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Biomethane in the transport sector-An appraisal of the forgotten option

Åhman, Max LU (2010) In Energy Policy 38(1). p.208-217
Abstract
The last 20 years efforts to find a long-term and large-scale biofuel alternative to petrol and diesel for the transport sector have been intensified with a focus on liquid biofuels, such as ethanol, methanol and Fischer-Tropsh diesel derived from wood. The large-scale production of biomethane has so far largely been overlooked in comparative studies that focus on the long-term renewable options. The aim of this article fills this gap and to provide a broad and systematic assessment of the future potential of biomethane compared to other biofuels. In order to become a large-scale option, biomethane production from woody biomass via gasification needs to be developed and commercialized. However, biomethane exhibits a clear development path... (More)
The last 20 years efforts to find a long-term and large-scale biofuel alternative to petrol and diesel for the transport sector have been intensified with a focus on liquid biofuels, such as ethanol, methanol and Fischer-Tropsh diesel derived from wood. The large-scale production of biomethane has so far largely been overlooked in comparative studies that focus on the long-term renewable options. The aim of this article fills this gap and to provide a broad and systematic assessment of the future potential of biomethane compared to other biofuels. In order to become a large-scale option, biomethane production from woody biomass via gasification needs to be developed and commercialized. However, biomethane exhibits a clear development path with relatively low financial and technical risks starting with local solutions utilizing wet biomass resources towards medium and eventually large-scale gasification with economics similar to liquid second generation biofuels. The disadvantage of being a gaseous fuel is not insurmountable and can furthermore be relaxed by the integration and dual-use of the existing distribution system for natural gas. This assessment concludes that more emphasize should be given to biomethane as a large-scale option given the opportunity to use woody biomass from gasification. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (Less)
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author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Biomethane, Biofuels, Assessment
in
Energy Policy
volume
38
issue
1
pages
208 - 217
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000273081700022
  • scopus:71649107594
ISSN
1873-6777
DOI
10.1016/j.enpol.2009.09.007
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3393016c-1155-4c3e-9281-8413b37d2184 (old id 1533787)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:06:58
date last changed
2022-03-21 22:16:48
@article{3393016c-1155-4c3e-9281-8413b37d2184,
  abstract     = {{The last 20 years efforts to find a long-term and large-scale biofuel alternative to petrol and diesel for the transport sector have been intensified with a focus on liquid biofuels, such as ethanol, methanol and Fischer-Tropsh diesel derived from wood. The large-scale production of biomethane has so far largely been overlooked in comparative studies that focus on the long-term renewable options. The aim of this article fills this gap and to provide a broad and systematic assessment of the future potential of biomethane compared to other biofuels. In order to become a large-scale option, biomethane production from woody biomass via gasification needs to be developed and commercialized. However, biomethane exhibits a clear development path with relatively low financial and technical risks starting with local solutions utilizing wet biomass resources towards medium and eventually large-scale gasification with economics similar to liquid second generation biofuels. The disadvantage of being a gaseous fuel is not insurmountable and can furthermore be relaxed by the integration and dual-use of the existing distribution system for natural gas. This assessment concludes that more emphasize should be given to biomethane as a large-scale option given the opportunity to use woody biomass from gasification. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}},
  author       = {{Åhman, Max}},
  issn         = {{1873-6777}},
  keywords     = {{Biomethane; Biofuels; Assessment}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{208--217}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Energy Policy}},
  title        = {{Biomethane in the transport sector-An appraisal of the forgotten option}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2009.09.007}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.enpol.2009.09.007}},
  volume       = {{38}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}