Modularized production of fuels and other value-added products from distributed, wasted, or stranded feedstocks

Abstract

Distributed, wasted, or stranded feedstocks, when converted and upgraded into fuels, could replace about 6% of the U.S. demand for liquid fuels, which is about 25% of the net import of petroleum by the United States. We review the current state of modular approaches for conversion of these feedstocks, including the technology and economics associated with processing carbon-containing waste and stranded, carbon-containing gas. The wide geographic distribution of the feedstocks will require technology that can be scaled down effectively and that can be manufactured, installed, operated and monitored in ways that gain economies of mass production rather than economies of throughput scaling. This article is categorized under: Energy Research & Innovation > Science and Materials Bioenergy > Systems and Infrastructure Energy Research & Innovation > Systems and Infrastructure.