National Institute of Food and
Agriculture – USDA
Advancing the Bioeconomy Through
Innovation and Integration
National Energy Extension Summit
April 8, 2015
Bill Goldner, Ph.D.
[email protected]
The Bioeconomy
• What is the Bioeconomy?
– Biofuels, Industrial Chemicals, Biopower, and Biobased
Products produced from agricultural and forest biomass
(including oil crops/algae)
• Why does it matter?
–
–
–
–
–
–
Create and protect jobs
Enhance energy security
Increase rural economic development
Provide sustainable alternatives to fossil feedstock options
Enhance existing agricultural/forest production systems
Provide ecosystem services
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Sustainable Bioenergy
• Facilitate system-based approaches for development
of sustainable regional biomass supply chains for the
production of biofuels, biopower, and bioproducts.
• >$200 M NIFA current five year investment in biomass
supply chains research, development, demonstration,
extension, education
–
–
–
–
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
Biomass Research and Development Initiative
Joint Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy
Non-competitive
Regional Approaches to Bioenergy Systems
– Coordinated Agricultural Projects (CAP)
• Regional partnerships
– Academia, industry, government, NGOs, communities
• Work back from targets to develop entire supply chains
• Build on existing infrastructure and previous investments
• Integrate Research, Education, and Extension/Tech
Transfer
• Robust sustainability analysis: Impacts on …
– Economics, rural communities, and the environment
• Targeted Feedstocks (perennial grasses, energy cane,
sorghum, woody biomass, oil crops)
• 2010-2013: 7 AFRI awards totaling ~$156 M over 5 years
Fund allocation to date across 7 CAPs
• Research
$60 M
• Education
$15 M
• Extension
$17 M
AFRI CAP Regions and Feedstocks
AHB Progress Toward Sustainable
Transportation Fuels and Chemicals
Rick Gustafson, Brian Stanton, Tim Eggeman, Kate Field, Bryan Jenkins, Jason
Selwitz, Kevin Zobrist.
Keys to Advanced Hardwood
Biofuels
• Innovation and Integration
§
§
§
§
Superior poplar genetics
Biomass coppice plantation production system
Biomass harvest system
Modular conversion technology
• Chemicals
• Fuels (ethanol, aviation fuel)
§ Workforce development
§ Community and landowner engagement
§ Sustainability Analysis
hardwoodbiofuels.org
Why it matters…
• Rural economic development
§ New jobs for forest product communities
§ Alternative income for landowners
• Products from non-petroleum renewable feedstocks
• Environmental Services
hardwoodbiofuels.org
Laying the foundation for a renewable fuels
and chemicals industry
Good science
Community and
policy support
Sound technologies & Thorough analyses
Well educated work force
hardwoodbiofuels.org
Committed land
owners
AHB is building a renewable bio-based chemical and
biofuel industry in the Pacific Northwest using
sustainably grown hybrid poplar.
1. Demonstration of hybrid poplar production and harvesting technology
•
Feedstock lead GreenWood Resources
2. Production of bio-based chemicals and fuels
•
Conversion lead ZeaChem at their Boardman demonstration bio-refinery.
3. Assessment of sustainability and critical system metrics
•
Sustainability leads Universities of Washington and California, Davis.
4. Development of curricula for pre-college, community and technical
college, undergraduate, and graduate levels
•
Education leads Oregon State University and Agriculture Center of Excellence.
5. Outreach to policy makers, community leaders, growers, equipment
manufacturers, investors, regulators
•
Extension lead Washington State University
hardwoodbiofuels.org
Phase I hybrid poplar demonstration farms–
crux of the feedstock program
• Four farms, 20 to 40 hectares each.
• Each site has many clones to assess suitability
• Sites are selected for potential commercial
prospect – proximity to fuel markets
• Tree farms are used to assess harvester
technologies, environmental impacts, etc.
hardwoodbiofuels.org
Feedstock production group
Jefferson, OR Site
2nd growing season before harvesting on September 2013
Height mean = 19.7 ft
hardwoodbiofuels.org
New Holland FR
Series with 130FB
Coppice Header
FR 9060
2012 Hybrid
Poplar
FR 9080
FR series
Grass or grain
Corn
Corn
Woody coppice
ZeaChem’s Boardman
demonstration-scale refinery
hardwoodbiofuels.org
The AHB sustainability program
integrates data from the feedstock
and conversion teams to:
Sustainability
1. Study the optimum locations for
regional refineries
2. Estimate local economic impact
University of
California,
Davis
University of
Washington
3. Techno-economic assessment
of conversion processes
4. Conduct life cycle assessments
5. Produce an integrated model for
evaluating system capability
Techno-economic modeling – jet fuel is
challenging at current prices
ASPEN process modeling as a
function of hydrogen source
Economies of scale
3.5
Cash cost
($/gal)
3
2.5
Natural gas steam
reforming
Gasification
Reforming
2
0
50
100
150
Capacity (MMGal/yr)
Lignin gasification
Cash cost
($/gal)
25
50
100
150
Reforming
$2.94
2.69
2.52
2.45
Gasification
$3.24
2.85
2.67
2.57
Jet fuels sells ~ $3.00/gal at refinery gate
hardwoodbiofuels.org
Techno-economic modeling – acetic acid
looks much better
ASPEN process modeling of
poplar to acetic acid
Operating costs
Feedstock
Cellulase
Fermentation nutrients
Other raw materials
Natural gas
Waste disposal
Electricity credit
Fixed Manufacturing Costs
Cash production cost
$/ton
121
69
3
32
210
2
-172
111
$376/ton
Acetic acid sells ~ $650-$800/ton
hardwoodbiofuels.org
Extension
Washington
State University
Proactive on bioenergy
information
• Provides research-based
information
o Social impact
assessment
• Helps with informed
decision making
Facilitates technology transfer to
• Extension professionals
• Policy makers
• Potential growers
• Environmental groups
• Business community
• Interested citizens
Poplar growers
manual
Work with GWR
Feedstock Production Report
Growing Poplar for Bioenergy:
A Grower’s Manual
Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance
A new vista for Green Fuels, Chemicals, & Environmentally Preferred Products
Michael Wolcott
Regents Professor
Project Co-Director
Ralph Cavalieri
Associate Vice-President for Alternative Energy
Project Director
Washington State University
Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance
Isobutanol to Jet Fuel Demonstration
Demonstration unit at South Hampton
Resources, Silsbee, TX is fully functional
© 2012 Gevo, Inc.
USDA NIFA
Sustainable Bioenergy PD Meeting
October 29-30, 2014 in Arlington, VA
USDA NIFA
Sustainable Bioenergy PD Meeting
October 29-30, 2014 in Arlington, VA
Keys to NARA
• Innovation and Integration
– Robust project management
– Feedstock Logistics
– Pre-processing (mild bisulfite, milled wood)
– Sustainability Analysis (TEA)
– Novel conversion technologies
• Isobutanol to AJF, lignosulfonates, activated carbon
– Workforce development
– Community and landowner engagement
USDA NIFA
Sustainable Bioenergy PD Meeting
October 29-30, 2014 in Arlington, VA
Why it matters…
• Rural economic development
– New jobs in rural communities
– Protected jobs in the pulp industry through
diversification
– Alternative income for landowners
• Products from non-petroleum renewable
feedstocks
• Ecosystem services
NARA: Feedstock to Fuels
USDA NIFA
Sustainable Bioenergy PD Meeting
October 29-30, 2014 in Arlington, VA
Completed Year 3 of 5
USDA NIFA
Sustainable Bioenergy PD Meeting
October 29-30, 2014 in Arlington, VA
NARA Team
Catchlight Energy
CLH
Cosmo Specialty Fiber
Facing the Future
Gevo, Inc.
Gevan Marrs, LLC.
Montana State University
Oregon State University
Pennsylvania State Univ.
Salish Kootenai College
Steadfast Management
TSI Inc.
University of Idaho
University of Minnesota
University of Montana
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin
USFS – Forest Products Lab
USFS – PNW Research Sta.
University of Utah
Washington State University
Western Washington Univ.
Weyerhaeuser
Teams vs Goals | Process vs Outcomes
Sustainable Biojet
Valuable Co-Products
Regional Supply Chains
Energy Literacy
Rural Econ Development
Feedstock
Conversion
Sustainability
Outreach
Education
USDA NIFA
Sustainable Bioenergy PD Meeting
October 29-30, 2014 in Arlington, VA
NARA Techno-Economic Analysis
Source: TSI Chemicals & Biomass Products and Processes
USDA NIFA
Sustainable Bioenergy PD Meeting
October 29-30, 2014 in Arlington, VA
Value Chain: Route to Cost Parity for Fuels
USDA NIFA
Sustainable Bioenergy PD Meeting
October 29-30, 2014 in Arlington, VA
USDA NIFA
Sustainable Bioenergy PD Meeting
October 29-30, 2014 in Arlington, VA
Sustainability Assessment
Environmental
Sustainable
Feedstock
----------------Weyerhaeuser, OSU,
UW, WSU
Life Cycle
Assessment
----------------UW
Economic
Economic
Analysis
----------------TSI, Weyerhaeuser,
UW
Social
Social & Market
Assessment
----------------Penn State, WSU,
UIdaho
Milestone:
NARA Long Term Soil Productivity Site
USDA NIFA
Sustainable Bioenergy PD Meeting
October 29-30, 2014 in Arlington, VA
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Siting Analysis for Integrated Biorefinery
Potential Biomass Depot Locations
Inventory of Assets on Sites
Site Designs
Biomass Supply Scenarios (quantity and transportation)
Community Impact Analysis
Scenarios for Life Cycle Analysis
Developed by Education and Outreach Teams
Assessed by Regional Stakeholders
REGIONAL SUPPLY CHAINS
Western Montana Corridor (WMC)
USDA NIFA
Sustainable Bioenergy PD Meeting
October 29-30, 2014 in Arlington, VA
Overall Impact in WMC
USDA NIFA
Sustainable Bioenergy PD Meeting
October 29-30, 2014 in Arlington, VA
Mid Cascade to Pacific (MC2P)
USDA NIFA
Sustainable Bioenergy PD Meeting
October 29-30, 2014 in Arlington, VA
Demonstrate Integrated Production of BioJet
USDA NIFA
Sustainable Bioenergy PD Meeting
October 29-30, 2014 in Arlington, VA
Regional Corporate Member
NARA Affiliate Member
Market Studies
Retrofit Options
Techno-Econ Studies
USDA NIFA
Sustainable Bioenergy PD Meeting
October 29-30, 2014 in Arlington, VA
USDA NIFA
Sustainable Bioenergy PD Meeting
October 29-30, 2014 in Arlington, VA
Regional Tribes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
TOP 5 Tribal Landowners
In Commercial Acres
Colville
~ 660,000
Yakama
~ 449,000
Salish & Kootenai ~ 300,000
Warm Springs
~ 256,000
Quinault
~ 174,000
Collaborations with
Salish & Kootenai – Completed
Warm Springs -- John Bailey (OSU)
Developing Collaborations
Yakama
Quinault
DOE Tribal Energy Program
DOE awarded $807,000 to CSKT for engineering work
Bioenergy Project
Beck Group
Harris
Group
NARA Biomass Assessment
Leveraging NARA for New Projects
USDA NIFA
Sustainable Bioenergy PD Meeting
October 29-30, 2014 in Arlington, VA
If its going to burn….
… it might as well be in a jet
engine
John Bailey, OSU NARA Member
Sustainable Production and Distribution
of Bioenergy for the Central USA
CenUSA Bioenergy is supported by
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
Competitive Grant No. 2011-68005-30411
from the National Institute of Food and
Agriculture
Our vision is to create a regional
system for producing advanced
transportation fuels and other biobased products from perennial
grasses grown on land that is either
unsuitable or marginal for row crop
production. In addition to producing
advanced biofuels, the proposed
system will improve the sustainability
of existing cropping systems by
reducing agricultural runoff of
nutrients and soil and increasing
carbon sequestration.
Midwest Sustainable Biofuels Vision
Keys to CenUSA
• Innovation and Integration
•
•
•
•
•
Superior perennial grass genetics
Low input marginal land production systems
Feedstock logistics
Sustainability analysis
Distributed pyrolysis conversion concept
• Chemicals
• Fuels
• Biochar
• Workforce development
• Community, farmer, and landowner engagement
Why it matters…
• Enhancement of existing crop production systems
• Ecosystem services
• Water quality improvement (protecting the Gulf of Mexico)
• Wildlife habitat
• Alternative farm income
• Products from non-petroleum renewable
feedstocks
47
Commercialization:
ADM Fiber Platform
Biomass
Cooked
biomass
Consumer
products
Pulp
Food
ingredient:
ADM
Chemical pulp:
ADM cellulose
Lignin and
Hemicellulose
Lignin
External
Partners
Finding the best
value proposition
for the three products
Lignin, pulp, hemicellulose
Hemicellulose
Furfural
External
Partners
Commercialization:
CenUSA Vermeer Field-scale Site
Liberty Switchgrass
29 July, 2014
Commercialization:
Field Scale Plots in Eastern Nebraska
Feedstock
2012 Yield
2013 Yield
2013 Transported
Yield
Liberty Switchgrass (Mg/ha)
7.6
18.5
11.4
Big bluestem (Mg/ha)
2.7
12.7
9.2
LD Mixture (Mg/ha)
4.3
14.5
11.2
103 (1.4 tons)
149 (1.9 tons)
-----
Corn (bu/acre)
Transported Yield = baled, transported off the field, and weighed to estimate loss
Transport Improvements and
Impacts
Transport Improvements and
Impacts
8 – 10 lbs DM/ft3
10 – 13 lbs DM/ft3
Feedstock Readiness Level
Fuel Readiness Level (FRL)
1
2
3
4.2
4.1
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
6.1
6.2
6.3
7
8
9
Biochar Product Readiness Level
1
2
3
4.1
4.2
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
6.1
6.2
6.3
7
8
9
4.2
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
6.1
6.2
6.3
7
8
9
5.2
5.3
5.4
6.1
6.2
6.3
7
8
9
ADM Acetosolv Pulping Readiness Level
1
2
3
4.1
Renmatix C5 and C6 Sugar Production Readiness Level
1
2
3
4.1
4.2
5.1
Corn Stover Feedstock Production
1
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
3.1
3.2
4.1
4.2
4.3
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
6.1
6.2
7
8
9
4.3
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
6.1
6.2
7
8
9
Herbaceous Perennial Feedstock Production
1
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
3.1
3.2
4.1
4.2
Education and Outreach:
• Problem-oriented, research-based transdisciplinary hands-on
learning for a wide cross-section of students
• Specific activities include:
• Creating learning modules on bioenergy-relevant topics
• Offering week-long intensive programs for graduate students to understand the
interactions between research areas
• Offering 10-week summer internship programs to students from across the US
and a wide variety of academic and socioeconomic backgrounds
Growing a Sustainable Bioenergy Industry
for the Northeast
Tom Richard
Penn State University
University and Federal Partners
Partner Organizations
Penn State University
Cornell University
SUNY ESF
West Virginia University
Delaware State University
Ohio State University
Rutgers University
Drexel University
USDA ARS ERRC
DOE Oak Ridge National Laboratory
DOE Idaho National Laboratory
Keys to NewBio
• Innovation and Integration
– Superior perennial genetics (switchgrass, willow,
Miscanthus)
– Low input marginal land production systems
– Feedstock logistics
– Sustainability Analysis
– Diverse conversion options
• Chemicals
• Absorbents
• Fuels (ethanol, aviation fuel)
– Workforce development
– Community, farmer, landowner engagement
Why it matters…
• Enhancement of existing crop production
systems
• Ecosystem services
– Water quality improvement (protecting the
Chesapeake Bay)
– Wildlife habitat
• Alternative farm income
• Products from non-petroleum renewable
feedstocks
60
Conversion Partner:
Delta
Sustainability Partner:
Chesapeake Bay Commission
Extension
Willow
DoubleAWillow
Switchgrass
Ernst
Miscanthus
Aloterra
Harvest
Store
Densify
Transport
Case New Holland,
Aloterra
Ernst
TerraGreen
Education
Biochemical
Mascoma
Renmatix
Thermochemical
Praxair
Primus Green Energy
Biofuel
Markets
American
Refining
Group
Bio-electricity
ReEnergy
Harvest,
Feedstock
Human Systems
Preprocessing
Human Systems
Improvement
& Logistics
Safety and Health
Sustainability Systems
Leadership and Evaluation
Extension
Willow
DoubleAWillow
Switchgrass
Ernst
Miscanthus
Aloterra
Biochemical
Harvest
Store
Densify
Transport
Mascoma
Renmatix
Thermochemical
Case New Holland,
Aloterra
Ernst
TerraGreen
Praxair
Primus Green Energy
Biofuel
Markets
American
Refining
Group
Bio-electricity
ReEnergy
Short Courses
Webinars
Fact Sheets and Tools
Equipment Access Program
Demonstration Site Field Days
eXtension
Target: regionally appropriate biomass feedstocks
Questions to be Answered
The deep south
states can to
produce 50% of
the biofuels in
the future
because they
have the most
available land
with adequate
water and sun.
Agricultural
What crops suitable for production in
underutilized agricultural areas (Cold
tolerance)?
Industrial
Are the products (syrups) suitable for
use by industrial partners?
Financial-Environmental
What is the financial baseline for
producing biofuels from these crops and
what are the environmental costs
associated with the production?
KEYS TO SUBI
Innovation and Integration
§Superior energy cane and sweet sorghum genetics
§Cold tolerant energy cane to move cane production away
from the coast
§Low input production systems
§Feedstock logistics
§Sustainability Analysis
§Diverse conversion options
§Chemicals, bioplastic
§Fuels (butanol, aviation fuel)
§Workforce development
§Community and landowner engagement
WHY IT MATTERS…
• Rural economic development
•Jobs in an area that sorely needs them
•Potential for greater farm income than
current cropping systems
• Products from non-petroleum renewable
feedstocks
YEAR ROUND FEEDSTOCK
SUPPLY
Month Sorghum
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
E-cane
Commercial
sugar
Other
Bagasse
Bagasse
Bagasse
Winnsboro
Ho 02-113 1st
stubble crop
(Sept. 2014).
White PVC pole is
10’ long.
Courtesy of Chris
Adams.
SWEET SORGHUM
Annual crop
Contains, a sugar containing
juice, starch containing
seed heads and fiber
90-120 day crop cycle, can be
grown across target region
Gross structure similar to
sugarcane
Can be widely grown across
Southern US
About 6,000 acres required to
sustain processing plant for
3 months
CROP COMPARISON
Energycane
Harvest time(months)
Ag Inputs
Planting
Sweet sorghum
7
none
perennial
Harvest time(months)
Ag Inputs
3
None*
Planting
annual
Acres/1000t/day
factory
8,000
Acres/1000t/day
factory
6,000
Growth in nontraditional regions
yes
Growth in nontraditional regions
yes
Dry ton/acre
10
Dry ton/acre
1 -9
*fallow with clover
Process Outline
Sustainable Production
Feedstock development
Sustainability
Harvest
analyze
Deliver
Technology development
Sugar
Cane
Gasoline
ZSM-5
Biomass
APR
Kerosene
Jet Fuel
Condensation
Corn
Starch
Hydrotreating
Diesel
Conversion to Fuel
Value to Consumer
Intermediate Product
Process
Economic feasibility
Process
Indeterminate
Technology development
Biomass
PROCESSING
Bioenergy Alliance Network
of the Rockies
Researching Sustainable
Bioenergy from Beetle-Kill
Wood in the Rockies
Keith Paustian – Project Director
Department of Soil & Crop Sciences
Colorado State University
BANR Team
Project members
Colorado State University
University of Idaho
Montana State University
University of Montana
Oregon State University
University of Wyoming
USFS – Rocky Mtn Res. Station
Cool Planet Energy Systems
Affiliates
National Renewable Energy Lab
Michigan State University
USFS – Forest Products Lab
Project advisory board
Greg Aplet – Wilderness Society
Pat Connell – Montana State Senate
Rob Davis – Forest Energy Corp.
Angela Farr – USFS, Region 1
Steve Hamburg – Environmental Defense
David Hiller – Colorado Clean Energy
Jim Neiman – Neiman Enterprises
Keys to BANR
• Innovation and Integration
– Sustainability Analysis
– Feedstock logistics
– Modular/mobile conversion technology
• Biochar
• Fuels (gasoline, aviation fuel)
– Workforce development
– Community and landowner engagement
Why it matters…
• Wildfire mitigation in part of 42 million acres
• Ecosystem services
– Water quality improvement
– Wildlife habitat
• Rural Economic Development
• Products from non-petroleum renewable
feedstocks
77
Background
Beetle infestation is a major ecological and resource
management issue in the Rocky Mountains
§ 17 Mha (42 Ma) of forest in US impacted by bark beetles
– 52% of total area is in CO, ID, MT & WY
§ New infestations are occurring on millions of acres annually
§ Several 100s of millions of tonnes of dead wood are a potential
biofuel feedstock source
Removal of beetle-kill wood and forest restoration
have been proposed to meet various management
objectives:
§ Reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire
§ Enhance safety for roads, trails, structures
§ Enhance regeneration, diversity, habitat
Wood from thinning for fire control & forest
restoration is currently a disposal problem!
US Forest Service (2011)
Can beetle-kill and other wood residues be a viable
biofuel feedstock?
Opportunities
§
Large quantities of wood potentially available as a feedstock
§
No displacement of productive lands (no indirect land use change)
§
Minimal competing uses for other wood products
§
Synergies with other land management objectives (e.g., fire mitigation, forest
restoration, timber production)
§
Existing forest infrastructure can be leveraged in many areas
Challenges
§
Constrained accessibility in many areas (e.g., roads, topography)
§
Large fraction of the area is Federal and State owned
§ Policy issues
§ Multiple use issues
§
Feedstock ‘creation’ is unmanaged, episodic and patchy (major constraint against
large, fixed location biorefineries)
§
Potential adverse environmental impacts (e.g., erosion, water quality)
Overarching Objective
To provide the science-based underpinnings – through targeted
research, education, training and extension – to support the
development of sustainable biofuel/bio-products from beetle-killed
and residual wood feedstocks.
Project Task Overview
•
•
•
•
RS & Field
sampling campaign
Feedstock supply
atlas
Forecasting of
future infestation
•
•
Enterprise partner
engagement
Harvest, transport &
processing studies
Pretreatment &
CPES technology
trials
• Field-scale impact
analysis
• Ecosystem C/GHG
modeling & LCA
• Socioeconomic &
policy analysis
• K-12 science units
• Teacher prof.
development
• Multidisciplinary grad.
training
• Workshops &
community meetings
• Stakeholder
engagement
• Health & safety
standards & training
BANR in perspective
• Softwood conifer feedstock
– Similar to NARA, IBSS
• Thermochemical conversion with biochar co-production
– Similar to CenUSA, IBSS
• Feedstock very different from other CAP’s, analogous to corn
stover
– Already exists, doesn’t require dedicated cultivation (similar to NARA)
– DOES require additional equipment & processes to collect
– Maximum removal rate constrained by environmental sustainability ,
social acceptance and economic viability
– Land-ownership is mixed (Federal, State, Tribal, private) and is a key
factor affecting feedstock supply
82
BANR activities:
Modeling & optimizing harvest operations
Harvest
equipment
slash piles from forest restoration
Cost and productivity study 83
Contact Information
• BRDI: Daniel Cassidy, [email protected]
• AFRI: Bill Goldner, [email protected]
– 202-445-3470 Mobile
• SBIR: Bill Goldner
• Joint DOE/USDA Feedstock Genomics for
Bioenergy: Bill Goldner