Method for producing renewable fuels
According to the present invention, organic material is converted to biogas through anaerobic digestion and the biogas is purified to yield a combustible fluid feedstock comprising methane. A fuel production facility utilizes or arranges to utilize combustible fluid feedstock to generate renewable hydrogen that is used to hydrogenate crude oil derived hydrocarbons in a process to make transportation or heating fuel. The renewable hydrogen is combined with crude oil derived hydrocarbons that have been desulfurized under conditions to hydrogenate the liquid hydrocarbon with the renewable hydrogen or alternatively, the renewable hydrogen can be added to a reactor operated so as to simultaneously desulfurize and hydrogenate the hydrocarbons. The present invention enables a party to receive a renewable fuel credit for the transportation or heating fuel.
1. A process for producing fuel and fuel credits, said process comprising:
(a) obtaining renewable hydrogen produced from one of (i) biogas derived from organic material, (ii) methane that qualifies under applicable regulations as renewably sourced, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii);
(b) using the renewable hydrogen at a fuel production facility in a process wherein the renewable hydrogen is incorporated by hydrogenation into fossil derived liquid hydrocarbon to produce a liquid transportation fuel that is at least partially derived from the renewable hydrogen; and
(c) generating or causing the generation of fuel credits, said fuel credits dependent on the liquid transportation fuel being at least partially derived from the renewable hydrogen.
2. The process of claim 1 , comprising using the fuel credits to offset or satisfy a fuel credit obligation of a producer of the liquid transportation fuel.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the renewable hydrogen comprises subjecting the one of (i) biogas derived from organic material, (ii) methane that qualifies under applicable regulations as renewably sourced, or (iii) combination of (i) and (ii) to a reforming process that produces the renewable hydrogen.
4. The process of claim 3 , wherein said reforming process is an autothermal reforming process or a steam methane reforming process.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the biogas is produced from anaerobic digestion.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the fuel credits are California Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the fuel credits are caused to be generated by a producer or distributor of the (1) biogas or the (2) methane that qualifies under applicable regulations as renewably sourced.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the fuel credits are caused to be generated by a producer or distributor of the renewable hydrogen.
9. The process of claim 1 , wherein the fuel credits are caused to be generated by a distributor of the transportation fuel.
10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the renewable hydrogen is incorporated by hydrogenation in a reactor and the amount of renewable hydrogen that is incorporated is greater than or equal to two thirds of the renewable hydrogen introduced into the reactor.
11. The process of claim 1 , wherein the amount of renewable hydrogen incorporated by hydrogenation into the fossil derived liquid hydrocarbon to produce the liquid transportation fuel is greater than or equal to two thirds of the amount of renewable hydrogen obtained.
12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the liquid transportation fuel is gasoline.
13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the liquid transportation fuel is diesel.
14. The process of claim 1 , wherein the liquid transportation fuel comprises gasoline, diesel, heating oil, or jet fuel.
15. The process of claim 14 , wherein the fuel credits are California Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits.
16. The process of claim 1 , wherein the fuel credits are Renewable Identification Numbers.
17. The process of claim 1 , wherein the fossil derived liquid hydrocarbon comprises desulfurized crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon.
18. The process of claim 1 , wherein the fossil derived liquid hydrocarbon is desulfurized crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon.
19. A process for producing fuel and fuel credits, said process comprising:
(a) at a fuel production facility, processing crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon to produce a liquid transportation fuel;
(b) obtaining renewable hydrogen produced from one of (i) biogas derived from organic material, (ii) methane that qualifies under applicable regulations as renewably sourced, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii);
(c) using the renewable hydrogen in the processing of the crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon such that the liquid transportation fuel produced in (a) is at least partially derived from the renewable hydrogen; and
(d) generating or causing the generation of Low Carbon Fuel credits, said fuel credits dependent upon the liquid transportation fuel being at least partially derived from the renewable hydrogen.
20. A process for producing fuel and fuel credits, said process comprising:
(a) at a fuel production facility, processing crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon to produce a liquid transportation fuel;
(b) obtaining renewable hydrogen produced from one of (i) biogas derived from organic material, (ii) methane that qualifies under applicable regulations as renewably sourced, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), wherein obtaining the renewable hydrogen comprises subjecting the (i) biogas, the (ii) methane, or the (iii) combination to a reforming process that produces the renewable hydrogen;
(c) using the renewable hydrogen in the processing of the crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon such that the liquid transportation fuel produced in (a) is at least partially derived from the renewable hydrogen; and
(d) generating or causing the generation of fuel credits, said fuel credits dependent upon the liquid transportation fuel being at least partially derived from the renewable hydrogen.