Opportunities for production of BIOMASS-BASED alternative fuels in Republic of Bulgaria

The potential of Republic of Bulgaria for production of ethanol amounts to 3 300 000 t annually. The feedstock for its production includes grain, cellulose and sugar. The cost price of ethanol produced from grain amounts to 0.73 leva/l (about 0.37 Euro/l), from straw - to 0.53 leva/l (about 0.21 Euro/l), and from sugar-beet - to 1.40-1.50 leva/l (about 0.70-0.75 Euro/l). Republic of Bulgaria has a significant potential for biodiesel production - about 1 200 000 t annually. The cost price of methyl esters of high unsaturated fatty acids from rape-seed oil is about 837 leva/t or about 430 Euro/t. The potential of RB in view of the production of high quality fuels - kerosene, diesel fuel, propane-butane, gasoline and solid paraffins can reach 1 400 000 t annually regarding the production of water gas after biomass gasification and moving to syngas. The production of 1 900 000 t sugar-based ethanol requires subsidy of 50 mln. Euro. The investments for the production of 300 000 t annually grain-based ethanol amounts to 40 million Euro. The production of 800 000 t annually agricultural cellulose-based ethanol (straw and other feed stock) can be realised by subsidy of 60 mln. Euro. The conversion of 5 000 000 t of agricultural biomass in syngas and fuels needs investments of 60 mln. Euro. The investments required for the production of 1 200 000 t/annually of methyl esters of high fatty acids amount to 30 mln. Euro. The production of ethanol on the basis of biomass and methyl esters of high fatty acids is an environmentally friendly process, with no detrimental impact on the environment.