DOE: Computational models can accelerate and scale up biomass conversion

Researchers at NREL discuss computational models for bioconversion processes in the Energy Systems Integration Facility in Golden, Colorado. Photo by Joe DelNero / NREL.

March 22, 2024

BY U.S. Department of Energy

Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Computational Science Center are hard at work enabling the conversion of biomass to fuels and products at industrial scale. Computational tools can model biomass conversion at scales ranging from small lab beakers to biorefineries, which can help accelerate and de-risk the newest technology developments.

Recent computational studies in biomass conversion have made use of funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Bioenergy Technologies Office and high-performance computing resources at NREL to investigate and solve complex conversion challenges, such as producing sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).

Three of NREL’s ongoing advanced computing projects include:

Advertisement

  • Predicting energy requirements and mechanical failure when feeding solid biomass into a reactor, critical aspects that govern the operation of an entire biomass conversion plant.
  • Identifying an industrial-scale pathway to convert biomass to 2,3-butanediol, an important intermediate for downstream production of SAF and chemical products.
  • Harnessing computational tools that link simulated conversion steps to build a virtual biorefinery, thus capturing the entire process of biomass conversion from feedstock to fuel.

Learn more about these BETO-funded projects and how NREL is using computational modeling to enable pathways to sustainable biofuels.

 

Advertisement

Related Stories

Virgin Australia and Boeing on May 22 released a report by Pollination on the challenges and opportunities of an International Book and Claim system for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) accounting.

Read More

The U.S. House of Representatives early on May 22 narrowly passed a reconciliation bill that includes provisions updating and extending the 45Z clean fuel production tax credit. The bill, H.R. 1, will now be considered by the U.S. Senate.

Read More

Luxury North Dakota FBO, Overland Aviation—together with leading independent fuel supplier, Avfuel Corp.— on May 19 announced it accepted a 8,000-gallon delivery of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on May 12.

Read More

Neste and FedEx, the world’s largest express cargo airline, have agreed on the supply of 8,800 metric tons (more than 3 million gallons) of blended Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel to FedEx at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Read More

A bill to formally adopt a revenue certainty mechanism to support the production of SAF was introduced in the U.K. Parliament on May 14. The proposed scheme is in the form of a guaranteed strike price.

Read More

Upcoming Events

Sign up for our e-newsletter!

Advertisement

Advertisement