Process simulation and economic evaluation of the Alcohol-to-Jet production of sustainable aviation fuel in the Brazilian context

• Published in: Energy conversion and management 2024-11, Vol.319, p.118947, Article 118947
• Main Authors: Teixeira, Adryena T., da Silva, Amanda C.M., Cavalcante, Raquel M., Young, André F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alcohol-to-Jet; Biojet Fuel; Ethanol; Process Simulation; SAF; Sustainable Aviation Fuel
• ISSN: 0196-8904
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2024.118947

•The Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) process is simulated in Aspen Plus®.•As a novelty, complete simulation data of a single-purpose process is reported.•A robust economic analysis is carried out, contextualized in the Brazilian market.•ATJ would be feasible in Brazil at ethanol prices of US$ 0.35–0.39 per kg.•Biojet fuel could cost US$ 1.86 per kg, 31% less than the average-price in USA. In the current aviation market context, the search for more sustainable and low-carbon emission alternatives has been driving the demand for biojet fuel. In this context, this study aimed to assess the feasibility of a biojet fuel production plant in Brazil using the Alcohol-to-Jet technology with ethanol as raw material. The process was simulated in Aspen Plus® v12.1 and the results were applied in an economic analysis. The biojet fuel and ethanol breakeven prices were determined in different scenarios. In the best scenario, biojet fuel would cost US$ 1.86 per kg, which is 31% less than the average-priced sustainable aviation fuel marketed in the United States. It was also demonstrated that the process would be economically viable in the country − for substitution of conventional aviation fuel at competitive market values − if there was a 44–55% reduction in the ethanol price, which seems feasible if one considers the pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. The obtained results indicate this process technology as an important alternative to be considered in future policies, and serve as a basis for future works, being easily adapted for other economic contexts if necessary.