Can we produce biofuels without affecting food production and the environment? The World Food Prize, Oct. 19, 2007 Birgitte K. Ahring BioCentrum-DTU & BioGasol

Statement from US Department of Energy

Bioethanol – Production technologies Current technology: Starch-based ethanol Biomass: Corn, grain, sugar The future technology: Lignocellulose based ethanol Biomass: Corn stover, straw, bagasse, wood etc.

Bioethanol facilities in USA

Comparison values for 1 and 2 Generation biofuels

In 2050 there will be 50% more people and 50% more cars in the world! = ? We need 232 kg of corn to make 50 liter of ethanol

2030 global visions for 2 Generation biofuels

Feedstock - Three major components 25-40% Cellulose 35-45% Hemicellulose Lignin glucose xylose, arabinose, galactose, mannose, glucose. Ethanol Yeast / BG1 BG1 C6 sugar C5 sugar 5-25%

The MaxiFuels Concept : The carbon slaugther-house

2 nd generation Pilot Plant in operation  Sustainable integrated ethanol concept  Continuous operation since August 2006  Feedstock evaluations  Feasibility studies

Optimized use of the biomass Oxidized in the pre-treatment Ethanol from SSF Ethanol from pentoses Lignin for combustion Biogas Organic material in the process water Mass balance based on COD 3%5% 19% 20% 19% 35%

Biomass to Ethanol Straw 100 % Lignin Ethanol H2 26 % 39 % 1 % 12 % Maxifuel Energy Balance η=0.69 Biogas 15 % Loss 19 % 12 % CHP-for the plant Net effective use of energy content in wheat straw: 69 % 3 % 66 %

Demonstrate plant flexibility Fibres Manure with fibres Energy crops Grasses Wet wheat straw Garden waste Ethanol Methane (CHP) Solid fuel Hydrogen (Fuel Cells)

Bioethanol anlæg, Bornholm Situationsplan, eksempel

Full Scale Plant Salt removal Biomass SeparationDistillation Bio-pellets Hydrogen Ethanol Power C6 Fermentation Wet oxidation C5 Fermentation Anaerobic Digestion Heat Ethanol plant ton ton 4 Mn Nm3 100 Mn litres 21.4 Mn Nm3 Methane

3.5 The Techno-Economical Model Mass balanceFlows Equipment specifications Energy balance Total Capital Investment Operation costs (Externalities ) Production cost 0.30 USD per litres for 100 mn litre plant (biomass 55 USD per ton)

Add-on plant based on 2.generation process technology

Plants convert sun light, water and CO2 into new plant material: biomass One hectare receives Mwh input of sun light per year

What you harvest depends on what you grow Grasses like sugar cane has high efficiency for harvesting sun light C4 C3

The solution- we harvest what we plant Corn is not the future crop for fuel- 10 Gallons of ethanol consumes the energy of 7 Gallons of gasoline with little greenhouse gas reductions. New energy crops could mean that 3.5% of the earth surface is sufficient for growing the earth energy demand. Today we use 13% for agriculture. (Chris Somerville) A suitable crop would be a perennial prairie grass with little water need. 49 mill acres could supply 139 billion gallons of ethanol in year Farmers will be better off, the world would be less dependent of oil and we will take a giant step in greenhouse gas reduction. (Vinod Khosla)

CO 2