Integration of biorefineries with small modular reactors (SMR) and micro-reactors : techno-economical analysis

Abstract

A constantly growing demand for industry decarbonization is reflected in European Union legislations and national law of each European country. Finland is one of the leading countries in this transformation, with a new objective of carbon neutrality declared by the Finnish government by 2035. Considering that the industry sector is this country's most significant heat consumer, the government's objective can only be met by decarbonizing the energy and industry sectors. The bio-industry has a unique role in this field because biorefineries deliver carbon-neutral products, allowing fossil fuels to phase out. However, they are so far powered by burning their own feedstock and using fossil fuel power generation. The solution to this concern could come from small modular reactors (SMR) because they are meant to deliver energy to smaller and more separate grids and consumers, offering carbon-free, highly dense energy. The assessment provided in this thesis reveals the technical and economic integration possibilities of currently offered SMR and microreactor applications with specific biorefining technologies, allowing for investment payback in less than six years.