November 20th, 2024
This week, Alder reached a key milestone in the scale-up of Alder Renewable Crude (ARC) production by commissioning a pilot skid at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Alder’s proprietary technology fractionates fast pyrolysis oil into energy-dense, low-carbon to carbon-negative ARC that can be further transformed into high-value renewable fuels and chemicals using existing commercial-scale refining infrastructure. This skid, which we are calling Pioneer, has been designed and assembled alongside our partners at NREL. Pioneer integrates all unit operations of Alder’s proprietary technology into a continuous process, with a production capacity of one barrel per day of ARC. The skid design and execution were informed by hundreds of bench-scale experiments, continuous pilot and scale-up experiments, and process modeling simulations with NREL and Honeywell UOP.
The first step of commissioning is operating Pioneer with non-hazardous liquid; in this case, water. This step is important because it gives us an opportunity to prove the functionality of all equipment using a non-hazardous fluid. Starting complex testing processes like this one typically comes with unexpected challenges, and it is best practice to troubleshoot and resolve these issues before introducing additional complexities and cost associated with reactive liquids. It also allows us to learn and prepare for “prime time” as we approach fully autonomous ARC production runs, like a commercial refinery. This is an incredibly exciting time for the Alder’s technology team. Many are anxious, including the authors of this post, to press the start button after months of reviewing drawings, acquiring materials, and researching every phase of its development.
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