New concepts for biofuels in transportation: Biomass-based methanol production and reduced emissions in advanced vehicles

New production concepts for biomass-based methanol and hydrogen for use as transportation fuels were evaluated. The fuel chain greenhouse gas emissions for these biofuels were estimated and compared with corresponding emissions for gasoline and some other fuels. Concepts with methanol or hydrogen production integrated with pulp and paper production were studied more closely. These concepts were found to increase the total efficiency and lower the production costs compared to stand-alone plants. However, the costs were estimated still to be 2 to 4 times higher than those of fossil transportation fuels on average. The estimation of the fuel chain emissions included emissions from production and distribution of the fuels to end use in selected vehicle types. The estimated total fuel chain greenhouse gas emissions were significantly lower (approximately 80-90%) for the biomass-based methanol and hydrogen fuels than for most of the other considered alternatives. The availability of biomass resources for the production of biomethanol or biohydrogen and the high production costs were estimated to limit the implementation of the process concepts and use of the fuels in transportation. Most promising prospects for biomass-derived methanol or hydrogen were seen as fuels for fuel cell vehicles in urban transportation.