Why a biorefinery integration workshop? Why now?
Given the longevity of vehicles that currently use liquid fuels and the time needed to deploy alternatives such as electric vehicles, substantial amounts of liquid fuels are likely to be needed for a decade or more in all sectors and for multiple decades in some sectors, including aviation and marine transport.
Relying on fossil-based fuels alone during this long transition is simply not an option, as the resulting CO2 emissions would result in unacceptable changes to our climate.
One obvious approach to mitigating climate impacts during the transition to lower volumes of liquid fuels is the deployment of sustainable, low-carbon fuels that are compatible with current vehicles and infrastructure. A great deal of progress has been made on the production of such fuels, but the greatest remaining obstacles are the required capital investment and the human and material resources needed to build the infrastructure to produce these fuels.
Rather than constructing this infrastructure from scratch, judicious use of existing petroleum-refining capacity could facilitate an accelerated transition to renewable fuels at a significantly reduced cost. Our existing petroleum-refining infrastructure represents an enormous investment — over $600 billion in costs if it were to be replaced today – comprising equipment, infrastructure, and skilled people that could directly support production of sustainable liquid fuels within a relatively short timeframe. With careful planning and development of new technologies needed for the transition, existing refining infrastructure could immediately displace some fossil fuels with renewable alternatives and transition over time to a fully sustainable future. This workshop convenes key stakeholders from industry, national laboratories, academia, and the government to discuss the challenges and opportunities of transitioning existing refinery assets for the production of sustainable, low-carbon fuels and products. Together, we will address the question of how to unlock the bioeconomy through refinery integration.
What can I expect?
This two-day, interactive workshop will feature informational and road-mapping activities. Participants will actively engage, share ideas, and collaborate to realize the workshop’s objectives.
On day one, join plenary sessions to establish the current state of technology and highlight the promise of leveraging existing refinery infrastructure to unlock the bioeconomy. The plenary sessions will feature thought leaders from industry and national laboratories with decades of experience.
On day one and two, contribute to one of three vigorous road-mapping breakout sessions:
Breakout Session A: Refinery Feedstocks of the Future
This breakout session will explore the potential and challenges associated with bio-feedstocks and intermediates, aiming to examine a range of candidates and assess their viability for integration into current and future refinery processes.
Breakout Session B: Refineries of the Future
Within this breakout session, participants will discuss and envision the characteristics and technologies that will define the refineries of the future, recognizing that multiple refinery types may be required.
Breakout Session C: Transitioning Current Refinery Infrastructure
Focusing on the practical aspects of transitioning current refinery infrastructure, this section aims to outline strategies and considerations for adapting existing refinery infrastructure to align with the principles of a bio-based economy. Discussions will cover technological retrofitting, policy implications, and economic factors.
For specific session times and locations, view the agenda
Ready to help unlock the bioeconomy? Register now.