Ethanol from Wood A Challenging Process…

Gasoline Trends in the US Energy Information Administration

Gasoline Price Trends Energy Information Administration

Wood in West Virginia West Virginia is the third most heavily forested state in the U.S.A (USDA 2000). Red Oak and yellow poplar are the most abundant species Wang et al. 2006

Wood structure and chemistry Cellulose: 40-50% Hemicellulose:25-40% Lignin:20-25% Extractives; 0-5%

Making Ethanol Present conversion technologies for cellulosic materials to liquid fuels are not economically feasible Chart courtesy of the National Renewable Energy Lab.Renewable Fuels Association website.Renewable Fuels Association

Ethanol Efficiencies… Because a gallon of ethanol contains less energy than a gallon of gasoline, the production cost of ethanol must be multiplied by a factor of 1.5 to make an energy-cost comparison with gasoline. If ethanol costs $1.10 per gallon to produce, then the effective cost per gallon to equal the energy contained in a gallon of gasoline is $1.65. In contrast, the current wholesale price of gasoline is about 90 cents per gallon.

Energy Outputs from Ethanol Using technologies available in 2005, David Pimentel and Tad W. Patzek (Cornell University) determined that: Ethanol production using corn grain required 29% more fossil energy than the ethanol fuel produced. Ethanol production using switch grass required 50% more fossil energy than the ethanol fuel produced. Ethanol production using wood biomass required 57% more fossil energy than the ethanol fuel produced.

But… The price of a bushel of corn rose by 70% between September 2006 and January 2007 to reach its highest level in a decade. NREL researchers are confident that the cost of cellulosic based ethanol production will be cut in half and meet corn-ethanol costs within six years… The ethanol industry is growing by leaps and bounds, with 120 plants nationwide and 72 under construction. Finally, West Virginia has a LOT of wood residue!