Thesis work: 30hp - Carbon Dioxide Removal with producer gas from biomass

Scania is one of the leading European manufacturers of heavy-duty vehicles. The 2024 global sales were 96'400 trucks, 11'200 engines and 5'600 buses, with 45 % of the total outside Europe. When it comes to global warming, we already contribute to the necessary reduction of fossil CO2 emissions with a focus on battery-electric trucks and buses plus the necessary charging infrastructure.

Background 
According to EU regulation 2019/1242, from 2019 to 2030, 2035 and 2040 the average tailpipe-CO2 of new truck sales shall be reduced by 43, 64 and 90 %. The plan is to reach this reduction by quickly ramping up the sales of battery-electric vehicles (BEV) and the corresponding charging infrastructure. Most truck charging pools need a new connection to the Medium Voltage (MV) grid. During a preceding MSc project it was found that the waiting time only for this MV grid connection spans from 1 to 4 years. To be able to use the charging pools while waiting for the grid connection, gensets shall serve as intermediate electricity source. And to maximise the climate-positive effect, these gensets shall run on biofuels and apply Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), what results in Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR).

Task
In this M.Sc. thesis project (30 hp) for one student, a techno-economic assessment of CDR with producer gas from biomass shall be conducted. The task is to (i) Calculate the supply cost for biomass from lignocellulosic energy crops (ii) Estimate the biomass supply prices (iii) Design a small plant for biomass gasification and gas-cleaning to fuel quality, where examples are TNO's MILENA gasifier and OLGA tar removal (iv) Calculate the CDR cost [€ / tonne-CO2] for 90 % carbon capture downstream the genset (v) Calculate the negative well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions [g-CO2eq / km] of a BEV powered by these gensets (vi) Describe potential adverse effects of this CDR option on area consumption and biodiversity. In a parallel MSc project, technology and cost of the CCS machinery for a genset will be elaborated.

Education & organisation:
Studies: Energy / Chemical Engineering

Is a must: Knowledge of chemical processes, thermodynamics,engineering economics.

Is a bonus: Knowledge of gasification.

Number of students: One.

Start of work: Mon, 2026-02-02

Estimated duration: Until Fre 2026-07-03. In average min. 2 office-days per week

Language of work: English, Swedish

Location of work: Södertälje, Stockholm County, Sweden

Students from outside Stockholm County can rent a subsidized Scania apartment in Södertälje.

Per student, payment before taxes: 20'000 SEK at the start, 20'000 SEK after the final report was approved by Scania.

Per student, travel expenses: 1 to 2 roundtrips between study location and Södertälje.

Contact persons and supervisors:
Antonius Kies, Energy Economy / Range. Tel. 0046 8 553 - 724 24

Anders Jensen, Energy Economy. Tel. 0046 8 553 - 859 13

Application:
Please enclose personal letter, CV and the list of grades from the latest M.Sc. studies.

The applications will be checked continuously.

A background check and security interview will be conducted for this position.

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