Meeting sustainable aviation fuel policy targets through first generation corn biorefineries. (1st February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Batten, Rahamim; Galant, Or; Karanjikar, Mukund; Spatari, Sabrina
• Is Part Of: Fuel. Volume 333(2023)Part 1
• Publication Date: 2023-02-01
• Subjects: AFCI Average life cycle Fuel Carbon Intensity -- ATJ Alcohol-to-Jet -- CCS Carbon Capture and Storage -- CORSIA Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International -- DDGS Distiller Dry Grain with Solubles -- DMCO 1, 4-dimethylcyclooctane -- DMCOD 1, 6-dimethyl-1, 5-cyclooctadiene -- FS Fischer Tropsch -- GHG Greenhouse Gas -- GWP Global Warming Potential -- HEFA Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids -- iLUC International Land Use Change -- IPPC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -- LCA Life Cycle Assessment -- LCI Life Cycle Inventory -- LCIA Life Cycle Impact Assessment -- LUC Land Use Change -- MRO Midwest Reliability Organization -- RFS Renewable Fuel Standard -- RJF Renewable Jet Fuel -- SAF Sustainable Aviation Fuel; Sustainable aviation fuel -- Life cycle assessment -- GHG emissions -- Low carbon fuels -- Biorefinery -- Infrastructure compatible fuel -- Carbon capture and storage; Fuel -- Periodicals; Coal -- Periodicals; Coal; Fuel; Periodicals; 662.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2022.126294
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-2361

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Promising corn-to-aviation fuel GHG emission LCA presented. Pathway opportunity to meet sustainable aviation fuel policy targets. CCS and agricultural best management needed to mitigate induced LUC. Average fuel carbon intensity (AFCI) ranges from 5 to 36 gCO2 e/MJ fuel. Retrofitting 1st generation bio-refineries can benefit low C aviation fuel markets. Abstract: This paper investigates options to produce low carbon and renewable aviation fuel through existing commercial first generation biorefineries, which could be strategic given the rapid growth of the electric vehicle market for personal mobility. We evaluate the environmental impact of retrofitting a first generation biorefinery to produce aviation fuel through chemical process simulation. The analysis investigates the potential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and displacing fossil fuel (petroleum-based jet kerosene) in the aviation fuel industry through using corn feedstocks in dry grind biorefineries to convert sugars to 1, 4-dimethylcyclooctane (DMCO), which qualifies as renewable jet-A fuel blend and is infrastructure compatible. The average life cycle GHG emissions for a baseline case and a scenario with carbon capture and storage (CCS) of fermentative CO2 are 36 and 5 g CO2 e/MJ DMCO, respectively. Investment in CCS at the biorefinery and adoption of crop best management practices on farms are essential for mitigating the risks of induced land use change GHG emissions for existing corn biorefineries. DMCO as a low-carbon aviation fuel could be a strategic fuel product for retrofitting existing corn dry grind facilities. For aviation fuel supply, corn dry grind facilities could displace about 12 % of jet fuel demand in the near term, which would meet sustainable aviation fuel policy targets. We conclude that corn-to-DMCO shows promise for near-term low-carbon fuel markets in the aviation industry and as a bridge to developing biomass-based jet fuel in the future.