(271c) Process Design: Challenges Towards a Future Renewable Based Process Industry

Over the last decades the efforts in the area of process synthesis have focused on the design and development of novel processes based on renewable resources. The aim is to substitute the use of non-renewable resources by cleaner technologies and renewable raw materials. From the first generation of biofuels to the design and operation of integrated facilities where solar, wind, biomass and waste are combined, PSE provides the methods and tools to make the most of the available resources in a transition towards a more sustainable power and chemical industry.

In this talk we provide a walk over some contributions of process system engineering for the optimal design of renewable based processes and the future challenges. A multiscale approach is used, from units to chemical complexes. Thus, we comment on single resources and facilities at first, biomass and the various types, from grain to lignocellulosic and algae, wind and solar energy, including power production and the storage of any of them in the form of chemicals such as methane, ammonia, methanol, DME as well as waste in the circular economy initiative. Next, we go on to a second level consisting of integrated facilities to replicate current refineries, from biorefineries in the proper use of the term as a multiproduct facility, to hybrid facilities that combine several resources. The challenges behind their operation result in the need to jump into operations and supply chain for a high level of integration in the form of complexes, sites to production networks in countries and continents.

We hope that his walk is of interest to show one line started by Ignacio years ago with the corn based ethanol all the way to an entire system of renewable based processes, presenting challenges and work to help in the transition towards a sustainable future, including topics that have become keywords of the field.