Technoeconomic analysis of camelina oil extraction as feedstock for biojet fuel in the Canadian Prairies

Abstract

This study presents a technoeconomic analysis of commercial extraction of camelina oil as an aviation fuel feedstock. An engineering economic model was designed in Superpro Designer® to quantify capital investment, scale, production cost, and profitability for a 120,000–1,500,000 tonnes annum−1 solvent extraction plant. The corresponding estimated capital investment was $24.7 - $155 million. Feedstock cost ($0.29–0.40 kg−1), seed yield (1400–2100 kg ha−1), oil content (38–47%), scale, and camelina meal revenue are key factors in the break-even selling price (BESP) and competitiveness of camelina oil as a feedstock. Feedstock represented 81–90% of operating cost. The BESP ranges from $0.43 -$1.22 L-1. Larger plants have lower BESP compared to smaller plants which require higher breakeven prices. This suggests better economies of scale associated with higher plant scale. Camelina can be introduced into underutilized summerfallow land of semiarid Canadian Prairies of Saskatchewan. Swift Current is an ideal extraction plant location. These results can guide R&D and investment decisions for advancing camelina as an industrial feedstock within the innovation value chain.