Biomass EnergyBiomass Energy

Do you support the use of corn Do you support the use of corn to produce ethanol as a fuel?to produce ethanol as a fuel?

1 2

46%

54%1.1. YesYes

2.2. NoNo

Would you be willing to pay more for a Would you be willing to pay more for a biofuel to power you car?biofuel to power you car?

1 2

57%

43%

1.1. YesYes

2.2. NoNo

How much more would you be How much more would you be willing to pay?willing to pay?

1 2 3 4 5

39%37%

2%0%

22%

1.1. None, I want the None, I want the cheapest fuel cheapest fuel possiblepossible

2.2. 10%10%

3.3. 25%25%

4.4. 50%50%

5.5. More the 50%More the 50%

Biomass energy is energy derived Biomass energy is energy derived from living matter from living matter Crops (corn, soy beans, etc.)Crops (corn, soy beans, etc.)TreesTreesAgricultural and forestry wasteAgricultural and forestry wasteMunicipal solid wasteMunicipal solid waste

Solid (wood chips) Solid (wood chips) Liquid (alcohol)Liquid (alcohol) Gas (methane) fuel.Gas (methane) fuel. Until ~1880 biomass was the prime Until ~1880 biomass was the prime

fuel in the US.fuel in the US.

Currently provides 3% of US energy Currently provides 3% of US energy needs needs

Potential to provide between 4% and Potential to provide between 4% and 25% of our energy needs.25% of our energy needs.

Potential to provide several times the Potential to provide several times the energy expected from wind and energy expected from wind and photovoltaics.photovoltaics.

Sweden and Finland use Biomass for Sweden and Finland use Biomass for 14% of their energy needs.14% of their energy needs.

Basic Energy Storage MechanismBasic Energy Storage Mechanism

Photosynthesis:Photosynthesis: COCO22 + H + H22O + light O + light O O22 + Carbohydrates + Carbohydrates

Carbon is taken out of the Carbon is taken out of the atmosphere during photosynthesis atmosphere during photosynthesis and returned when and returned when ““fuelfuel”” is used is used

No net addition of carbon to the No net addition of carbon to the atmosphereatmosphere

Common crops used for biofuels Common crops used for biofuels include corn, soybeans, sugar cane, include corn, soybeans, sugar cane, sugar beets and oats. Other sugar beets and oats. Other possible sources are switch grass possible sources are switch grass and algae.and algae.

The US has over 1 billion acres of The US has over 1 billion acres of land suitable for growing biomass.land suitable for growing biomass.

Forestland and agricultural land Forestland and agricultural land could potentially supply 1.3 billion could potentially supply 1.3 billion tons of dry biomass per year.tons of dry biomass per year.

This is enough to replace one third of This is enough to replace one third of our current demand for our current demand for transportation fuel.transportation fuel.

This would significantly cut imports This would significantly cut imports as well as reducing pollution.as well as reducing pollution.

Biomass fuel would require only Biomass fuel would require only modest changes in growing modest changes in growing practices practices

No impact on food, feed, and export No impact on food, feed, and export demand.demand.

Positive effect on rural economy Positive effect on rural economy since it produces new markets.since it produces new markets.

OLD EXPECTATIONSOLD EXPECTATIONS

Increased demand for biofuel crops Increased demand for biofuel crops will lead to price increases for those will lead to price increases for those crops. crops.

Expanding biofuel production Expanding biofuel production expected to cause the cost of expected to cause the cost of livestock production to increase.livestock production to increase.

This increase would lead to a This increase would lead to a decrease in livestock production.decrease in livestock production.

REALITIESREALITIES

Decreased livestock production leads Decreased livestock production leads to a decrease the income of livestock to a decrease the income of livestock producers and suppliers.producers and suppliers.

Increased biofuel crop prices leads to Increased biofuel crop prices leads to a shift in types of crops produced.a shift in types of crops produced.

Reduction in agricultural diversity .Reduction in agricultural diversity . Diversion of crops away from the Diversion of crops away from the

human food chain.human food chain. Increase in food prices Increase in food prices

REALITIESREALITIES

For the US to meet its biofuel target, 40% of the For the US to meet its biofuel target, 40% of the land that is currently devoted to corn production land that is currently devoted to corn production would have to be converted to biofuel feedstock would have to be converted to biofuel feedstock production Shifts in crop production and the production Shifts in crop production and the changes in world price of agricultural changes in world price of agricultural commodities due to the expansion of the biofuel commodities due to the expansion of the biofuel market are expected to have global impacts on market are expected to have global impacts on consumers. Individuals who are food insecure will consumers. Individuals who are food insecure will be more heavily impacted by the increase in be more heavily impacted by the increase in world prices; food price volatility has the largest world prices; food price volatility has the largest impact on the extremely poor, those who spend impact on the extremely poor, those who spend 55-75% of their income on food 55-75% of their income on food [

EthanolEthanol

Ethanol production was 3.4 billion Ethanol production was 3.4 billion gallons in 2004 and has be growing gallons in 2004 and has be growing by 20% per year.by 20% per year.

Based on the fermentation of plant Based on the fermentation of plant mater.mater.

It can be made from a lot of different It can be made from a lot of different crops. US uses mostly corn, Brazil crops. US uses mostly corn, Brazil uses sugarcane, France uses wheat uses sugarcane, France uses wheat and sugar beatsand sugar beats

Flow diagram for Flow diagram for the production of the production of ethanol.ethanol.

Ethanol Plants in the USEthanol Plants in the US

Speaker of the Speaker of the House Dennis House Dennis Hastert dedicating Hastert dedicating a new ethanol a new ethanol plant in Illinois.plant in Illinois.

Most ethanol is used as a Most ethanol is used as a transportation fuel/gasoline additive.transportation fuel/gasoline additive.

Currently we use E10 fuel. 90% Currently we use E10 fuel. 90% gasoline and 10% ethanol.gasoline and 10% ethanol.

No special requirements for using No special requirements for using E10.E10.

Flex-fuel cars can use up to E85.Flex-fuel cars can use up to E85. Potential to use ethanol in fuel cells Potential to use ethanol in fuel cells

in the future.in the future.

Comparison of Gasoline/EthanolComparison of Gasoline/Ethanol Ethanol has the higher octane rating.Ethanol has the higher octane rating. Ethanol is cleaner burning (less soot)Ethanol is cleaner burning (less soot) Ethanol has no visible flame (potential Ethanol has no visible flame (potential

hazard)hazard) Ethanol has ~1/2 the energy content per Ethanol has ~1/2 the energy content per

gallon as gasoline.gallon as gasoline. Ethanol is less expensive per gallon.Ethanol is less expensive per gallon. Ethanol is highly corrosive (Need special Ethanol is highly corrosive (Need special

engines to run on pure ethanol.)engines to run on pure ethanol.) Ethanol has a lower evaporation rate. Ethanol has a lower evaporation rate.

(Harder to start on cold days.)(Harder to start on cold days.)

BiodieselBiodiesel A variety of oils can be used to produce A variety of oils can be used to produce

biodiesel. biodiesel. • Virgin oil feedstock e.g.Virgin oil feedstock e.g.rapeseed and and

soybean oilssoybean oils• Waste vegetable oil (WVO);Waste vegetable oil (WVO);• AnimalAnimal• Algae, which can be grown using waste Algae, which can be grown using waste

materials such asmaterials such as• Oil from halophytes such as Oil from halophytes such as salicornia salicornia

bigeloviibigelovii, which can be grown using saltwater, which can be grown using saltwater

Algae BiodieselAlgae Biodiesel Currently too expensive to competeCurrently too expensive to compete

BUT HAS A LOT OF ADVANTAGESBUT HAS A LOT OF ADVANTAGES Can be produced using land that is not Can be produced using land that is not

suitable for agriculture. suitable for agriculture. Does not affect fresh water resources,Does not affect fresh water resources, Can be produced using ocean and Can be produced using ocean and

wastewater, and are biodegradable and wastewater, and are biodegradable and relatively harmless to the environment if relatively harmless to the environment if spilledspilled

Costs more per unit mass yet can Costs more per unit mass yet can yield over 30 times more energy per yield over 30 times more energy per unit area than other biofuel cropsunit area than other biofuel crops

The US DOE estimates that if algae The US DOE estimates that if algae fuel replaced all the petroleum fuel in fuel replaced all the petroleum fuel in the United States, it would require the United States, it would require 15,000 square miles. This is less than 15,000 square miles. This is less than 11⁄⁄77 the area of corn harvested in the the area of corn harvested in the United States in 2000.United States in 2000.

Biodiesel from bacteriaBiodiesel from bacteria Genetically modified cyanobacteria Genetically modified cyanobacteria

secretes ethanol and bio-diesel.secretes ethanol and bio-diesel. Requires a concentrated CO2 Requires a concentrated CO2

environmentenvironment Targeted goal is Targeted goal is ““15,000 gallons of 15,000 gallons of

diesel and 25,000 gallons of ethanol diesel and 25,000 gallons of ethanol per acre per year per acre per year

Claim made by the company is that Claim made by the company is that diesel could be produced for diesel could be produced for $30/barrel equivalent.$30/barrel equivalent.

Municipal Solid Waste Municipal Solid Waste

~30% of all municipal waste is ~30% of all municipal waste is recycled.recycled.

We still need to process the other We still need to process the other 70%.70%.

Either bury it in landfills or burn it.Either bury it in landfills or burn it. Energy content per pound of MSW is Energy content per pound of MSW is

~1/3 that of good coal (4300 Btu/lb)~1/3 that of good coal (4300 Btu/lb)

Major concerns deal with air pollution Major concerns deal with air pollution during combustion.during combustion.

A lot of potential A lot of potential ““bad stuffbad stuff”” in in garbage.garbage.

Pollution control devices are very Pollution control devices are very expensive.expensive.

Many plants essentially break even Many plants essentially break even on their energy productionon their energy production

Big Stone MSW Power Plant in Big Stone MSW Power Plant in South Dakota.South Dakota.

Wood burning power plantsWood burning power plants

Typically smaller Typically smaller scale power plants. scale power plants. (10(10’’s of MW.)s of MW.)

In house energy In house energy productionproduction

HydrogenHydrogen

There is a lot of future potential for There is a lot of future potential for using Hydrogen.using Hydrogen.

It is a good way to store energy, but It is a good way to store energy, but it is NOT a new energy resource.it is NOT a new energy resource.

Potential use in fuel cells. Potential use in fuel cells. Transportation/storage is a concern.Transportation/storage is a concern.