Jamaica Biofuels Report - Ministry of Energy

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Each technology has advantages and disadvantages. The biochemical technology requirescostly cellulase enzymes and fermentation of two classes of sugars: (a) 6-carbon sugarsconsisting primarily of glucose derived from cellulose and (b) 5-carbon sugars consistingprimarily of xylose derived from hemicellulose. Moreover, lignin cannot be utilized for ethanolproduction and is instead used as low-grade fuel in the boilers. On the positive side,fermentative microorganisms convert the sugars to almost exclusively ethanol.The thermochemical technology has the advantage of using well-established coal gasificationand Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) processes, although modifications are needed to adapt them to thepeculiarities of biomass. Moreover, lignin is also converted to biofuels, along with cellulose andhemicelluloses, adding an extra 20% or more to the biofuels yield potential of biomass.Challenges, on the other hand, include the use of expensive catalysts in the F-T reactions andthe production of hydrocarbon or alcohol mixtures, as opposed to a single fuel.The ability to convert bagasse to ethanol could significantly increase the capacity of a sugarcaneethanol plant especially using the biochemical process, since it is compatible with existingsugarcane ethanol operations, as it involves fermentation and distillation. Bagasse typicallyconstitutes around 13% of the raw cane’s mass. Preliminary assessments of the biochemicaltechnology indicate that approximately 80 gallons of ethanol can be produced from each ton ofbagasse (dry basis). Thermochemical yields approach 100 gallons per ton because gasificationmakes use not only of cellulose and hemicelluloses, but of lignin (20-25% of bagasse) as well.However, if the cane ethanol plant possesses a cogeneration facility, as we have recommended,another fuel will have to be identified for the boilers to replace any bagasse converted toethanol. Possible solutions include:Cane trash left in the fields and generated in roughly similar quantities asbagasse.Wood waste from near-by forest operations.Biomass residues of any kind from agricultural operations, such as those forproduction of biodiesel.No advanced biofuels technology has been commercialized yet. As the situation evolves in theUS and other countries, Jamaica will be in a position to benefit at some point in the future.Besides terrestrial biomass, another promising advanced biofuels technology involves algaecultivation in open shallow ponds, followed by cell harvesting and extraction of lipids. Thelipids are either transesterified to biodiesel or thermocatalytically converted to diesel and otherhydrocarbons (Fig. 11).46
Figure 11: Schematic representation of algal cultivation for production of renewable fuelsThe algal fuel technologies combine a number of advantages: use of marginal land to grow thealgae in ponds, use of brackish or even saline water (instead of more precious process water),and absorption of CO 2 photosynthetically by the microorganisms. However, challenges aboundas well:• large plots of land to build an extensive network of ponds;• exposure to inclement weather and contamination; and• processing difficulties in algae dewatering and lipid recovery, as well as in conversionof the lipids to fuels.Although Jamaica has plenty of sun exposure and favorable climate to pursue algal fuels, thetechnology is several years away from commercialization. In contrast, biochemical andthermochemical processes for conversion of biomass to biofuels, which have been intensivelydeveloped over the last 10 years, have entered the demonstration stage in North America andare likely to become commercial within a few years.47
Page 1 and 2: Assistance for Biofuels Developm
Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTSEXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Page 5 and 6: All countries with commercial biodi
Page 7 and 8: 2. Biomass Resource Identification2
Page 9 and 10: Figure 2: Areas of land in classes
Page 11 and 12: conditions accumulates dry mass und
Page 13 and 14: 1. Sugar cane varieties and observa
Page 15 and 16: Sugar cane is naturally tolerant to
Page 17 and 18: fermentable sugars are calculated f
Page 19 and 20: purchased in some form from elsewhe
Page 21 and 22: welfare, but sustainable production
Page 23 and 24: spacing) for cattle, pigs and other
Page 25 and 26: 3. Human and Institutional Resource
Page 27 and 28: Finally, Universities can also prov
Page 29 and 30: Exemption from import duties of cap
Page 31 and 32: farmers and Midwestern states, wher
Page 33 and 34: form methyl esters. The caloric val
Page 35 and 36: cost would be, to future world ener
Page 37 and 38: Figure 6: Typical financing structu
Page 39 and 40: 5. Processing and Distribution5.1 T
Page 41 and 42: are produced and stored for later p
Page 43 and 44: operator and PCJ (and other blender
Page 45: Figure 9: Schematic representation
Page 49 and 50: agroenergy/biofuels operations in t
Page 51 and 52: ANNEX IPublic Education and Outreac
Page 53 and 54: In the scoping assessment, input wa
Page 55 and 56: Run over a longer period so that th
Page 57 and 58: estates is completed. The large mil
Page 59 and 60: (a) What waste vegetable oils are o
Page 61 and 62: (g) Information on long term supply
Page 63 and 64: (f) Information to control the spre
Page 65 and 66: Jamaica BroilersJamaica Public Serv
Page 67 and 68: The Jamaica Manufacturers’ Associ
Page 69 and 70: phone hotline and email address wit
Page 71 and 72: ut first, the necessary steps need
Page 73 and 74: etc.), and that labour laws arecomp
Page 75 and 76: campaign management team.75
Page 79 and 80: Annex Ib. BudgetThe budget below is
Page 81 and 82: Activity 5: Best practices forbiofu
Page 83 and 84: Annex Ic. Useful resources for educ
Page 85 and 86: ANNEX IIPilot Project Identificatio
Page 87 and 88: Over the 15 years of its depreciate
Page 89 and 90: Figure 3: Effect of the selling pri
Page 91 and 92: Pilot Project: Duckenfield Estate -
Page 93 and 94: Additional assumptions involve exte
Page 95 and 96: Sensitivity to Sugar Price30.00%25.
Page 97 and 98:
Sensitivity to Ethanol Price30.00%2
Page 99 and 100:
Pilot Projects: Discussion of Other
Page 101 and 102:
Pilot Project: Biodiesel RefineryBa
Page 103 and 104:
iodiesel subsidize it one way or an
Page 105 and 106:
Financial Analysis for 3 Million Ga
Page 107 and 108:
ANNEX IIIJamaica Biofuels Implement
Page 109 and 110:
In-Depth Project Feasibility Studie
Page 111 and 112:
Project ImplementationTask Force ac
Page 113 and 114:
This table summarizes the area (ha)
Page 115 and 116:
Clarendon Figure 1115
Page 117 and 118:
Hanover Figure 1117
Page 119 and 120:
Kingston St. Andrew Figure 1119
Page 121 and 122:
Manchester Figure 1121
Page 123 and 124:
Portland Figure 1123
Page 125 and 126:
Saint Ann Figure 1125
Page 127 and 128:
Saint Catherine Figure 1127
Page 129 and 130:
Saint Elizabeth Figure 1129
Page 131 and 132:
Saint James Figure 1131
Page 133 and 134:
Saint Mary Figure 1133
Page 135 and 136:
Saint Thomas Figure 1135
Page 137 and 138:
Trelawny Figure 1137
Page 139 and 140:
Westmoreland Figure 1139
Page 141:
ANNEX VSummary of Sugarcane industr
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Jamaica Biofuels Report - Ministry of Energy

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