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Commercializing Miscanthus as a
Feedstock
www.REPREVERenewables.comwww.FreedomGiantMiscanthus.com
Freedom Field DayJan 13, 2011
Demand for Biomass
The Future Requires Biomass
• Government mandates– 36 billion gal by 2022, with 15 billion cap on
corn ethanol– Electricity from renewables mandated
• Billion Ton Supply: grown in various areas using best-suited crops
• Put this problem to the farmers & landowners, we’ll solve it
Electricity from Biomass Demand is MANDATED
State renewable portfolio standard
State renewable portfolio goal
Electricity Generation Mandates• 29 States + DC have RPS• Proposed Waxman Bill (June 09)
• Federal mandate• 20% RPS by 2020• Would require 370 million tons
per year of biomass• Federal Mandates for entire US are
thought to be coming in some form
Liquid Biofuels Demand is MANDATED
• Energy Independence Act of 2007
• RFS2 (Renewable Fuel Standard 2)
- 36 billion gallons biofuel by 2022
- 15 billion corn-based ethanol cap- 21 billion advanced biofuels
- Will require 1 Billion Tons of Biomass
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50
100
150
200
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Current Early '20s Early '30s
15% cagr
Million tons per annum (mtpa)
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7% cagr
Million acres @ 25 tons/acre
BioPower-US BioFuels Cellulosic Ethanol
BioPower-EU Million Acres Total Tons
U.S. demand expected to grow from 33 mtpa to 157 mtpa by early 20’s
Forecasted US Biomass Demand
CAGR = compounded annual growth rate MTPA = million tons per year
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Current Renewable Sources are Limited
Electricity Generation• Wind and solar were 1st generation, but limited and/or expensive alternatives for future
Biomass (wood, grasses, sugarcane, waste and residue)
• Natural resource, with potential for abundant supply and cost advantages
• Low impact and environmentally friendly alternatives
Biomass expected to capture lion-share of market growth
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Land Cost Drives Biomass Economics
Land cost and suitability drastically impact price per ton
($/mm btu = dollars per million btu’s)
Confidential Information
Billion Ton Supply
“Significant parts of the needed supply chain have received little attention, including varieties of dedicated biomass crops suited to different growing environments across the country.”
-- Growing America’s Fuel: An Innovation Approach to Achieving the President’s Biofuels Target
Giant Miscanthus 101
Miscanthus x giganteusPerennial Energy Grass,Yielding 20+ Tons/Acre
Giant Miscanthus
• The best crop in the SE for growth of cellulosic material
• Many benefits:– Environmental– High Yield & Profit Potential– Government Benefits & Cost Sharing (BCAP)– Low Inputs & Production Costs– Care-free Growth
• Giant miscanthus identified as a C4 perennial crop Giant miscanthus identified as a C4 perennial crop with huge biomass potential: with huge biomass potential: up to 25 tons/acre/yr, up to 25 tons/acre/yr, dependent upon:dependent upon:
– VarietyVariety– Culture practicesCulture practices– Geographical locationGeographical location– Soil ClassSoil Class
• Height up to 15 ftHeight up to 15 ft• Dormant harvest: nutrients & moisture senesce back Dormant harvest: nutrients & moisture senesce back
to rootsto roots– 10-15% Moisture Content at harvest10-15% Moisture Content at harvest– Sequesters CarbonSequesters Carbon– Returns minerals back to rootsReturns minerals back to roots
Giant Miscanthus:
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Miscanthus is not switchgrass.
•Developed by Dr. Brian Baldwin at MSU, through 12 years of biomass crop study and selection for superior traits.
•The only variety MEANT FOR the Southeast.
•Freedom is the only University-released, named, certified strain of giant miscanthus.
“We see a lot of potential in Freedom giant miscanthus --it’s the most promising of the hundreds of miscanthus cultivars we’ve evaluated over the years, and it’s light years ahead of any of the other grasses.”
--Dr. Brian Baldwin, MSU
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The Brief Story:
• Began with small amount of rhizomes• Decided on certified “Foundation Stock”
because of importance of purity• Began propagating commercially• Now licensing growers throughout SE• Began talks with end-users on contracted
biomass• Now, in 2010:
– 500 acres of Foundation -- and over 5,000,000 rhizomes planted to date
Yield Model: Year 1-5
2-3Tons/Acre
1
8Tons/Acre
2
13-15Tons/Acre
3
18-22Tons/Acre
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22-25 Tons/Acre
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• Establishment• Fertilizer• Herbicides
• Little Fertilizer• Little Herbicides
• Full Yield• 20+ Year Life
Stem Crown Size at Ground
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At Planting Time, Marginal Soil
Example
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1st Year Plot, August & October
Same plot, 2nd year
June, 2010
July, 2010
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6th Year Plot.Growing at MSU.No fertilizer.
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• Little to no fertilizer needsLittle to no fertilizer needs• Highly drought tolerantHighly drought tolerant• No known pestsNo known pests• Dense growth crowds out weedsDense growth crowds out weeds• Nutrients returned to soil each yearNutrients returned to soil each year• Can grow on Marginal SoilsCan grow on Marginal Soils• COCO22 neutral, or negative energy source: neutral, or negative energy source:
Carbon creditsCarbon credits• ~ 12% Moisture Content at Harvest• Up to 25 tons per acre yield
Attributes & Benefits Driving Growth
• New growth from rhizomes
• Plant is sterile– Triploid = seed sterile
• Multiplication is by plant division
• 5,000 rhizomes per acre
Giant Miscanthus Growth
Rhizomes
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Freedom Material CharacteristicsMoisture Content
At Harvest ~ 12%
BTU Values:
As Harvested ~ 7,250/lb
Dry Basis ~ 8,200/lb
Wood as harvested: ~ 4,600/lb
Ash Content:
~ 3%
Yield Comparisons
Biomass Yields for SE
3-5X the yield of timber & switchgrass
Almost double the yield of other giant miscanthus
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25
Tons/acre
Pine
Switchgrass
Miscanthus
FreedomGiantMiscanthus
1 Acre of Freedom
28 tons total over first three years20-25 tons/yr each year thereafter288 tons after 16-years of harvest18+ tons/year cumulative yield12-15% Moisture Content
Grower Economics
Grower Economics
Grower Economics
Grower Economics
Scaling-Up: Our Growth Model
The Innovator’s Dilemma:
You can always tell who the pioneers are…
They’re the ones with the arrows in their backs.
Efforts Going Forward:
• 500+ acres of Foundation planted• Demo plots in 10 states
– Monitor, research growth & yields– Learn best approach for each region
• Ongoing Research with MSU
• 2011: We can plant 20-30,000 acres from rhizomes
• 2012+: Exponential growth in acreage
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Greenhouse for Trials/Research
Also utilized greenhouses and fields to accelerate propagation
500 Acres of Foundation Stock
Southeast Demo Plots
Supply Chain Logistics
The Supply Chain Doesn’t Exist
• Must create a supply chain, not just acreage• Harvest, propagation equipment• Storage and transportation• Intermediary forms: pellets, briquettes,
torrefied• We’re participating and innovating at each of
these steps
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Harvesting
• In-field bailing – varies by equipment
• Up to 4’x4’x8’
• 650 to 1,400 lbs per bale
• Modified existing equipment and specialized equipment under development
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Storage Requirements & Options
• Ease of storage allows for year-around supply
• Annual storage in-field with cover
• Covered bales increase longevity
• Minimal risk of internal combustion or rot/loss (low moisture content)
• Bale handled with traditional tractors and forklifts
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Handling and Conveyance
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Transportation Efficiencies
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Densification
• Shreds and Briquettes
• Pellets
Shredding, Hammer-milling and pelletizing
EU Pellet Standards
• Torrefied
Hydrophobic / Inert = outside storage
~20% yield loss; ~30% boost in btu value
Field of Freedom Giant Miscanthus