ADVANCED BIO-BASED REFINERY INTERMEDIATES

ongoing

The ABATE project aims to upscale and demonstrate in an industrial relevant scale a complete sustainable value chain based on the integration of thermochemical and biochemical technologies for the valorization of lignocellulosic residual and non-food/feed biomass into cost-competitive, carbon-neutral Advanced Bio-based intermediATEs (ABATEs) to directly substitute fossil hydrocarbons in conventional oil refineries. The technology was validated in TRL5 via a Horizon 2020 project (BioMates), which involved a two-step valorization of lignocellulosic biomass. In ABATE, residual lignocellulosic biomass is firstly converted into fast pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO) and bio-char. CO2 from the FPBO production will be sequestrated and converted into methanol, enabling the mitigation of GHG emissions of the pyrolysis step as well as side-production of green methanol. Secondly, the FPBO is stabilized into a high-quality advanced bio-based intermediate, which can be directly fed in conventional refinery plants, enabling the direct decarbonization of the refining sector as well as of the transportation fuels and chemicals. The stabilization will be performed via a single hydroprocessing step which incorporates several innovation systems and designs (i.e. a novel catalytic system abiding to FPBO acidity and solids content, optimal energy integration, as well as its integration with green H2 and a biochemical CCU unit). The ABATE end use will be demonstrated via co-feeding with refinery intermediates, rendering hybrid marine and aviation transport fuels, as well as feasibility and business plans. ABATE technology may satisfy over 55% and 5% of the EU renewable marine and aviation fuels demand by 2035, respectively. The ABATE project aims to scale-up and intensify the technology to reach 90%-120% GHG emission reduction (according to RED) in industrial scale by optimized processes and their integration with RES components (i.e. green H2) minimizing the use of fossil energy inputs.