TECHNICAL PROGRAMME | Primary Energy Supply – Future Pathways
The Role of Biofuels as a Feedstock
Forum 6 | Hall 10 - SABIC Technical Programme 1
15
October
09:30
10:45
UTC+3
This session delves into the innovative use of biofuels as a feedstock in various industries, emphasising their potential to contribute to sustainable production processes. The session will explore the latest advancements in biofuel technologies, feedstock optimisation, and the role of biofuels in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with insights into the scientific principles, engineering challenges, and economic considerations involved in the utilisation of biofuels as a versatile feedstock.
Diesel fuel is among the most important fossil fuels derived from crude oil, which has widespread applications in combustion systems such as diesel engines and industrial burners. The environmental challenges associated with diesel fuel and the limited and decreasing fossil fuel resources highlighted the need for environmentally friendly renewable alternative fuel. In recent years, biodiesel fuel has been introduced as a precursor and alternative to diesel fuel due to its high flash point and cetane number, combustion efficiency and characteristics very close to those of diesel fuel. Consequently, there is an effort among the researchers to improve biodiesel synthesis and production from new feedstocks and use high-performance methods. The aim of the present work is synthesis and production of biodiesel from algae as feedstock and comparison the advantages of using algae as biodiesel feedstock with conventional biodiesel feedstocks. Firstly, unlike other conventional biodiesel feedstocks such as palm oil, the algae are fast-growing (the growth period of algae is about 4 weeks). Secondly, unlike the conventional biodiesel feedstocks such as palm which grow in tropical rainforest such as Southeast Asia, they can grow and reproduce in different waters such as sewage, wastewater and different geographical conditions around the world and finally, unlike conventional oilseed biodiesel feddstocks such as Soybeans, Canola which are agricultural and farm products, algaes are non-competitive for agricultural land and the results shows that using SC-CO2 as new oil extraction method combined with RSM optimization of the parameters can enhance the oil extraction up to 37.9%. Also, it is possible to synthesis a green catalyst from algae to convert the oil into biodiesel using transesterification methods such which gives a biodiesel yield as much as 90%.
The accelerating energy transition in Europe, driven by initiatives such as REPowerEU and the target of achieving 35 bcm of biomethane by 2030, is intensifying the search for suitable locations for new facilities. Increasing attention is being directed towards the repurposing of oil and gas assets as renewable energy sources. In particular, depleted natural gas fields and their associated infrastructure can be transformed into biomethane hubs by leveraging existing pipelines, compressors, and industrial sites. The proposed Gas-to-Biomethane Transformation Index (GBTI) is introduced as a conceptual tool for the early-stage assessment of such assets, designed to evaluate their potential for repurposing for biomethane production.
Repurposing gas fields with residual production could offer asset owners the opportunity to monetize remaining resources, defer decommissioning costs, and preserve the value of infrastructure. For biomethane investors, it could provide access to grid connections, land, and facilities that reduce capital expenditure and accelerate project timelines. At the same time, these projects could meaningfully support climate objectives by increasing biomethane supply and demonstrate a pragmatic “brownfield-to-green energy” pathway.
The GBTI framework structures feasibility assessment across four key dimensions: technical, infrastructural, legal-regulatory, and environmental-social. It identifies clear strengths – such as existing grid access or favorable permitting regimes – while highlighting potential risks like small site size, equipment condition, or complex permitting procedures. At this stage, the Gas-to-Biomethane Index remains at the level of a conceptual framework, but it illustrates how systematic and transparent evaluation could guide portfolio reviews, capital allocation, and stakeholder communication in the upstream sector.
Although initially developed in the Polish context, the methodology can be adapted for other regions facing similar challenges in managing late-life oil and gas assets. By embedding infrastructure reuse into corporate strategies, the Index is intended to support decarbonization while generating financial and operational synergies between upstream operators and renewable gas investors. Importantly, it has the potential to enhance ESG transparency by documenting decision-making processes in a structured way, thereby strengthening investor confidence and regulatory alignment.
Repurposing gas fields with residual production could offer asset owners the opportunity to monetize remaining resources, defer decommissioning costs, and preserve the value of infrastructure. For biomethane investors, it could provide access to grid connections, land, and facilities that reduce capital expenditure and accelerate project timelines. At the same time, these projects could meaningfully support climate objectives by increasing biomethane supply and demonstrate a pragmatic “brownfield-to-green energy” pathway.
The GBTI framework structures feasibility assessment across four key dimensions: technical, infrastructural, legal-regulatory, and environmental-social. It identifies clear strengths – such as existing grid access or favorable permitting regimes – while highlighting potential risks like small site size, equipment condition, or complex permitting procedures. At this stage, the Gas-to-Biomethane Index remains at the level of a conceptual framework, but it illustrates how systematic and transparent evaluation could guide portfolio reviews, capital allocation, and stakeholder communication in the upstream sector.
Although initially developed in the Polish context, the methodology can be adapted for other regions facing similar challenges in managing late-life oil and gas assets. By embedding infrastructure reuse into corporate strategies, the Index is intended to support decarbonization while generating financial and operational synergies between upstream operators and renewable gas investors. Importantly, it has the potential to enhance ESG transparency by documenting decision-making processes in a structured way, thereby strengthening investor confidence and regulatory alignment.
Seyyed Hadi Pourhoseini Hesari
Speaker
Faculty Member (Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering)
University of Gonabad
Diesel fuel is among the most important fossil fuels derived from crude oil, which has widespread applications in combustion systems such as diesel engines and industrial burners. The environmental challenges associated with diesel fuel and the limited and decreasing fossil fuel resources highlighted the need for environmentally friendly renewable alternative fuel. In recent years, biodiesel fuel has been introduced as a precursor and alternative to diesel fuel due to its high flash point and cetane number, combustion efficiency and characteristics very close to those of diesel fuel. Consequently, there is an effort among the researchers to improve biodiesel synthesis and production from new feedstocks and use high-performance methods. The aim of the present work is synthesis and production of biodiesel from algae as feedstock and comparison the advantages of using algae as biodiesel feedstock with conventional biodiesel feedstocks. Firstly, unlike other conventional biodiesel feedstocks such as palm oil, the algae are fast-growing (the growth period of algae is about 4 weeks). Secondly, unlike the conventional biodiesel feedstocks such as palm which grow in tropical rainforest such as Southeast Asia, they can grow and reproduce in different waters such as sewage, wastewater and different geographical conditions around the world and finally, unlike conventional oilseed biodiesel feddstocks such as Soybeans, Canola which are agricultural and farm products, algaes are non-competitive for agricultural land and the results shows that using SC-CO2 as new oil extraction method combined with RSM optimization of the parameters can enhance the oil extraction up to 37.9%. Also, it is possible to synthesis a green catalyst from algae to convert the oil into biodiesel using transesterification methods such which gives a biodiesel yield as much as 90%.
The accelerating energy transition in Europe, driven by initiatives such as REPowerEU and the target of achieving 35 bcm of biomethane by 2030, is intensifying the search for suitable locations for new facilities. Increasing attention is being directed towards the repurposing of oil and gas assets as renewable energy sources. In particular, depleted natural gas fields and their associated infrastructure can be transformed into biomethane hubs by leveraging existing pipelines, compressors, and industrial sites. The proposed Gas-to-Biomethane Transformation Index (GBTI) is introduced as a conceptual tool for the early-stage assessment of such assets, designed to evaluate their potential for repurposing for biomethane production.
Repurposing gas fields with residual production could offer asset owners the opportunity to monetize remaining resources, defer decommissioning costs, and preserve the value of infrastructure. For biomethane investors, it could provide access to grid connections, land, and facilities that reduce capital expenditure and accelerate project timelines. At the same time, these projects could meaningfully support climate objectives by increasing biomethane supply and demonstrate a pragmatic “brownfield-to-green energy” pathway.
The GBTI framework structures feasibility assessment across four key dimensions: technical, infrastructural, legal-regulatory, and environmental-social. It identifies clear strengths – such as existing grid access or favorable permitting regimes – while highlighting potential risks like small site size, equipment condition, or complex permitting procedures. At this stage, the Gas-to-Biomethane Index remains at the level of a conceptual framework, but it illustrates how systematic and transparent evaluation could guide portfolio reviews, capital allocation, and stakeholder communication in the upstream sector.
Although initially developed in the Polish context, the methodology can be adapted for other regions facing similar challenges in managing late-life oil and gas assets. By embedding infrastructure reuse into corporate strategies, the Index is intended to support decarbonization while generating financial and operational synergies between upstream operators and renewable gas investors. Importantly, it has the potential to enhance ESG transparency by documenting decision-making processes in a structured way, thereby strengthening investor confidence and regulatory alignment.
Repurposing gas fields with residual production could offer asset owners the opportunity to monetize remaining resources, defer decommissioning costs, and preserve the value of infrastructure. For biomethane investors, it could provide access to grid connections, land, and facilities that reduce capital expenditure and accelerate project timelines. At the same time, these projects could meaningfully support climate objectives by increasing biomethane supply and demonstrate a pragmatic “brownfield-to-green energy” pathway.
The GBTI framework structures feasibility assessment across four key dimensions: technical, infrastructural, legal-regulatory, and environmental-social. It identifies clear strengths – such as existing grid access or favorable permitting regimes – while highlighting potential risks like small site size, equipment condition, or complex permitting procedures. At this stage, the Gas-to-Biomethane Index remains at the level of a conceptual framework, but it illustrates how systematic and transparent evaluation could guide portfolio reviews, capital allocation, and stakeholder communication in the upstream sector.
Although initially developed in the Polish context, the methodology can be adapted for other regions facing similar challenges in managing late-life oil and gas assets. By embedding infrastructure reuse into corporate strategies, the Index is intended to support decarbonization while generating financial and operational synergies between upstream operators and renewable gas investors. Importantly, it has the potential to enhance ESG transparency by documenting decision-making processes in a structured way, thereby strengthening investor confidence and regulatory alignment.
