Feasibility Study

FEASIBILITY STUDY Name:             Grade Course: Tutor’s Name: (29 July 2011) Feasibility Study of Sustainable Transport Fuels from Local Woodland for East Sussex Most ethanol in some parts of the world like in Brazil is being sold in a blended fuel comprising of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. The markets for the blends fell in 2001, by the time the ethanol rack prices started rising at a rate that is faster as compared to gasoline rack prices. However, since 2002, the products share market has been raising due to: bio-fuel availability, pump’s prices as well as strong demands. The number of petrol stations offering blended fuels has been in the rise since 2002, increasing the availability of ethanol blended fuels. Concerning the issue of pump prices, ethanol blended fuel pumps’ prices have become much favorable as compared to regular unleaded gasoline pump prices when crude oil prices were increasing. There have been upsurges in interest of using Biofuels for transport for many reasons. For instance, the transport sector of UK mainly depends on oil, whose reserves are located in politically volatile regions, so, the process of diversifying into renewable alternatives makes strategic senses. In addition, the directives given by EU concerning the issue of Biofuels has presented Biofuels levels that ought to be blended with petrol as well as diesel. As a result, the UK government has to make decide on ways of adhering to this directive, and sis expected to consult on the same issue. Putting environmental issues into consideration, Biofuels have the ability of offering prospects of lower carbon emission according to well-to-wheel grounds. Both agricultural interests, local authorities along with rural communities are much concerned with Biofuels’ potentiality in sustaining local economies. Last but not least, motorists already have the opportunity of buying blended bio-diesel along with Bio-petrol in some regions in UK. Such like products are being promoted as they are environmentally friendly as a compared regular petrol and diesel. Generally, the benefits of devoting big tracts of countryside to grow oilseeds to be used in the production of Bio-Diesel, or even grains like wheat, beat, woody crops among others to be used in the production of bio-ethanol are still questionable. Apart from emission reduction, there is still issue concerning the use of pesticides, compaction of soils as well as biodiversity. However, well managed local wood lands can effectively produce liquid fuels to be used in transport. According Fuelling Road Transport: Implication for Energy Policy report, there are advantages from using Bio-Petrol and Bio-ethanol from annual crop production to take over from oil based fuels. But the studies have proved that, “using woody biomass for energy could give more significant carbon benefits. The authors suggest that 25% of UK agricultural land planted with indigenous wood crops converted to methanol, ethanol or hydrogen could in the long term satisfy most, or even all, UK road transport fuel demand. A more likely scenario is that Biofuels will be imported, but that there will be some locally-grown contribution to the UK energy mix,” (Eyre, Fergusson & Mills, 2002). The main idea of coming up with sustainable transport fuels in East Sussex is aiming at restarting the management of some currently unmanaged woodland. In one way or the other, this will lead to rural development along with biodiversity advantages apart from reduced carbon emissions produced from local road transport. There will be conversion of forest products into industrial alcohols which will then be blended with petrol then used applied in the current car fleet. Just like any other fuel from forest products which are renewable, this kind of fuel will also be will reduce carbon emissions resulting from road transport. It will also lead to environmental, economic as well as social benefits to the area if proved viable. K, there is no such plant existing, hence, there is the possibility of it being the first one, hence enjoying the advantages of being the first mover. This will also lead to the creation of high tech jobs together with industries in the region, which could serve other industries to build in U.K. going with the experience that has been experienced in other countries, 5.5 farming jobs are estimated to be created for every 1000 tones of bio-ethanol. Concerning the issue of engine spark ignition, there are considerable international experience. For instance, Brazil has been having fuel industries using industrial alcohol, and developing markets are now found in Europe, USA as well as Australia. most of the cars if not all, produced by large car manufacturing companies, and are running on UK roads, have the ability of using petrol with low blends of industrial alcohol without having any effect on warranties. Though Bio-ethanol has markets are globally, but the feedstock are usually rapeseed, sugar beet and similar groups. Avery large percentage of East Sussex woodlands is no longer under commercial management as they are no longer economically viable. But the reality is: if managed sustainably, such lands have high biodiversity, hence more economically friendly. In this project, there is assumption that the issue of creating extra markets for forestry products will bring local woodland back into its previous active management. There are areas particularly in the Northern and Western UK producing considerable amounts of softwoods, hence are very alert to the possibilities of producing Bio-fuel. Low transport costs have a chance of justifying the long distance transportation of biomass for conversion in high demand regions, or even closer to existing refinery capacities. Technology Issues There are easy ways of converting alcohol to be used as fuel in spark ignition engines when blended with petrol. Considerable experience can be copied from Brazil, especially in 85% alcohol blend. For blends to go beyond 20%, engine modification is a must. However, modern cars have the ability of utilizing 10% without any problem as a result of it. The success of introducing new fuels on the market depends much on technical problems accompanied the fuel. If no technical problem, then the process will succeed, but if technical problems exist, then there is failure possibility. As a result, it is advisable to use 5%, which falls under the current specifications for standard petrol. In addition, most manufactures recommend the use of such blends; hence, it will not invalidate their warranties. There are possibilities of increasing the blend rates, but this depends on technical and client experience gain. Ways of producing industrial alcohols from agricultural and forestry crops are many. The best thing to note is that, all methods have advantages and disadvantages. As a result, the decision upon which technology to use depends on the location, type of feedstock, as well as market conditions. However, the main technologies that are being employed in different places are: “lignocellulosic / enzyme-based system and gasification of the wood to SYNGAS, then catalytic conversion to bio-ethanol using the Fisher-Tropsch process,” (Inslee, 2007). Pyrolysis processes also exist, but this seem to be more of experimental stages as none of them has been demonstrated successfully on large scale. Examples of similar uses globally include: gasification of coal as well as catalytic conversion to fuels has been successfully demonstrated in some parts of the world like in South Africa. However, if competing technologies exist, opinions might vary upon which one will ultimately be effective. Opinions might also vary upon which practical timescale for enzyme-based commercial operations to be employed. In this opinion, the enzyme production costs have to be considered, as they will be produced at commercial costs. On the other hand, feedback flexibility has also been an area of dispute in enzyme based plants. Based on those proposing competing technologies, propose that different wood varieties like poplar and willow, both having different lignin level cant be dealt with lignocellulosic plant simultaneously, (Goettemoeller, 2007). This is because, different enzyme make-ups are required. Though this is a view that is not held universally, but if is real, then it present a very big challenge on those plants depending on a variety of wood, hence limiting it to monoculture plantations. Woodland in East Sussex contains mixed trees; as a result, without expensive sorting before using, it will be difficult for any plant which...