Colloquia

Summary

Gasification is one of the most promising and flexible bioenergy technologies, due to the variety of end-products that it can generate and the decarbonization potential it holds for some of the most emissions-heavy industries. However, the ambiguity observed in the secure supply of feedstock, along with the dependence of gasification projects on subsidizing schemes suggest a certain financial frailty when it comes to the development of business models, and acts as a barrier to its wider implementation. Firstly, the compatibility of various types of advanced feedstock is evaluated by using simulation tools of the gasification reaction. Afterwards, the full environmental implications of gasification are explored, in order to demonstrate the sustainability value of the process. Finally, the following study provides an economic framework in the form of go-to-market strategies, designed to accommodate the unique characteristics observed in different types of feedstock and across different countries of the European Union, and the development of a business case simulation tool that can be used in predicting the financial feasibility of gasification projects over the years. The go-to-market strategies and the business case tool are then used to conduct case studies on the economic and socio-environmental implications of gasification in the steel manufacturing and maritime transportation industries, in bilateral and multilateral systems.