FLEXIFUEL – optimising fuel flexibility through high quality bio-oils

In the global transition from a fossil based energy system to a renewable based energy system, biomass plays a central role alongside wind, solar and geothermal energy. According to the IEA, bio-fuels in the transport sector will see a 10-fold increase globally by 2030, whereas electricity generation based on biomass will quadruple by that same year. Not included in this is the use of fossil crude for chemicals, which by all counts represents a significant market in the future. Although biomass is a global resource, it is highly diverse in nature and local availability, calling for technologies and end products optimized for particular feedstocks.
We propose to carry out joint research to further the availability of high quality bio-oils for transportation and energy use, by focussing on locally available feedstocks, their pretreatment; appropriate conversion technologies (catalytic liquefaction, gasification-to-syngas and fast pyrolysis); post-treatment of bio-crude; and end use applications for maximum impact in national energy systems.