech (UK) Ltd Richard Taylor, Lucy Nattrass, Geneviève Alberts, Paul Robson, Claire Chudziak, Ausilio Bauen Consorzio per la Ricerca e la Dimostrazione sulle Energie Rinnovabili (RE-CORD) Ilaria Marsili Libelli, Giulia Lotti, Matteo Prussi, Renato Nistri, David Chiaramonti Stichting Dienst Landbouwkundig Onderzoek, part of Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR) Ana López Contreras, Harriette Bos, Gerrit Eggink, Jan Springer, Rob Bakker, Rene van Ree Referencing: please reference this study as: E4tech, RE-CORD and WUR (2015) “From the Sugar Platform to biofuels and biochemicals”. Final report for the European Commission, contract No. ENER/C2/423-2012/SI2.673791 E4tech (UK) Ltd 83 Victoria Street London SW1H 0HW UK Tel: +44 20 3008 6140 Fax: +44 20 3008 6180 www.e4tech.com Incorporated in England and Wales, Company no. 4142898 Registered address: 60-62 Old London Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT2 6QZ, UK From the Sugar Platform to biofuels and biochemicals Abstract Numerous potential pathways to biofuels and biochemicals exist via the sugar platform1. This study uses literature surveys, market data and stakeholder input to provide a comprehensive evidence base for policymakers and industry – identifying the key benefits and development needs for the sugar platform. The study created a company database for 94 sugar-based products, with some already commercial, the majority at research/pilot stage, and only a few demonstration plants crossing the “valley of death”. Case studies describe the value proposition, market outlook and EU activity for ten value chains (acrylic, adipic & succinic acids, FDCA, BDO, farnesene, isobutene, PLA, PHAs and PE). Most can deliver significant greenhouse savings and drop-in (or improved) properties, but at an added cost to fossil alternatives. Whilst significant progress has been made, research barriers remain around lignocellulosic biomass fractionation, product separation energy, biological inhibition, chemical selectivity and monomer purity, plus improving whole chain process integration. An assessment of EU competitiveness highlights strengths in R&D, but a lack of strong commercial activity, due to the US, China and Brazil having more attractive feedstock and investment conditions. Further policy development, in particular for biochemicals, will be required to realise a competitive European sugar-based bioeconomy. 1 IEA Bioenergy Task 42 defines ‘platforms’ as “intermediate products from biomass feedstocks towards products or linkages between different biorefinery concepts or final products”. Platforms are at the heart of the biorefinery concept, and the most important feature in the classification of a biorefinery. There are numerous examples of platforms, such as oils, syngas, hydrogen, pulp, lignin and C6 sugars. Throughout this