Biomass Energy

Do you support the use of corn to produce ethanol as a fuel? 1. Yes 2. No

Would you be willing to pay more for a biofuel to power you car? 1. Yes 2. No

How much more would you be willing to pay? 1. None, I want the cheapest fuel possible 2. 10% 3. 25% 4. 50% 5. More the 50%

Biomass energy is energy derived from living matter Biomass energy is energy derived from living matter Crops (corn, soy beans, etc.) Crops (corn, soy beans, etc.) Trees Trees Agricultural and forestry waste Agricultural and forestry waste Municipal solid waste Municipal solid waste Solid (wood chips) Solid (wood chips) Liquid (alcohol) Liquid (alcohol) Gas (methane) fuel. Gas (methane) fuel. Until ~1880 biomass was the prime fuel in the US. Until ~1880 biomass was the prime fuel in the US.

Currently provides 3% of US energy needs Currently provides 3% of US energy needs Potential to provide between 4% and 25% of our energy needs. Potential to provide between 4% and 25% of our energy needs. Potential to provide several times the energy expected from wind and photovoltaics. Potential to provide several times the energy expected from wind and photovoltaics. Sweden and Finland use Biomass for 14% of their energy needs. Sweden and Finland use Biomass for 14% of their energy needs.

Basic Energy Storage Mechanism Photosynthesis: Photosynthesis: CO 2 + H 2 O + light  O 2 + Carbohydrates CO 2 + H 2 O + light  O 2 + Carbohydrates Carbon is taken out of the atmosphere during photosynthesis and returned when “fuel” is used Carbon is taken out of the atmosphere during photosynthesis and returned when “fuel” is used No net addition of carbon to the atmosphere No net addition of carbon to the atmosphere

Common crops used for biofuels include corn, soybeans, sugar cane, sugar beets and oats. Other possible sources are switch grass and algae. Common crops used for biofuels include corn, soybeans, sugar cane, sugar beets and oats. Other possible sources are switch grass and algae. The US has over 1 billion acres of land suitable for growing biomass. The US has over 1 billion acres of land suitable for growing biomass.

Forestland and agricultural land could potentially supply 1.3 billion tons of dry biomass per year. Forestland and agricultural land could potentially supply 1.3 billion tons of dry biomass per year. This is enough to replace one third of our current demand for transportation fuel. This is enough to replace one third of our current demand for transportation fuel. This would significantly cut imports as well as reducing pollution. This would significantly cut imports as well as reducing pollution.

Biomass fuel would require only modest changes in growing practices Biomass fuel would require only modest changes in growing practices No impact on food, feed, and export demand. No impact on food, feed, and export demand. Positive effect on rural economy since it produces new markets. Positive effect on rural economy since it produces new markets. OLD EXPECTATIONS

Increased demand for biofuel crops will lead to price increases for those crops. Increased demand for biofuel crops will lead to price increases for those crops. Expanding biofuel production expected to cause the cost of livestock production to increase. Expanding biofuel production expected to cause the cost of livestock production to increase. This increase would lead to a decrease in livestock production. This increase would lead to a decrease in livestock production. REALITIES

Decreased livestock production leads to a decrease the income of livestock producers and suppliers. Decreased livestock production leads to a decrease the income of livestock producers and suppliers. Increased biofuel crop prices leads to a shift in types of crops produced. Increased biofuel crop prices leads to a shift in types of crops produced. Reduction in agricultural diversity. Reduction in agricultural diversity. Diversion of crops away from the human food chain. Diversion of crops away from the human food chain. Increase in food prices Increase in food prices REALITIES

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

Ethanol Ethanol production was 3.4 billion gallons in 2004 and has be growing by 20% per year. Ethanol production was 3.4 billion gallons in 2004 and has be growing by 20% per year. Based on the fermentation of plant mater. Based on the fermentation of plant mater. It can be made from a lot of different crops. US uses mostly corn, Brazil uses sugarcane, France uses wheat and sugar beats It can be made from a lot of different crops. US uses mostly corn, Brazil uses sugarcane, France uses wheat and sugar beats

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

Ethanol Plants in the US

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

Most ethanol is used as a transportation fuel/gasoline additive. Most ethanol is used as a transportation fuel/gasoline additive. Currently we use E10 fuel. 90% gasoline and 10% ethanol. Currently we use E10 fuel. 90% gasoline and 10% ethanol. No special requirements for using E10. No special requirements for using E10. Flex-fuel cars can use up to E85. Flex-fuel cars can use up to E85. Potential to use ethanol in fuel cells in the future. Potential to use ethanol in fuel cells in the future.

Comparison 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 hazard) Ethanol has no visible flame (potential hazard) Ethanol has ~1/2 the energy content per gallon as gasoline. Ethanol has ~1/2 the energy content per gallon as gasoline. Ethanol is less expensive per gallon. Ethanol is less expensive per gallon. Ethanol is highly corrosive (Need special engines to run on pure ethanol.) Ethanol is highly corrosive (Need special engines to run on pure ethanol.) Ethanol has a lower evaporation rate. (Harder to start on cold days.) Ethanol has a lower evaporation rate. (Harder to start on cold days.)

Biodiesel A variety of oils can be used to produce biodiesel. A variety of oils can be used to produce biodiesel. Virgin oil feedstock e.g.rapeseed and soybean oilsVirgin oil feedstock e.g.rapeseed and soybean oilsrapeseed soybean oilsrapeseed soybean oils Waste vegetable oil (WVO);Waste vegetable oil (WVO);Waste vegetable oilWaste vegetable oil AnimalAnimal Algae, which can be grown using waste materials such asAlgae, which can be grown using waste materials such asAlgaecan be grownAlgaecan be grown Oil from halophytes such as salicornia bigelovii, which can be grown using saltwaterOil from halophytes such as salicornia bigelovii, which can be grown using saltwaterhalophytessalicornia bigeloviihalophytessalicornia bigelovii

Algae Biodiesel Currently too expensive to compete Currently too expensive to compete BUT HAS A LOT OF ADVANTAGES Can be produced using land that is not suitable for agriculture. Can be produced using land that is not suitable for agriculture. Does not affect fresh water resources, Does not affect fresh water resources,fresh waterfresh water Can be produced using ocean and wastewater, and are biodegradable and relatively harmless to the environment if spilled Can be produced using ocean and wastewater, and are biodegradable and relatively harmless to the environment if spilled wastewaterbiodegradable wastewaterbiodegradable

Costs more per unit mass yet can yield over 30 times more energy per unit area than other biofuel crops Costs more per unit mass yet can yield over 30 times more energy per unit area than other biofuel crops The US DOE estimates that if algae fuel replaced all the petroleum fuel in the United States, it would require 15,000 square miles. This is less than 1 ⁄ 7 the area of corn harvested in the United States in The US DOE estimates that if algae fuel replaced all the petroleum fuel in the United States, it would require 15,000 square miles. This is less than 1 ⁄ 7 the area of corn harvested in the United States in 2000.corn

Biodiesel from bacteria Genetically modified cyanobacteria secretes ethanol and bio-diesel. Genetically modified cyanobacteria secretes ethanol and bio-diesel. Requires a concentrated CO2 environment Requires a concentrated CO2 environment Targeted goal is “15,000 gallons of diesel and 25,000 gallons of ethanol per acre per year Targeted goal is “15,000 gallons of diesel and 25,000 gallons of ethanol per acre per year Claim made by the company is that diesel could be produced for $30/barrel equivalent. Claim made by the company is that diesel could be produced for $30/barrel equivalent.

Municipal Solid Waste ~30% of all municipal waste is recycled. ~30% of all municipal waste is recycled. We still need to process the other 70%. We still need to process the other 70%. Either bury it in landfills or burn it. Either bury it in landfills or burn it. Energy content per pound of MSW is ~1/3 that of good coal (4300 Btu/lb) Energy content per pound of MSW is ~1/3 that of good coal (4300 Btu/lb)

Major concerns deal with air pollution during combustion. Major concerns deal with air pollution during combustion. A lot of potential “bad stuff” in garbage. A lot of potential “bad stuff” in garbage. Pollution control devices are very expensive. Pollution control devices are very expensive. Many plants essentially break even on their energy production Many plants essentially break even on their energy production

Big Stone MSW Power Plant in South Dakota.

Wood burning power plants Typically smaller scale power plants. (10’s of MW.) Typically smaller scale power plants. (10’s of MW.) In house energy production In house energy production

Hydrogen There is a lot of future potential for using Hydrogen. There is a lot of future potential for using Hydrogen. It is a good way to store energy, but it is NOT a new energy resource. It is a good way to store energy, but 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.