Sustainable transportation is making great strides and bio-jet fuel via Fischer-Tropsch is coming on the scene. Electrification of the automotive and public transport sectors is reducing emissions and allowing increased use of renewables. This has not been the case for aviation until recently, as that industry has continued to consume vast quantities of fossil fuels and emits large amounts of carbon into our atmosphere. Commercial aviation requires highly energy dense fuel and propulsion systems that allow for long-range operation, and today’s electric drives and batteries just can’t compete with jet engines and jet fuel. Making flight more sustainable requires a different approach – replacing fossil-based jet fuel with bio-derived alternatives. Now, however, many routes to bio-jet fuel are being explored. There are constraints, including feedstock availability and poor fuel quality, and at present only a select few hold the potential to displace a significant portion of conventional jet fuel. Synthetic fuels produced from a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) based process is one of those exceptions as it can be made from nearly any carbon containing feedstock and the resulting fuel is in many ways superior to its petroleum derived counterparts. See: The Compelling Case For Biojet Fuel
Crude oil availability and prices mandate a look at shifting to non-petroleum sources as aviation fuel. The Fischer-Tropsch process uses a gas mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen which is converted into various liquid hydrocarbons and is providing a good alternative. These synthetic fuels produced from Fischer-Tropsch (FT) based processes can be made from nearly any carbon containing feedstock, and the resulting fuel is in many ways superior to its petroleum counterpart. Historically, the FT process has been challenged with high upfront capital cost, which is why commercial plants are very large; taking advantage of economies of scale. Fortunately, over the past couple of decades great strides have been made in reducing the economically viable scale of FT to a point where commercial plants are being built that match well with the logistics of biomass and refuse derived fuel (RDF). These include Fulcrum BioEnergy’s plant in Nevada and Red Rock Biofuel’s plant in Oregon. See Fischer Tropsch Expert.
Large renewable energy and biochemical consulting firms certainly have energy consultants working in the circular economy in the more common areas of renewable fuels, biomaterials, biomass and biomass power, biomaterials, biochemicals and biotechnology. They also have very specific green energy experts working in things like recycled plastics, railroad ties, plastic recycling, fuel additives, algae biofuel, ethanol gas, fermentation process, biodiesel fuel, organic synthesis, Fischer-Tropsch, alternative proteins, polypropylene recycling, renewable financial due diligence, alcohol fuels, biomass renewable energy, biocatalysis, microbial fermentation, bioethanol, plastic pyrolysis, FSMA compliance, and plastic waste.
Lee Enterprises Consulting is the world’s premier bioeconomy consulting group, with over 100 highly qualified experts serving in all these areas, including those that can assist with Bio-Jet Fuel via Fischer-Tropsch. Take a look at our experts and the services we provide. Most of our experts are also available to advise and serve as expert witnesses in bioeconomy litigation matters. For the larger projects, we specialize in putting together full service, interdisciplinary teams with one point of contact. Call us at 1+ (501) 833-8511 or email us for more information.
