From agricultural (by-)products to jet fuels: Carbon footprint and economic performance

Abstract

This research assesses the well-to-tank (WTT) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and economic performance of an innovative bio-jet fuel via acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation. Dutch potato by-products from the food processing industry and sugar beets are explored as potential feedstocks. Four product systems differentiated by feedstocks, logistics and centralized/decentralized fermenters are investigated. For both feedstocks, it is found that a centralized large-scale fermentation is preferable to decentralized small-scale fermentation (25–30% less expensive and 5% lower WTT emissions). Once commercialization is reached, the cost and carbon performance of this novel bio-jet fuel could be similar to that of other alcohol-to-jet fuels. Depending on the feedstock and configuration considered, the GHG emission mitigation potential of this novel jet-fuel was estimated between 41% and 52%. To meet the EU RED II 65% GHG reduction criterion, possible options could be using low carbon-intensive processing energy and hydrogen or storing permanently biogenic carbon dioxide from fermentation.