| 06-11-2003 |
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| GAVE 2003: GAVe-mail international nr.10 |
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Novem GAVe-mail international [No. 10 - 2003]
This is the tenth edition of the 2003 Novem "GAVe-mail International".
Novem GAVe-mail International appears irregularly but at crucial moments. You can unsubscribe or subscribe per e-mail. The Novem GAVe-mail keeps you informed about activities and progress of the chain demonstration programme for Climate Neutral Gaseous and Liquid fuels. Novem (Netherlands Agency for Energy and the Environment) is responsible for this programme, and has been commissioned by several Dutch Ministries (Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment, Economic Affairs, and Transport, Public Works and Water Management). The GAVE programme aims to accelerate the market introduction of climate-neutral energy carriers in order to achieve a trend reversal of greenhouse gas emissions. |
Contents
1. Netherlands - Sufficient biomass to implement EC directive
2. New reports on the GAVE website
3. New projects on the GAVE website
4. European hydrogen platform
5. USA - DuPont and NREL to build biorefinery
6. USA - Ethanol from genetically modified corn
7. Agenda
1. Netherlands - Sufficient biomass (to 2005) to implement EC directive on biofuels
At the beginning of this year the Dutch ECOFYS research agency was commissioned by the GAVE programme to carry out a 'fact-finding study' into a wide range of aspects concerning biofuels. The main reason behind this was the recently approved EC biofuels directive, which defines certain percentages for biofuels (2% by the end of 2005 and 5.75% by the end of 2010).
This study was implemented under the strict supervision of a committee that included representatives from the oil industry, biofuels manufacturers, environmental organisations, the relevant Dutch ministries, and Novem. The committee set out a number of research questions concerning aspects such as potential, costs, environmental aspects, technology, international experience, macroeconomic impacts and future expectations of biofuels in the Netherlands.
The main conclusions were that the Netherlands has sufficient biomass potential to meet the 2005 guideline, but not enough to comply with the reference percentage for 2010. However, there is sufficient potential in Europe and/or other countries to supplement this amount. In spite of a number of important technical focus points, it looks as though there are no insurmountable technical reasons for not introducing biofuels into the Netherlands. Conventional biofuels can produce significant greenhouse gas emission reductions, though the costs are relatively high. However, in the medium and long term innovative biofuel routes should result in lower prices, which in turn will result in even greater greenhouse gas emission reductions.
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2. New reports on the GAVE website
- The GAVE/ADL study (published in 1999) produced a number of viable and attractive technological options for producing climate-neutral energy carriers, including the production of ethanol from lignocellulose-rich raw materials. However, the detailed analysis within the GAVE/ADL study did not include the so-called conventional bio-transport fuels such as ethanol from sugar and biodiesel from vegetable oil.
GAVE commissioned two separate studies (implemented by the research institutes ECN and ATO, plus Royal Nedalco) to take another 'closer look' at producing ethanol from lignocellulose-rich materials and conventional bio-transport fuels.
- Conventional Bio Transportation Fuels: an update, den Uil H., et al., 2003 was carried out in order to update existing knowledge on conventional bio-transport fuels. Data from recent publications (costs and environmental performance) was analysed and compared with the GAVE/ADL study. Developments concerning raw materials and conversion techniques were described, along with commercial activities in various countries and how these fuels will affect the Netherlands.
- The report Ligno Cellulosic Ethanol: a second opinion, den Uil H., et al., 2003 includes an overview of the current techniques available for producing ethanol from lignocellulose-rich materials. The most important technical bottlenecks are identified and recommendations defined for necessary improvements. The report also estimates when and how this technique might be utilised throughout the Netherlands, and which greenhouse gas emission reductions will result.
- Other new reports on the website include:
- Transport Technologies and Policies for Energy security and CO2 Reductions, IEA
- The Effect of Biodiesel Composition on Engine Emissions from a DDC Series 60 Diesel Engine, Graboski M.S., et al., February 2003
- NOx Solutions for Biodiesel, McCormick R.L., et al., February 2003
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3. New projects on the GAVE website
In the report on the project Biomass Integrated Fischer Tropsch, a consortium (consisting of Shell, VW, Rabobank, ECN, Ecofys, and led by SDE) concludes that BiG-FiT (Biomass Integrated Fischer Tropsch) liquids (diesel) can be considered as climate-neutral fuel (over 90% CO2 reduction). The liquids can be produced for around 39 dollar cents per litre. However, system optimisation may considerably reduce this price. The main bottleneck to realising the chain is the lack of large-scale gasification units. In 2002, the feasibility study into the BiG-FiT concept was financed by the GAVE programme, called BiG-FiT Prelude.
The VW fuel strategy focuses on Volkswagen's fuel strategy for the future. SUNFUEL, a Fischer Tropsch liquid, will play an important role in the medium term, according to VW. The German car manufacturer considers R&D efforts to be necessary for improving engine efficiency, the use of alternative fuels and the development of a CO2-neutral vehicle. R&D results have already led to the 3L Lupo and a demonstration 1L car. In the long term VW foresees vehicles being powered by hydrogen and fuel cells. However, in the short term, VW is focusing on the use of syngas fuel from fossil sources. In the medium term VW considers that fuel from biomass (e.g. SUNFUEL) will take up a large portion of the fuel pool. In addition to developments in fuels technology, engine technology also needs further development, ultimately merging Otto engine and diesel engine technology into a combined combustion system (CCS).
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4. European hydrogen platform
The European Commission plans to set up a technology platform for hydrogen and fuel cells and, as an initial step, a new commission was appointed on 16 September. This EC initiative is a direct result of the recommendations made by the High-Level Group on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, which concluded that European activities concerning hydrogen and fuel cells are very fragmented. Together with Member States the EU is now setting up a forum to define a collective focus for collaboration. Support for this has been received from both the Member States that have been consulted and from European politicians.
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5. USA - DuPont and NREL to build a biorefinery
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL - part of the Department of Energy) and DuPont plan to collectively design and build a pilot biorefinery that will process the complete corn plant - including the fibrous material in the stalks, husks, leaves, and the starchy material in the kernels. The corn kernels will be used to produce chemicals such as Sorona, while other parts of the plant will be converted into ethanol and electricity. This collaborative project will cost around 7.7 million dollars.
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6. USA - Ethanol from genetically modified corn
Monsanto, a biotechnology company is currently working with General Motors to grow genetically modified corn that will be used to produce ethanol. Monsanto is therefore exploring new markets and increasing its production to help the ethanol industry meet the growing demand for ethanol.
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7. Agenda
A number of events relevant to climate-neutral fuels are listed below. If you know of other meetings or events that may be relevant, please let us know by sending an e-mail to gave@novem.nl
21-23 Oct
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Sustainable Energy Expo, London, UK.
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2-4 Nov
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World Summit on Ethanol for Transportation, Quebec, Canada.
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5-7 Nov
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World Ethanol 2003, London, UK.
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6-7 Nov
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China/Asia Clean Fuels, Beijing, China.
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13-14 Nov
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European Legislation to Promote Bioenergy conference, Brussels, Belgium.
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18-19 Nov
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Sustainable Energy Asia, Singapore.
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20-23 Nov
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Bois Energy 2003, Cahors, France.
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24-26 Nov
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4th European Biofuels Forum, Berlin, Germany.
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26-28 Nov
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Current State of Fuel Ethanol Commercialisation, Denmark (IEA Task 39 Liquid Biofuels)
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8-10 Dec
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Australia Bioenergy Conference, Sydney, Australia.
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17-19 Feb 2004
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Zero Emissions Technologies, Queensland, Australia.
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1-3 March 2004
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POWER-GEN Renewable Energy, Las Vegas, USA.
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1-4 April 2004
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Bois Energie 2004, Lons le Saunier, France.
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26-29 April 2004
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Hydrogen Expo USA, Los Angeles, USA.
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10-14 May 2004
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2nd World Conference and Technology Exhibition on Biomass for Energy, Industry and Climate Protection, Rome, Italy.
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2-4 June 2004
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World Bioenergy Conference and Exhibition, Jonkoping, Sweden.
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27 June-2 July
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15th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Yokohama, Japan.
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28 Aug- 3 Sept
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World Renewable Energy Congress VIII, Denver, USA.
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5-9 Sept
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19th World Energy Congress and Exhibition, Sydney, Australia.
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GAVE on the Internet!
Information about the GAVE programme can be found on our website: www.gave.novem.org . Please inform your contacts about this facility. The website contains details of the programme and the results so far, and invites non-Dutch organisations to participate in project proposals concerning joint collaboration with Dutch organisations.
Please tell us about the various biofuels initiatives taken by you, or by other parties in your country. This information may be useful for Dutch organisations working in the same field. GAVE aims to connect these groups, so that we can all learn from each other's experience.
In the near future we would also like to include other knowledge networks and their working scope on the GAVE website, so that national and international parties can contact each other in their endeavours to create cleaner and greener fuels. However, we cannot achieve this without your help! Please tell us about your initiatives.
We hope that you appreciate this information service. Please send any reactions/comments or request to unsubscribe to gave@novem.nl.
Feel free to distribute this GAVe-mail to your contacts.
Kind regards from the GAVE team,
Novem
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