Paper details

Title:

Conceptual Cost of an Integrated Micro-algal Biomass-to-Liquids Facility

Author(s):

Brink, J., Marx, S.

Document(s):

Abstract:

An order­of­magnitude cost estimate was conducted on a new integrated biomass­to­liquids (BtL) process that produces 2.6 million litres of biodiesel per year from micro­algal biomass harvested from the Hartbeespoort Dam. The total capital cost of the new BtL facility was estimated at $10.4 million or $19/bbl of biodiesel. The most expensive part of the new BtL facility is the extraction unit to produce micro­algal oils through thermochemical liquefaction, which contributed over 44% of the total capital cost. The biodiesel production unit contributed 37% of the total capital cost. Harvesting costs contributed only 19% of the total BtL capital cost, compared to 20­30% for other BtL harvesting processes used world­wide. The total annual operating cost of the new BtL facility was estimated at $2.5 million per year or $117/bbl. The largest contributor to the operating cost is the extraction unit, with 42% of the total operating cost. The biodiesel unit contributed 40% of the total operating cost. Harvesting costs contributed only 18% of the total operating cost of the BtL process. The most probable lifecycle cost of the new BtL facility was estimated at $136/bbl.

Keywords:

biodiesel, biomass to liquid (BtL), microalgae

Topic:

Biomass Resources

Subtopic:

Algae and novel crops

Event:

19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

VP1.4.6

Pages:

797 - 799

ISBN-13:

978-88-89407-55-4

ISBN-10:

88-89407-55-7

Paper DOI:

10.5071/19thEUBCE2011-VP1.4.6

Price:

FREE