1 Managed by UT-Battellefor the Department of Energy

Biofuels in the USA

Dennis Ojima

Renewable Energy in the U.S. - 2006Renewable Energy in the U.S. - 2006

Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/

65% wood23% biofuels12% waste

U.S. Energy Consumption by U.S. Energy Consumption by Source and SectorSource and Sector

Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/

U.S. Energy Consumption by U.S. Energy Consumption by Source and SectorSource and Sector

Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/

Renewable Energy in the U.S.Renewable Energy in the U.S.

Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/

http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy06osti/39181.pdf

http://www.nrel.gov/gis/images/biomass.jpg

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A M

aize

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nes Production

EthanolExport

Earth Policy Institute, 2006

• 40% of global production

• 70% of global exports

• Developing EtOH capacity > current

• Corn subsidies $37 billion 1995-2003

• Corn price ~$2/bu 2004-5, now $3.5

USA Maize Production

http://www.ethanolrfa.org/objects/documents/plantmap_oct_4_2007.pdf

Accelerated DomesticationAccelerated Domestication

Apply advanced, modern genetic and genomics techniques to accelerate the domestication rate in fast growing short-rotation tree species.

Corn DomesticationCorn Domestication

• Teosinte

Timeline:

5000 ybp

•Corn landraces

2000 ybp

• Modern Hybrids

Today

PopulusPopulus as a Model for Biofuels as a Model for Biofuels ProductionProduction

Fastest-growing deciduous tree in U.S.

Genus occurs across broad geographic range

Perennial and clonal

Readily propagated and grown in intensive plantations

13 Managed by UT-Battellefor the Department of Energy

WILLOW

SWITCHGRASS

JATROPHA

ALGAE

Innovation in Biofuels

• New developments in biofuel production from algae

• Heat: highest energy return (80%) - wood and grass pellets (home) - briquettes and bales(industrial)

• Conversion: - ethanol from cellulose (biological; gross yield 50-70 gal/t)

- co-firing with coal for electricity ~ 20% efficiency with steam turbine but up to 40% with gasification

Solid Biofuel Uses

- thermal pyrolysis (reduced O2) > 600C syngas (H2/CO/CO2/CH4, 70% by wt): use in CHP; co-firing; or synthesis of MeOH or EtOH (78 gal/t) < 600C bio-oil (up to 70% by wt)

• Grass Pellets: - yields of 3 dry US t/acre

- ? retail value, wood pellets currently $180-200/t - ash issue (3-4% versus <1% for wood)

• Wood Chips: - sustainable forest cull-wood removal 1-2 t/ac/yr

- high value hardwood timber - currently $20-25/green t

• Short Rotation Willow: - currently ~$28/green t but qualifies for CRP and CREP; projected 10 t/acre

Economic Use of Marginal Cropland

Considerations for Assessing Sustainable Bioenergy Development

Strategies

Full Life-Cycle Of Biofuel Production

• Land use

• Energy use

• GHG emissions

• Energy resource depletion associated with production and utilization

• Water consumption

• Eutrophication

• Biodiversity/ Invasive Species

• Air pollution

Socio-economic Impacts

• Economic impacts

– Job creation

– Wealth distribution

– Food Versus Fuel

• Social impacts

– Social responsibility

– Social equity

System Boundary for cradle-to-gate life-cycle assessment for corn production Source: Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable

Energy

ENVIRONMENT:Energy BalanceGHGLand UseBiodiversityWaterNutrientsInvasive Biota

SOCIAL:Food vs FuelAestheticsEconomicJobs/TrainingEquityCertification

POLICY ACTIONS FARM BILL

– Provides an overall $1 billion to fund programs in the energy title that will leverage renewable energy industry investments in new technologies and new feedstocks

– Includes $320 million in loan guarantees for biorefineries producing advanced biofuels

– Provides $35 million for a new program to help existing ethanol facilities reduce their fossil fuel use

– Provides $120 million for the Biomass Research and Development Program

– Funds the Bioenergy Program at $300 million – Creates a Biomass Crop Assistance Program to develop the

next generation of feedstocks for renewable energy– Establishes a sugar-to-ethanol program – Provides sugar to biofuel producers at competitive prices

Energy Bill S. 3233 - A bill to promote development of a 21st century

energy system to increase United States competitiveness in the world energy technology marketplace, and for other purposes.

– (2) clean energy technologies in vehicles and fuels that will end the reliance of the United States on foreign sources of energy and insulate consumers from the price shocks of world energy markets;

– (3) a domestic commercialization and manufacturing capacity that will establish the United States as a world leader in clean energy technologies across multiple sectors;

– (4) installation of sufficient infrastructure to allow for the cost-effective deployment of clean energy technologies in each region of the United States;

– (5) the transformation of the building stock of the United States to zero net energy consumption.

S. 2730 – Clean Energy Investment Bank Act of 2008: A bill to facilitate the participation of private capital and skills in the strategic, economic, and environmental development of a diverse portfolio of clean energy and energy efficiency technologies within the United States

IN THE NEWS July 17: DRI and UNR Work Together on Biomass

Conversion Process. Researchers from the Desert Research Institute and the University of Nevada, Reno are part of a $4.674 million study by Gas Technology Institute to economically convert any leafy or woody biomass into a uniform, densified feedstock that can be easily fed into any thermal gasifer or pryolyzer for conversion into syngas, fuels and value-added chemicals.

July 16, 2008: Flambeau River BioFuels, Verenuim To Receive DOE Grant Money

July 14, 2008: Louisiana Passes Advanced Biofuel Legislation

July 9, 2008: Biomethodes Develops VT Biofuel Processes

23 Managed by UT-Battellefor the Department of Energy

Renewable Energy in the U.S.Renewable Energy in the U.S.

Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/