University of Tennessee - ASERTTI accounts for 25% of global oil consumption, ... Carbon fibers...

Southeastern Regional CenterSoutheastern Regional CenterTennessee Agricultural Experiment StationTennessee Agricultural Experiment Station

University of TennesseeUniversity of Tennessee…… leading the Southeast in Biomass research, education, and outreleading the Southeast in Biomass research, education, and outreachach

Association of State Energy Research & Technology Transfer Institutions

Cocoa Beach, Florida

October 18, 2006

Timothy G. RialsTennessee Forest Products Center


WHY BIOENERGY?WHY BIOENERGY?Record Energy Prices

Reflects higher demand with emergence of China, India, others

National SecurityAmerica accounts for 25% of global oil consumption, but holds only 3% of known oil reserves60% of those reserves are in unstable regions

Economic Well BeingIn 2004, the ethanol industry provided over $2B in additional tax revenueProjected to add ca. 15,000 jobs for every billion gallons of ethanolGreatest impact on rural economy

Environmental ProtectionFossil CO2 emissions from ethanol are 85% lower than gasolineProjected Fossil Energy Ratio of 10.3 compared to 0.81 for gasoline


A Billion Tons of BiomassA Billion Tons of BiomassSustainable annual supply of 1.3 billion dry tons

932 M dry tons from agriculture

– Crop residues (446)– Perennial crops (377)– Grains to biofuels (87)– Process residues (87)

368 M dry tons from forests (forest residue only)

– Manufacturing residue (145)– Logging debris (64)– Fuel reduction treatments (60)– Fuelwood (54)– Urban wood waste (47)

Perlack, R.D., et al. 2005. Biomass as Feedstock for a Bioenergy and BioproductsIndustry: The Technical Feasibility of a Billion-Ton Annual Supply.


The 1.3 Billion Ton Biomass ScenarioThe 1.3 Billion Ton Biomass ScenarioB

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f Oil

Equi

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Source: ORNL & USDA Resource Assessment Study, Perlack et. al (April 2005)http://www.eere.energy.gov/biomass/pdfs/final_billionton_vision_report2.pdf


The Regional CircumstanceThe Regional Circumstance

Logging & ResiduesLogging & Residues

SwitchgrassSwitchgrass

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9,351,000Energy crops (potential)

1,005,000Ag residue (stover/straw)

1,733,000Forest residue

2,018,000Wood residue

Annual Supply (dry tons)Biomass Source


A concept to solve America's energy needs andrevitalize rural communities with Land Grant University

Research, Education, and Extension programs on renewable energy and biobased, non-food industries


Authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill

Includes all Land Grant Universities– Research, Education, Extension

Organized at a regional level– Five regional Sun Grant Centers– Designed to facilitate coordination and

communication

A Research & Collaboration Umbrella


Sun Grant PurposesSun Grant Purposes

Advance biobased energy and product technologies to enhance:– National energy security

– Ag sector diversification and environmental sustainability

– Rural economic diversification

– R&D coordination and collaboration among USDA, DOE, Land Grant Universities


Regional Sun Grant ProgramsRegional Sun Grant Programs

Competitive grants program within region– Centers 25%, Region 75%

• At least 30% each for:– Technology development– Technology implementation

Expect RFP January 2007

Integrate Federal, Regional, Local priorities


Southeastern Regional CenterSoutheastern Regional Center

Current funding about $1.5 million/yr for 4 years – Mostly from 2005 Transportation Bill– Plus small amount of funding from USDA

and DOE for planning and development– Authorized up to $25 million/Center/year

Currently developing a pilot competitive grant program for the Region


… an online resource for bioenergy and bioproducts

– Comprehensive and consistent content– Tailored to various audiences– Using best available technology to develop,

deliver, and maintain– Easy to use and navigate – Need it ASAP!!!

Sun Grant BioWebSun Grant BioWeb


www.bioweb.sungrant.orgwww.bioweb.sungrant.org


Research FellowshipsResearch FellowshipsTo promote collaborative research and partnerships with DOE National Labs

Supports travel and research costs for 2-4 week research experiences at national labs

M. Himmel (NREL)Characterization of cellulose fermentation processes by near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM)

O. Rojas (NCSU)Z. Hu/T. Thundat (ORNL)

Autothermal conversion of glycerol to hydrogen under nano-catalysis

P.Ye (Univ. of TN)J. Mielenz (ORNL)

Novel high-yield hydrogen production from polysaccharides by artificial enzymatic pathways

P. Zhang (VT)L. Moens (NREL)

Upgrading Pyrolysis Oils Using Ionic LiquidsN. Labbé (Univ. of TN)


Biomass CurriculumBiomass Curriculum

Developing and testing distance-learning curriculum that will be in the public domain

Joint project with NC State and NC A&T

6 M.S. classes, 2 B.S. classes, plus individual special topic lectures– Biomaterials science and characterization, thermal

and biological conversion processes, solid state composites, environmental and policy studies

Reduces instructional duplication and costs


Scope of the R&D NeedScope of the R&D Need

…… farm to farm to feedstock feedstock ……

…… to fuels,to fuels,power, products power, products ……

…… to to consumersconsumers


DedicatedDedicated Bioenergy Bioenergy CropsCrops

Switchgrass development is an historical focus

A native grass with extensive genetic diversity

Developmental reprogramming for improved feedstock– Decreased lignin– More leaves– Faster growth

Self-digestion for biofuels


The PreThe Pre--processing Problemprocessing ProblemVegetative biomass feedstock has:– Physical and chemical variability– Seasonal differences/ availability– High bulk volume– Handling difficulties– ie. Nature is in charge

Biorefinery / conversion needs:– Biomass low variability– Reliable, year-round supply– Consistent quality– Ease of handling– Affordability– ie. Biorefinery focus on core business


Cellulosic Cellulosic Biomass Biomass PretreatmentPretreatment

Crystalline cellulose is not enzyme accessiblePretreatment needed to improve yield and conversion ratesSteam explosion used to increase surface areaSolvents used to increase access


BioBio--based Productsbased Products

Chemical building blocks from a biorefineryAll process streams employedEstablishing the carbohydrate economy

New wood composites

“Green” process solvents

New biobasednanoscalematerials

Bioplastics


Biorefinery: A Unifying ConceptBiorefinery: A Unifying ConceptChemical

fractionation

Gasification

Pyrolysis

CarbohydratesCellulose

HemicelluloseMonosaccharides

LigninChemical

transformations

High selectivitypyrolytic processes

Extrusion for new materials

New compositematerials

Bio-oilSyngas

Biochemicaltransformations

AromaticsThermal

processesHydrocarbons

Oleochemicals

Thermal conversion

Carbon fibers

Biobased nanostructualproducts

Catalysis

Novel reaction media

BiomassCornWood

SwitchgrassAg residuesSoybeans

StoverSugar canePotatoes

Green chemistry


Existing Process IntegrationExisting Process Integration

Extracting value prior to processingCreates new markets and profit centersImproves primary product performance

Increased dimensional stabilityIncreased moisture resistanceDecreased volatile emissions

The “Low Hanging Fruit” ?The resource is already concentrated at a site… may be an important opportunity


New Processes & ProductsNew Processes & ProductsFeedstock chemistry

Product structure & properties

Value-added products– Sugar building blocks– Biobased polymers– Carbon fibers

Clean FractionationReactor

Lignin Hemicellulose Cellulose

ChemicalConversion

BiochemicalConversion

Carbon fiberHigh value chemicals

Composites

PolymersNanomaterialsCoatings


New Processes & ProductsNew Processes & Products

Pyrolysis chemistry

Novel catalyst systems

Bio-oil upgrading and refining methods

Process measurement and control

Pyrolysis Reactor

Bio-oil MethanolChar

ConversionTechnology

FuelsSoil amendments

AdhesivesPolymers


Closing RemarksClosing RemarksThe University of Tennessee is committed to advancing the state’s bio-economyThe potential impact is too great:

National security - we can’t afford to ignore this obligationEnvironmental sustainability - we can’t afford to overlook this responsibilityRural development - we can’t afford to miss this opportunity


A Final HeadlineA Final Headline……

Turning Slash into CashA portable plant might make it economical to transform huge amounts of logging "waste" into energy -- right in the forest.By Tyler Hamilton

A small company in Ottawa, Canada, says it has developed an economical way of turning North America's vast supply of forest waste, called "slash," into a carbon-neutral liquid for powergeneration and chemical production.

Its approach is built around a modular, quick-to-assemble pyrolysis plant that can follow logging companies into the bush and directly convert their leftover trimmings into a clean-burning renewable fuel.

The trimmings, also known as forest slash, are the unwanted branches, tops, stumps, and leaves that are removed during logging and typically burned in piles at the sides of roads.

It's a tremendous amount of wasted energy. In the United States alone, 16 percent of wood resulting from logging activities is slash, or 49 million tons in 2004, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

…from Technology Reviewan MIT Enterprise

University of Tennessee - ASERTTI accounts for 25% of global oil consumption, ... Carbon fibers...

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