SUSTOIL Project Launch

[Mark]

From the Green Chemistry Network:

SUSTOIL
A new major European project on developing advanced Biorefinery schemes for integration into existing oil production/transesterification plants.

Sustoil proposes to look at all stages of the biodiesel supply chain and gathered information that will allow the identification of the relevant priority actions to be taken in the framework of sustainable development of oil crop biorefinery concepts. To achieve this, a large multidisciplinary consortium of 22 partners (12 research institutions and 10 industrial organisations of which 9 are SMEs) in 10 EU countries has been assembled, which will run for two years from June 2008.

An ambitious and achievable vision for 2030 is that up to 25% of the EU’s transport fuel needs could be met by clean and CO2-efficient biofuel. To achieve this, it will be necessary to promote the transition towards “second generation biofuels” (e.g. lignocellulosic ethanol, syngas gas based fuels, pyrolysis oil based biofuels) but also support the implementation of currently available biofuels including biodiesel via integrated production of energy and other added-value products through biorefineries.

The aim of Sustoil is to develop advanced biorefinery schemes to convert whole EU oil-rich crops (rapeseed, olive and sunflower) into energy (fuels, power and heat), food and bioproducts (chemicals and/or materials) making optimal uses of the side streams generated during farming/harvesting, primary processing (e.g. oil extraction and refining) and secondary processing (e.g. transesterification). This will be achieved by bringing together the appropriate skills in Europe so as to create a critical mass of expertise necessary to develop the Biorefinery schemes. Sustoil will integrate the expertise of a number of Project Partners with the expertise of an Advisory Board composed of experts from the EU, US and beyond. Economic, social and environmental costs benefits of optimal integrated schemes will be assessed and main technological challenges/ knowledge gaps will be identified, resulting in recommendations of key activities for future collaborative projects. Sustoil will disseminate the results of the action via the media, a dedicated website (www.sustoil.org) and the internationally recognised “Renewable Resources and Biorefinery” conference series.

Sustoil Updates & Further information:
Further information on Sustoil and its collaborators can be found on www.sustoil.org.
We would also like visitors to complete the visitor registration form on the website so we can keep people updated on workshops, seminars and newsletters. For further information contact Dr Abbas Kazmi, ak584@york.ac.uk, +44 (0) 1904 434549.

[adam2]

Biofuels certainly have a part to play, but in many cases (not all) displace food crops which will limit the amount that can be grown.

If liquid fuels are needed for transport this could be a viable option, but only for limited essiential transport, not the amount we use now.

I cant imagine liquid biofuels being viable for heating or electric power generation (except for limited short term or emergeny use)
Solar thermal, solar PV, utility scale wind power, hydroelectric power, and coppice wood would appear to be cheaper and simpler, and dont generally displace food crops.

A well insulated home does not need much heating, and dependant on the area, wood or renewably generated grid electricity appear more viable than oil (fossil or bio derived)