Use of mobile fast pyrolysis plants to densify biomass and reduce biomass handling costs—A preliminary assessment

ROI BioOil plants can be made modular and transportable, allowing them to be located close to the source of biomass and the subsequent transportation of high energy density BioOil to a central plant. Conversely, one central BioOil plant could supply several energy users in distributed locations, or several plants could supply numerous end-users, just as in the petroleum industry. Renewable Oil International® LLC (ROI) is one of several developers of fast pyrolysis technology. The production of BioOil can convert raw biomass into a low-viscosity liquid that, depending on the moisture content of the feedstock, increases the energy density of biomass by a factor of 6 to 7 times over green wood chips. The increase in energy density increases the amount of energy that can be hauled by standard tanker trucks versus a chip trailer van by a factor of two. Capital costs, exclusive of land costs, are comparable for a 50 MWe biomass handling system at the power plant. Land area requirements for fuel storage and handling are reduced roughly half for BioOil systems versus solid fuel handling systems. No analysis was made of operating and maintenance costs.