The potential of utilizing existing oil refineries to produce low carbon fuels via co-processing

Mitigating climate change will need to decrease the demand on fossil fuels and developing low carbon fuels. Co-processing biogenic feedstocks in existing oil refineries could provide significant amount of low carbon fuels as well as displacing the demand on fossil fuels. The proposed research work with an oil refinery who is commercialising co-processing oleochemical feedstocks in their facility. The work is expected to help to gain a better understanding of the impacts of adding biogenic feedstocks and building a “predictive” model, which could help the refinery to further optimize its process and be more energy efficient. The results will also motivates other refineries to adopt co-processing as a way to decarbonise and transform into a low carbon economy.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jack Saddler

Student:

Jianping Su

Partner:

Parkland Fuel

Discipline:

Forestry

Sector:

Oil and gas

University:

University of British Columbia