1. “Biofuels in Argentina”
Carlos Apesteguía
Catalysis Science and Engineering Research Group (GICIC)
INCAPE, Santa Fe - Argentina
Next Generation Biofuels and bio-based Chemicals, Trieste, April 2009
3. ARGENTINA: southernmost country in the world
Soybean area
Where are we? AREA: 2,760,000 km2
South America
POPULATION: 40 millions
30 million hectares for
growing food (11% of
RELIGION: mostly catholic
LANGUAGE: Spanish
territory)
GDP(PPP): hectares: forestcapita
90 million US$ 13,400 per
SANTA FE:
GDP(nominal): US $6,500 per capita
100 million hectares: pastures
133,007 km2 8 %/year
ECONOMIChectares: unsuitable
55 million GROWTH:
3 million
ILLITERACY: 3%
1.5 million hectares: protected
people
UNEMPLOYMENT: 8 %
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 74 years
Argentina produces food for 300 million people
Argentina produces food for 300 million people
(population is 40 millions)
(population is 40 millions)
4. ENERGY MATRIX OF ARGENTINA
Participationfuels
87 % fossil
Natural
Mineral
in the use of
6-9 % renewable sources
gas
Carbon
transportation
Others 17%
1%
3%
fuels
Naphta
Natural 17%
Gas Oil Diesel
45% 41% 66%
Wood
1%
Vegetable
Hydraulic
residues
6%
1% Nuclear
2%
Source: Secretary of Energy (Argentina)
5. What is ARGENTINA doing in biofuels?
Production for domestic market: …will absorb:
600,000 tons biodiesel/year 8 % of soybean
160,000 tons bioethanol/year 3 % of corn
national outputs
6. in ARGENTINA, biofuels from what?
Biodiesel from vegetable oil
Biodiesel from vegetable oil
soybean
algae
algae
rapeseed ?
rapeseed ?
jatropha ?
jatropha ?
Biogas from Bioethanol from
residues sugar cane
corn corn
algae sugar beet ?
7. BIODIESEL
IN ARGENTINA
rapeseed
rapeseed
algae
soybean
8. BIODIESEL FROM
SOYBEAN
Soybean composition: 20 % oil, 40 % proteins, 35 %
Soybean composition: 20 % oil 40 % proteins, 35 %
oil,
carbohydrates and 5 % ashes
carbohydrates and 5 % ashes
Argentina is the 3rd largest world producer of
Argentina is the 3rd largest world producer of
soybean
soybean NO
PRODUCTION: NO
PRODUCTION: COMSUMPTION
USA - 86 million tons COMSUMPTION
Population: 300 millions
USA - 86 million tons
OF SOYBEAN
Brazil - 59 million tons
186 millions OF SOYBEAN
Brazil - 59 million tons
PRODUCTS IN
Argentina - 47 million tons
40 millions PRODUCTS IN
Argentina - 47 million tons
ARGENTINA
China - 17 million tons ARGENTINA
China - 17 million tons
India - 8 million tons
India - 8 million tons
Paraguay - 6 million tons
Paraguay - 6 million tons
SOYBEAN IS
SOYBEAN IS
Argentina is the largest world exporter of soyoil THE FIRST
THE FIRST
CHOICE FOR
Argentina – 5.7 million tons CHOICE FOR
BIODIESEL
Brazil – 2.3 million tons BIODIESEL
USA – 0.6 million tons
9. Soybean growth in Argentina
1970 – 1971 1995 – 1996 2006 – 2007
59 thousand tons 47.5 million tons
12.4 million tons
Source:– Dirección de Agricultura – SAGPyA
10. SOYBEAN
Location and size of
Location and size of
vegetable oil milling
vegetable oil milling
facilities
facilities
Main location of
Main location of
biodiesel plants is
biodiesel plants is
on Paraná river
on Paraná river
(ships depart from
(ships depart from
here to EU or US)
here to EU or US)
More than 30 plants
> 200 million tons/year
100-200 million tons/year
50-100 million tons/year
< 50 million tons/year
11. Biodiesel production worldwide in 2008
Production
(thousands tons)
Europe 5.500
USA 1.500
Argentina 1.200
Brazil 900
Rest of the 900
world
-----------
Total 10.000
Argentina accounts for more than 10 % percent of
the biodiesel produced in the world
12. Argentina's external sales of biodiesel totaled to
1,104,783 tons in 2008 (319,093 tons in 2007)
Sales of approximately 1,500 million dollars in 2008
Source: Argentine Camera of Renewable Energies
14. SOYBEAN
RECENTLY INAUGURATED
RECENTLY INAUGURATED
BIODIESEL PLANTS
BIODIESEL PLANTS
RENOVA 240,000 tons/year
ECOFUEL 200,000 tons/year (twin plant underway)
Opportunity for small businesses:
Farmers account for about 75 %
of diesel consumption
Micro-refineries
Sell-local principle
Low shipping costs
DIFEROIL 35,000 tons/year
15. BIODIESEL FROM
ALGAE
Algae composition: 5-50 % lipids, 40-60% proteins, fibers,
% lipids 40-60% proteins, fibers,
Algae composition: 5-50 lipids,
minerals, carbohydrates
minerals, carbohydrates
Biodiesel from algae
Biodiesel from algae
ADVANTAGES over soybean:
ADVANTAGES over soybean:
No soil depredation
Algae capture 4 times more CO2 during
photosynthesis
Extremely rapid growth rates
Higher yields:
250
1 hectare of soybean = 400 oil liters
Times
1 hectare of algae = 100,000 oil liters higher
algae oil costs 50 % less than soyoil
16. ALGAE New locations of algae biodiesel
New locations of algae biodiesel
algae
Project of
plants are on Paraná river
plants are on Paraná river
biodiesel plant:
Biocombustibles del
Chubut (private and
state capitals)
• Purpose: B20 to use in buses for
• Purpose: B20 to use in buses for
personnel transportation to nearby mines
personnel transportation to nearby mines
• Production: 5,000 tons/year
• Production: 5,000 tons/year
Main location of algae farms is the
Main location of algae farms is the
coast of Argentine Patagonia
coast of Argentine Patagonia
(Province of Chubut)
(Province of Chubut)
17. OIL FOX S.A:
ALGAE OIL FOX S.A:
Start up: 200 hectares (2000
Start up: 200 hectares (2000
RECENT conservatories)
RECENT conservatories)
PROJECTS FOR Investment cost is 4 times as high as
PROJECTS FOR Investment cost is 4 times as high as
ALGAE a biodiesel plant but less expensive
ALGAE a biodiesel plant but less expensive
BIODIESEL than land + oil mill
BIODIESEL than land + oil mill
PLANTS
PLANTS Fresh and seawater algae
Fresh and seawater algae
Future: 240,000 tons biodiesel/year to
Future: 240,000 tons biodiesel/year to
be exported to the EU
be exported to the EU
2 kg of algae = 1 oil liter + residue
2 kg of algae = 1 oil liter + residue
sold as dietary supplement + biogas
sold as dietary supplement + biogas
18. BIODIESEL FROM
RAPESEED
Rapeseed is almost unknown in Argentina
Rapeseed is almost unknown in Argentina
Last year production: 10,000 tons
Last year production: 10,000 tons
Spanish group bought 50,000 hectares (US$ 40 millions)
Spanish group bought 50,000 hectares (US$ 40 millions)
ADVANTAGES over soybean:
Higher yields Entre
1 hectare of soybean = 400 oil liters Ríos
San Luis
1 hectare of rapeseed = 1,200 oil liters
Buenos Aires
rapeseed oil content = 40-45 %
La Paula, Córdoba. Rapeseed farm
19. BIODIESEL FROM
JATROPHA
Project portfolio INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE
TECNOLOGIA AGROPECUARIA
Vegetable resources with energy application
The project is initially focused on Jatropha
valorization:
Agronomical management of Jatropha fields
Molecular genetic improvement Jatropha curcas L.
Ecofisiology of J. curcas L.
Micro propagations development
Oil quality and biodiesel analysis
22. BIOETHANOL
IN ARGENTINA
sugar cane
sugar beet lignocellulose
maize
SUGAR FEEDSTOCKS STARCHY FEEDSTOCKS CELLULOSIC
FEEDSTOCKS
23. BIOETHANOL FROM
SUGAR CANE
Argentina is the world's 8th largest sugar exporter
Argentina is the world's 8th largest sugar exporter
Record sugar output in 2007´s campaign:
Record sugar output in 2007´s campaign:
production of 2.44 million tons
production of 2.44 million tons
(20 million tons of sugar cane)
(20 million tons of sugar cane)
Production of bioethanol for domestic market (fuel):
Production of bioethanol for domestic market (fuel): Suitable
160,000 tons/year in 2010
160,000 tons/year in 2010 areas for
sugar cane
Present production of bioethanol from sugar cane
Present production of bioethanol from sugar cane
production: 180,000 tons in 2006
production: 180,000 tons in 2006
exports: 40 %
exports: 40 %
24. SUGAR CANE TRADITIONAL PROCESS
TRADITIONAL PROCESS
From sugar cane molasses: As a by-
From sugar cane molasses: As a by-
product of sugar production
product of sugar production
11 liters of ethanol/ton sugar cane
11 liters of ethanol/ton sugar cane
SINCE 2006, NEW PROCESS
SINCE 2006, NEW PROCESS
Directly from sugar cane juices: No
Directly from sugar cane juices: No
sugar production
sugar production
85 liters of ethanol/ton sugar cane
85 liters of ethanol/ton sugar cane
Ingenio La Florida, Los
Ingenio La Florida, Los
Balcanes S.A., Tucumán
Balcanes S.A., Tucumán
Production capacity:
Production capacity:
80,000 tons/year
80,000 tons
tons/year
Electricity
Electricity
25. 400 liters ethanol/ton
Maize
Maize
ALTERNATIVES TO 41% bioethanol, 29%
animal food, 30% CO2
MEET BIOFUEL
Cost of feedstock:
ACT IN 2010: US$ 445/ton ethanol
Cost of 100,000 ton
Sugar Cane versus plant: US$ 50 millions
Sugar Cane
200 liters ethanol/ton
Lignocellulose
Lignocellulose
Cost of 100,000 ton plant:
US$ 300 millions
Profitable in 10-15 years
Enzymes: basic research
85 liters/ton
(genetic engineering)
Cost of feedstock:
US$ 223/ton ethanol
Efficient photosynthesis
Sugar Beet
Sugar Beet Experimental crops
Easy to extract sugar
with genetically
Sevenfold advantage in
manipulated seeds
energy (energy yielded
vs. energy to produce it)
compared to corn
26. BIOGAS
IN ARGENTINA
Organic residues
Manure
Corn
(“cow power”)
27. Corn biogas to replace natural gas?
BIOGAS FROM
Biogas
Biogas
CORN
Corn Fermentation
Corn Fermentation
Fertilizer
Fertilizer
Argentina imports 7,000-9,000 million m3// year of natural gas
Argentina imports 7,000-9,000 million m3 year of natural gas
Argentina produces 19 million tons of corn/year
Argentina produces 19 million tons of corn/year
Argentina consumes 4 million tons of corn/year (20%)
Argentina consumes 4 million tons of corn/year (20%)
Plan Maizar 2017:
Plan Maizar 2017:
Biogas project to replace imports
Biogas project to replace imports
5 million tons of corn or sorghum/year to produce biogas
5 million tons of corn or sorghum/year to produce biogas
Corn biogas yield
Corn biogas yield
1 hectare of corn (whole plant) = 7,000-10,000 m3 biogas
1 hectare of corn (whole plant) = 7,000-10,000 m3 biogas
Production of biogas from corn versus biodiesel
Production of biogas from corn versus biodiesel
energetically 10 times more efficient than biodiesel
energetically 10 times more efficient than biodiesel
28. In Santa Fe:
Professors of our Chem. Eng. School
Professors of our Chem. Eng. School
developed a biodigestor for biogas
developed a biodigestor for biogas
OBJECTIVES:
OBJECTIVES: Organic residues
Self-supply: 30 kg of biogas/month
Self-supply: 30 kg of biogas/month
Rural or isolated areas
Rural or isolated areas
Small communities (schools)
Small communities (schools)
Residue: used as fertilizer in nearby
Residue: used as fertilizer in nearby
farms
farms
BIOREACTOR
