Title:
Variations in Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Intensity of Hydroprocessed Renewable Jet (HRJ) Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by Trygliceride Composition of Vegetable Oil Feedstocks
Author(s):
Mannion, L., Bell, A., Watson-Murphy, T., Kelly, M., Ghaani, M.R., Dooley, S.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
Emissions associated with fuel production are often the largest contributor to well-to-tank emissions in the life cycle assessment (LCA) of synthesized fuels. This work determines the greenhouse gas intensity of producing hydroprocessed renewable jet (HRJ) sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) from three different vegetable oils. This work calculates fuel production emissions by a mass and energy conserved reaction mechanism, where the feedstocks are represented by triglyceride composition. The reaction mechanism describes the conversion of triglycerides to straight chain alkanes, iso-alkanes, and other products. Energy and hydrogen are consumed in these processes, which produces emissions. The energy and hydrogen required for conversion are calculated to give the total production emissions of jatropha, soybean, and palm oil derived SAF in gCO2e/MJSAF. Little variability in HRJ production emissions is observed when vegetable oil feedstock is changed. An analysis of the model’s production parameters shows the most sensitive values to overall greenhouse gas intensity. The hydrogen emission factor was determined to be most sensitive, followed by the emission factor of energy production. This shows the main contributor to HRJ production emissions is the measure of sustainability in both energy and hydrogen supply. Therefore, to further decarbonize aviation, cleaner means of synthesized fuel production is required.
Keywords:
biorefinery, energy balance, mass balance, modelling, vegetable oil, life cycle assessment (LCA)
Topic:
Biomass, Bio-Based Products and Bioenergy Integration
Subtopic:
Biomass use in biorefineries
Event:
31st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
3CV.6.20
Pages:
555 - 559
ISBN:
978-88-89407-23-3
Paper DOI:
10.5071/31stEUBCE2023-3CV.6.20
Price:
FREE
