Technoeconomic analysis of renewable aviation fuel from microalgae, <i>Pongamia pinnata</i>, and sugarcane

TLDR

Technoeconomic analysis of renewable aviation fuels has received limited attention despite growing global interest. The study presents three process models for producing aviation fuel from microalgae, Pongamia pinnata seeds, and sugarcane molasses. The authors developed three open‑access process models, deposited on a wiki, for producing aviation fuel from microalgae, Pongamia seeds, and sugarcane molasses. The analysis shows that biorefineries using microalgae, Pongamia seeds, and sugarcane could compete with crude oil at $1343, $374, and $301 per barrel, respectively, and sensitivity analyses suggest that future technological and market advances could reduce these costs to $385, $255, and $168 per barrel. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract

Abstract Technoeconomic analysis of renewable aviation fuels has not been widely considered, despite the increasing global attention that the field has received. We present three process models for production of aviation‐fuel from microalgae, Pongamia pinnata seeds and sugarcane molasses. The models and assumptions have been deposited on a wiki ( http://qsafi.aibn.uq.edu.au ) and are open and accessible to the community. Based on currently available long‐term reputable technological data, this analysis indicates that the biorefineries processing the microalgae, Pongamia seeds, and sugarcane feedstocks would be competitive with crude oil at $1343, $374, and $301/bbl, respectively. Sensitivity analyses of the major economic drivers suggest technological and market developments that would bring the corresponding figures down to $385, $255, and $168/bbl. The dynamic nature of the freely accessible models will allow the community to track progress toward economic competitiveness of aviation fuels from these renewable feedstocks. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd