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Biofuels in the USA Dennis Ojima 1 Managed by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy Renewable Energy in the U.S. - 2006 65% wood 23% biofuels 12% waste Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/ U.S. Energy Consumption by Source and Sector Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/ U.S. Energy Consumption by Source and Sector Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/ 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 USA Maize Production • 40% of global production Production Ethanol Export 300 • 70% of global exports 250 200 • Developing EtOH capacity > current 150 100 • Corn subsidies $37 billion 1995-2003 50 Earth Policy Institute, 2006 2008 2006 2004 2002 2000 1998 1996 1994 1992 1990 1988 1986 1984 1982 0 1980 USA Maize - million tonnes 350 • Corn price ~$2/bu 2004-5, now $3.5 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/objects/documents/plantmap_oct_4_2007.pdf Accelerated Domestication Apply advanced, modern genetic and genomics techniques to accelerate the domestication rate in fast growing short-rotation tree species. Corn Domestication • •Corn landraces • Modern Hybrids Teosinte Timeline: 5000 ybp 2000 ybp Today Populus as a Model for Biofuels Production Fastest-growing deciduous tree in U.S. Genus occurs across broad geographic range Perennial and clonal Readily propagated and grown in intensive plantations WILLOW SWITCHGRASS JATROPHA ALGAE 13 Managed by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy Innovation in Biofuels • New developments in biofuel production from algae Solid Biofuel Uses • 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 - 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) Economic Use of Marginal Cropland • 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 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 Balance GHG Land Use Biodiversity Water Nutrients Invasive Biota SOCIAL: Food vs Fuel Aesthetics Economic Jobs/Training Equity Certification 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 costeffective 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-Battelle for the Department of Energy Renewable Energy in the U.S. Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/