Archive for March 25th, 2008
Considerable progress has been made in raising the profile of biomass to help offset petroleum dependency since the Committee published its first Roadmap in 2002. This updated Roadmap outlines research and policy measures to achieve not only the Committee’s updated Vision goals, but also newer and more aggressive national goals for biofuels. Specifically, this Roadmap is a tool for researchers in industry and academia, as well as policy makers in government, to understand the barriers to advancing biobased fuel, power, and products, and a guide for implementing the R&D strategies and policy measures needed to support biomass technologies.
The Roadmap will be used to guide research funded jointly by DOE and USDA under the Biomass R&D Initiative joint solicitation. Each year, the Biomass R&D Technical Advisory Committee evaluates progress of R&D performed under the joint solicitation and provides recommendations to the Secretaries of Energy and Agriculture on furthering the goals of the Biomass R&D Initiative.
A joint EERE-PI project was completed to estimate the worldwide potential to produce and transport ethanol and other biofuels, with an emphasis on the 5 year and 10 year potential for biofuels supply to the United States. The project included four specific tasks: 1) identify the range of countries to be included in the study, 2) assess the resource potential for production of ethanol from sugar and starch-based feedstocks, and biodiesel, 3) assess the resource potential for production of other biofuels, including lignocellulosic ethanol, pyrolysis oil, and renewable diesel, and 4) integrate results into the MARKAL energy policy model. The project team included DOE (Policy and International and the Office of the Biomass Program), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (feedstock supply curves), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (conversion technology characterizations), and Brookhaven National Laboratory (MARKAL analysis).
In a business environment where there are up to four gas stations on every major intersection, it’s hard for retailers to differentiate themselves from their competitors. One way station owners can distinguish themselves and make a profit is to add alternative fuels, such as E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline), to their product mix. When pricing and availability of the fuel are positive, adding E85 can be a profitable move that can position a station as “green.”
The United States’ transportation sector is 97 percent reliant on oil,
with 60 percent of this oil imported. By 2030, with demand continuing
to grow, we will import 4 million barrels more of petroleum per
day than we did in 2005. This heavy reliance on mostly imported oil
leaves our nation vulnerable to supply interruptions that lead to price
fluctuations, economic instability, and real hardship for consumers. In
addition, mobile sector greenhouse gas emissions currently account for
more than one-third of the U.S. total, adding to concerns about climate
change, and are projected to increase 37 percent over the next 25 years.
It is in this context that policymakers, private companies, researchers,
and citizens alike are exploring and developing domestically based,
cleaner alternatives to our current oil-dependent transportation system.
This page is intended as a portal of useful resources for biomass industries and research and consulting companies, and for companies who are considering building an integrated biorefinery.
Rentech’s Product Demonstration Unit, located in Sand Creek, Colorado, is expected to be the first fully-integrated biomass-coal-to-liquids facility. The PDU will produce approximately 10 barrels per day of ultra-clean diesel, aviation fuels and naphtha. The PDU will serve as a testing ground for feedstock such as natural gas, coal and biomass and as an end-to-end demonstration center for the production process of synthetic fuels.
Hundreds of bioenergy projects are being proposed annually in the U.S. This competitive landscape, coupled with extreme market volatility, reinforces the need for rigorous technical and economic planning throughout a project’s lifestyle. Numerous studies similar to the accompanying graphic have demonstrated the economic, schedule, and performance benefits gained through detailed planning and analysis.
Energy Crop Incentive Bill
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) has
introduced legislation aimed at helping farmers near biorefineries begin growing dedicated energy crops.
According to Thune, the Biofuels Innovation Program Act would offer farmers incentives to grow crops, such as switchgrass and fast-growing trees, for use as cellulosic ethanol feedstocks.
“Cellulosic ethanol, produced from homegrown sources like corn stover, wheat straw, switchgrass and wood chips, has incredible potential to supplement corn-based ethanol. But if cellulosic ethanol is to achieve its potential, it is critical that Congress help this industry overcome initial market barriers” said Thune. “My legislation would spur the construction of biorefineries across the country and provide incentives to farmers in surrounding areas to grow energy dedicated crops that can eventually supply these biorefineries in a cost-effective, environment-friendly way.”
Thune hopes the legislation, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), will be included in the 2007 Farm Bill energy title. Similar legislation has also been introduced in the House.
The bill would fund several USDA feasibility studies to determine the level of interest and likelihood of success for biorefinery constructions. The bill would authorize a cost share and per-acre rental payment for farmers during a contract’s first five years, in order to help the biorefinery get established and build a market. In addition, farmers selling byproducts and residues, such as wheat straw and corn stover, to ethanol plants would be eligible for matching payments of up to $45 per ton.
The U.S. Synthetic Liquid Fuels Act of 1944 (30 USC Secs. 321 to 325)
authorized $30 million over five years for “the construction and operation of
demonstration plants to produce synthetic liquid fuels from coal, oil shales,
agricultural and forestry products, and other substances, in order to aid the
prosecution of the war, to conserve and increase the oil resources of the Nation, and
for other purposes.” The act also authorized the Interior Secretary to construct,
maintain, and operate plants producing synthetic liquid fuel from coal, oil shale, and
agricultural and forestry products. The Bureau of Mines received $87.6 million for
an 11-year demonstration plant program.
