Alan F. Rozich, Ph.D., P.E., DEE Chairman & CEO
BioConversion Solutions Exton, Pennsylvania Boston, Massachusetts
www.bioconversionsolutions.com Other Inconvenient Truths - The
Agricultural, Water, Energy Nexus 1
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Contents Other Inconvenient Truths Beyond Global Warming
Sustainable Resource Challenges and Tools The Agricultural, Water,
Energy Nexus Case Study and Example Paths Forward 2
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3 The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority,
but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane., Marcus
Aurelius, Roman Emperor, 161- 180 A.D.
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Other Inconvenient Truths Beyond Global Warming Global warming
is a symptom. Although real, there are other inconvenient truths
that will likely do us in much sooner unless we change societal
functionality A problematic, inconvenient triad, or super nexus,
has emerged: Population and economic expansion Depletion of
resources resulting in increased resource cost The need for
economic and environmental sustainability 4
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Economic and EnvironmentalSustainability Depletion of Resources
and Increased Cost & Decreased Availability Economic and
population expansion An Inconvenient Triad
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Tangible Examples 3 billion people Economic expansion means
that China and India will increase the world middle class by 3
billion people A huge increased demand for all resources putting
price pressure on these resources: Energy Water Agriculture and
food Simultaneous population and economic expansion has a
multiplicative impact on resource demand, not linear 6
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Sustainable Resource Challenges and Tools Energy Water 7
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Energy It is not a question of if these resources will run out
but when. Traditional energy resources are finite. It is not a
question of if these resources will run out but when. Renewable
energy sources and energy efficiency will be a must. A blended
fossil fuel/renewable mix can provide for a societal transition to
renewables. Both fossil fuel and renewable can be graded on energy
returned on investment or EROI. It is a simple maxim whose goal is
to grade energy initiatives to determine real benefit. 8 All energy
comes from the sun. All energy sources on the planet are basically
solar energy vectors. But at last his heart changed- and rising one
morning with the rosy dawn, he went before the sun, and spake thus
unto it: Thou great star! What would be thy happiness if thou hadst
not those for whom thou shinest!, Zarathustra, from Friedrich
Nietzsche, Thus Spake Zarathustra
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9 PrimitiveHuntingPrimitiveAgriculturalAdvancedAgricultural
Industrial IndustrialTechnological Daily Energy Consumption Per
Capita for Different Levels of Civilization (adopted from Cook
(1971)) Total Daily Per Capita per Day Energy Consumption (1,000
Kilocalories) Food Home & Commerce Industry & Farming
Transportation Food Home & Commerce Industry & Farming
Transportation
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Water Intra-societal competing and conflicting demands for
water are increasing as water is needed for energy and food
production and human consumption. There is only a finite amount of
water on the planet. Human use cannot intrude on peak ecological
water without causing irreparable damage to ecosystems. 10 The dual
increases in population and technological complexity of society are
imposing more demand on water resources with a 40% water gap by
2030. Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing
can resist it., Lao Tzu, 6 th Century B.C.
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Billions m 3 Water EXISTING DEFICIT Current and Predicted
Global Water Needs
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Tools Engineering and Scientific Concepts Microbiological and
Biochemical Concepts 12
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Engineering and Scientific Concepts No matter where you go,
there you are!, Dr. Banzai Understanding mass and energy balances,
No matter where you go, there you are!, Dr. Banzai Energy
fundamentals Units Difference between energy and power Latent heat
of vaporization EROI Energy Returned on Investment Important
aspects of chemistry 13
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Microbiological and Biochemical Concepts Microbes manufacture
their own very efficient chemicals, enzymes, to process materials.
Enzymes are special because they facilitate reactions quickly
without the need for other chemicals or reaction conditions.
Microbial systems are predictable and can be engineered in a manner
similar to physical or chemical reaction systems. 14 And scattered
about it, were the Martians--dead!-- slain as the red weed was
being slain; slain, after all man's devices had failed, by the
humblest things that God, in his wisdom, has put upon this earth.
H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds Appreciating and understanding
the power of microorganisms
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15 The Agricultural, Water, Energy Nexus
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Water Supply Energy WaterResources Agriculture & Food The
Agricultural, Water, and Energy Nexus
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Interlinkages of resources create the nexus. Increased
population and affluence increase resource demand. Water is needed
for energy production. Energy is needed for water production. Water
and energy are both needed for agriculture. There is also a looming
fertilizer crisis. Phosphorus mines are likely to be exhausted in a
matter of decades. Without phosphorus, agriculture as we know it
cannot function. 17 Farming is the soul of agriculture Farming is
the soul of agriculture going back almost 10,000 years. Current
societal functionality is not possible without modern agriculture.
Out here in the fields. I farm for my meals. I get my back into my
living., Pete Townshend, Baba ORiley
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20 Most agricultural and food byproducts have organics,
nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), and water. This means that
these byproducts have multiple renewable products. High rate
conversion biological systems have the ability to get high
conversion rates of feedstock and produce recoverable water and
fertilizer. An Australian meat processor saw the potential of the
application of this technology to provide energy and water security
and to increase profitability
(http://www.tonywindsor.com.au/releases/130703.pdf).http://www.tonywindsor.com.au/releases/130703.pdf
The processor, Bindaree Beef of Inverell began engineering of the
system and development of a project to implement the technology.
Case Study and Example Potential Solutions
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21 One of Australias largest meat processors, Bindaree Beef of
Inverell, capable of processing 1,300 cattle per day is in the
process of implementing AFC 2 technology. The purpose of this
project is to implement this technology to process feedstock
(waste) and make renewable energy, fertilizer, and water. The
facility has been designated as a major CO 2 e generator under the
Carbon Tax law that went into effect July, 2012. The major CO 2 e
sources are methane that is emitted from lagoons and CO 2 that is
emitted from a coal-fired boiler. AND Company management saw the
implementation of AFC 2 as an opportunity to be compliant with the
new Carbon Tax law AND to generate additional revenue through
energy generation (electricity) and fertilizer production.
Engineering analysis showed that implementation of AFC 2 technology
can be achieved economically without having to rely heavily on
subsidies, credits, etc. Case Study and Example
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22 The implementation of the system will produce electricity,
high quality fertilizer for sale, and Class A water create about
200 new jobs About 90% of the organic by-product/feedstock waste
will be converted into renewable products Eliminate the need for
landfill and the need to burn 7,200 tons of coal per year Generate
about 2 MW of renewable electricity Case Study and Example
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Bindaree Beef, Australian Meat Processor
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24 AFC 2 Pilot Plant at Bindaree Beef
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25 3D Depiction of Planned AFC 2 System for Bindaree Beef
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Paths Forward Gradually transition to energy renewables using
EROI methods and being cognizant of nexus considerations. Make more
use of biomass, the multi-tasking renewable. Biomass can produce
energy, fertilizer, and water. 26 Mine waste streams and other
feedstocks to obtain resources previously obtained from current
sources. For example, phosphorus can be obtained from biomass.
BREAK RESOURCE INTERLINKAGES. Oh friends, not these tones! Let us
raise our voices in more pleasing and more joyful sounds! Ludwig
van Beethoven, Symphony #9, 4 th Movement, Ode to Joy, 1825.
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27 FinisFinis
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Selected References McKinsey Global Institute, Resource
Revolution: Meeting the Worlds Energy, Food, and Water Needs,
McKinsey and Company, San Francisco, November, 2011. SAIC, Life
Cycle Assessment: Principles and Practice, USEPA, Cincinnati, Ohio,
2006. Cook, E., The Flow of Energy in an Industrial Society,
Scientific American, September, 1971. Janhardhan, V. and Fesmire,
B., Energy Explained, Volume 1: Conventional Energy, Rowman &
Littlefield Publishers, Inc., New York, 2011. Hubbert, M., The
Energy Resources of the Earth, Scientific American, September, 1971
28
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Selected References Oloman, Colin, Material and Energy Balances
for Engineers and Environmentalists, Imperial College Press,
London, 2009. Bothamley, J., Dictionary of Theories, Visible Ink
Press, Canton, Minnesota, USA, 2002. Henry, J. G. and Heinke, G.W.,
Environmental Science and Engineering, Prentice Hall, Englewood
Cliffs, New Jersey, 1989. Pankow, J.F., Aquatic Chemistry Concepts,
CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 1991. Rozich, A. F. and Gaudy, A.
F., Jr., Design and Operation of Activated Sludge Process Using
Respirometry, Ann Arbor Science, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1992. Water
Resources Group, Charting Our Water Future, 2030 Water Resources
Group, 2009. 29
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Selected References Gleick, P. and Palaniappan, M., Peak water
limits to freshwater withdrawal and use, Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences, 107, (25): 11155 11162, 2010.
Hoornweg, D. and Perinaz Bhada-Tata, P., What a Waste: A Global
Review of Solid Waste Management, World Bank, Washington, D.C.,
2012. Frankx, L., et. al., Optimising Markets for Recycling,
ARCADIS Report for the European Commission DG Environment, Antwerp,
Belgium, 2008. Hoff, H., Understanding the Nexus, Stockholm
Environment Institute, Presented, Bonn2011 Conference The Water,
Energy and Food Security Nexus, November, 2011. Schnepf, R., Energy
Use in Agriculture: Background and Issues, CRS Report for
Congress,CRS and Library of Congress, November 19, 2004. Younos,
T., R. Hill, and H. Poole, Water Dependency of Energy Production
and Power Generation Systems, VWRRC Special Report No. SR46-2009,
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, July, 2009. 30