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Assessing the future of second-generation bioethanol by 2030 : a techno-economic assessment integrating technology learning curves

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Abstract
Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant source of renewable biomass and is seen as a high-potential replacement for petroleum-based resources. The conversion technologies to advanced biofuels are still at a low maturity level, thus allowing for future cost reductions through technological learning. This fact is barely considered in state-of-the-art techno-economic assessments and a structured approach to account for technological learning in techno-economic assessments is needed. In this study, a framework for techno-economic assessments of advanced biofuels, integrating learning curves, is proposed. As a validation of this framework, the economic feasibility of the valorization of corn stover for the production of second-generation bioethanol in Belgium is studied. Process flowsheet simulations in Aspen Plus are developed, with an emphasis on the comparison of four different pretreatment technologies and two plant capacities at 156 dry kt biomass/y and 667 dry kt/y. The dilute acid pretreatment model of the large-scale biorefinery required the lowest minimum learning rate to reach an economically feasible biorefinery by 2030, being 3.9%, almost half as the one calculated for the smaller scale plant. This learning rate seems to be achievable based on learning rates commonly estimated in literature. We conclude that there is a potential for advanced ethanol production in Belgium under the current state of technology for large-scale biorefineries, which require additional biomass imports, when accounting for future cost reductions through learning.
Keywords
Lignocellulosic biomass, Corn stover, Advanced biofuels, Pretreatment, Learning rate, CELLULOSIC ETHANOL, PRODUCTION COSTS, CORN STOVER, PRETREATMENT, BIOFUELS, BIOMASS, ACID

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MLA
Vasilakou, Konstantina, et al. “Assessing the Future of Second-Generation Bioethanol by 2030 : A Techno-Economic Assessment Integrating Technology Learning Curves.” APPLIED ENERGY, vol. 344, 2023, doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.121263.
APA
Vasilakou, K., Nimmegeers, P., Thomassen, G., Billen, P., & Van Passel, S. (2023). Assessing the future of second-generation bioethanol by 2030 : a techno-economic assessment integrating technology learning curves. APPLIED ENERGY, 344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.121263
Chicago author-date
Vasilakou, Konstantina, Philippe Nimmegeers, Gwenny Thomassen, Pieter Billen, and Steven Van Passel. 2023. “Assessing the Future of Second-Generation Bioethanol by 2030 : A Techno-Economic Assessment Integrating Technology Learning Curves.” APPLIED ENERGY 344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.121263.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Vasilakou, Konstantina, Philippe Nimmegeers, Gwenny Thomassen, Pieter Billen, and Steven Van Passel. 2023. “Assessing the Future of Second-Generation Bioethanol by 2030 : A Techno-Economic Assessment Integrating Technology Learning Curves.” APPLIED ENERGY 344. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.121263.
Vancouver
1.
Vasilakou K, Nimmegeers P, Thomassen G, Billen P, Van Passel S. Assessing the future of second-generation bioethanol by 2030 : a techno-economic assessment integrating technology learning curves. APPLIED ENERGY. 2023;344.
IEEE
[1]
K. Vasilakou, P. Nimmegeers, G. Thomassen, P. Billen, and S. Van Passel, “Assessing the future of second-generation bioethanol by 2030 : a techno-economic assessment integrating technology learning curves,” APPLIED ENERGY, vol. 344, 2023.
@article{01H16A71RXSK1VW6KSGR30BZ8S,
  abstract     = {{Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant source of renewable biomass and is seen as a high-potential replacement for petroleum-based resources. The conversion technologies to advanced biofuels are still at a low maturity level, thus allowing for future cost reductions through technological learning. This fact is barely considered in state-of-the-art techno-economic assessments and a structured approach to account for technological learning in techno-economic assessments is needed. In this study, a framework for techno-economic assessments of advanced biofuels, integrating learning curves, is proposed. As a validation of this framework, the economic feasibility of the valorization of corn stover for the production of second-generation bioethanol in Belgium is studied. Process flowsheet simulations in Aspen Plus are developed, with an emphasis on the comparison of four different pretreatment technologies and two plant capacities at 156 dry kt biomass/y and 667 dry
kt/y. The dilute acid pretreatment model of the large-scale biorefinery required the lowest minimum learning rate to reach an economically feasible biorefinery by 2030, being 3.9%, almost half as the one calculated for the smaller scale plant. This learning rate seems to be achievable based on learning rates commonly estimated in literature. We conclude that there is a potential for advanced ethanol production in Belgium under the current state of technology for large-scale biorefineries, which require additional biomass imports, when accounting for future cost reductions through learning.}},
  articleno    = {{121263}},
  author       = {{Vasilakou, Konstantina and Nimmegeers, Philippe and Thomassen, Gwenny and Billen, Pieter and Van Passel, Steven}},
  issn         = {{0306-2619}},
  journal      = {{APPLIED ENERGY}},
  keywords     = {{Lignocellulosic biomass,Corn stover,Advanced biofuels,Pretreatment,Learning rate,CELLULOSIC ETHANOL,PRODUCTION COSTS,CORN STOVER,PRETREATMENT,BIOFUELS,BIOMASS,ACID}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{15}},
  title        = {{Assessing the future of second-generation bioethanol by 2030 : a techno-economic assessment integrating technology learning curves}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.121263}},
  volume       = {{344}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}

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