Heating biomass in the absence of oxygen produces char, volatile gases, and a fraction (up to 70 per cent) of oil in a process known as pyrolysis. Pyrolysis oil from sustainable sources of biomass has the potential to produce low-cost fuels with low system greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions -- if it can be integrated into a conventional oil refinery.
However, the properties of the oil produced from current pyrolysis processes are far from suitable for integration. From Holland to Chile organisations are working on this area. Ongoing projects include oil groups such as ConocoPhilips of the US and its Brazilian counterpart Petrobras, which are involved in research, while utilities such as RWE and industrial groups such as Linde are taking stakes in companies or setting up joint ventures. In the UK, Ethos Recycling is set to use the technology at its waste-to-energy plant in Avonmouth. To further accelerate the technology towards commercialisation the Carbon Trust is working with leading academics, SMEs, and multinationals on a new pyrolysis initiative, which aims to produce oil with the properties required for integration into conventional refineries.
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