Biomass gasification is the process of turning some variety of biomass into higher-value products. This is most often done by converting a material containing carbon (like coal, biomass, waste, petroleum coke, etc.) —into syngas. This syngas is then burned to produce electricity, or it is further processed to manufacture chemicals, fertilizers, liquid fuels, substitute natural gas (SNG), or hydrogen. A big benefit of gasification is that it can begin with some material that otherwise would have been disposed of, e.g. some type of biodegradable waste. Gasification has been used on a commercial scale worldwide for many years in refining, fertilizer, and chemical industries, and over the past three decades in generating electric power industry. Syngas can be burned directly in gas engines, used to produce methanol and hydrogen, or converted into a synthetic fuel via a process known as the Fischer-Tropsch process.
A gasification expert or gasification consultant is someone who has a background, education, and experience in this area. Gasification experts/consultants do many different things. Often they are called upon by investors trying to conduct due diligence on a project. They may assist in selecting the right equipment for a particular project, or help in the oversight of building a gasification plant. They might assist a gasification plant owner in ensuring that the plant runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible. In matters involving gasification-related litigation, the gasification consultant may serve as a gasification expert witness to and assist the attorneys with better understanding the exact gasification issues involved and/or may testify in court about the gasification-related matters.
Large renewable energy and biochemical consulting firms certainly have experts in biotechnologies like biomass gasification, as well as the more common areas like bio and renewable fuels, biomass and biomass power, feedstocks, biomaterials, and biochemicals. These larger groups will also have expertise in other technologies like agitation systems, anaerobic digestion, beverage fermentation, bio-oil extraction, bioreactors, carbon capture, carbon storage, carbonization, catalysis, cellulosic ethanol, cleantech, combined heat and power, direct combustion, enzyme technologies, fermentation, Fischer-Tropsch, gasification, genetic engineering, hydrothermal, nanotechnology, organosynthesis, power generation, pyrolysis, renewable technology due diligence, synthetic biology, thermochemical conversion, torrefaction, water treatment, and waste management.
With over 150 consultants worldwide, Lee Enterprises Consulting has the diverse experts and geographical reach to assist in virtually any bioeconomy project. Our highly qualified teams bring a unique integration of technical, scientific, regulatory, and hands-on experience to any project. 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. See a video about LEC here. Call us at 1+ (501) 833-8511 or email us for more information.