|
|
|
Advisory Committee Updates Roadmap for Bioenergy and Biobased Products in the United States
Ken Green, BCS, Incorporated
The Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee recently released its 2007 Roadmap for Bioenergy and Biobased Products in the United States . The Roadmap lays out a concrete R&D strategy and recommends policy measures needed to advance biomass technologies and help create an economically viable, sustainable and environmentally desirable biobased industry. The Committee’s Roadmap also reflects progress made since the Committee’s original Roadmap released in 2002, plus the dramatic rise in interest in biomass technologies that has occurred since then.
The Biomass R&D Technical Advisory Committee developed the Vision for Bioenergy and Biobased Products in the United States and the Roadmap for Bioenergy and Biobased Products in the United States to define a set of achievable quantitative goals and identify an R&D strategy to enable these goals. Developed in 2002, these documents have since been used to guide the joint research solicitation issued each year by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy. Having made important progress since then, the Committee was asked by the Secretaries of Agriculture and Energy in 2005 to update its Vision and Roadmap. The Vision was updated in December of 2006 and established aggressive goals for the role of biobased fuels, products and power in the U.S. economy. The newly released Roadmap steps up to these ambitious goals with a highly focused R&D strategy that guides near-, mid-, and long-term efforts so as to advance all the processes that comprise the biomass-to-biofuels chain.
Since biomass feedstocks, distribution and production systems, and retail markets for biofuels and bioproducts vary widely by region, regional Roadmap workshops were held in the Central, Western and Eastern U.S. to ensure the Roadmap reflected localized issues and opportunities. Each Regional Workshop was chaired by a member of the Committee: Tom Binder of ADM chaired the Central, Ralph Cavalieri of Washington State University chaired the Western, and Doug Hawkins of Rohm and Haas chaired the Eastern. At each of these workshops, facilitated discussions helped local experts to identify feedstock, production, infrastructure, and market-related barriers to achieving Vision goals. Workshop participants then mapped technical and policy recommendations to overcome those barriers. BCS, Incorporated worked with each of the chairs to organize and facilitate the workshops as well as develop the Roadmap document. The Roadmap integrates those recommendations into a research strategy addressing several key areas in the biomass-to-biofuels chain:
1. Feedstock System
§ Plant Science Research
§ Harvesting and Treatment
§ Resource Management and Sustainable Development
§ Economic Analysis
2. Processing and Conversion
§ Analysis of Processes Found in Nature
§ Oils, Sugars, and Protein Platforms
§ New Approaches to Separations
§ Modular and Decentralized Preprocessing and Conversion Systems
§ Biodiesel Production
§ Conversion Processes (Biochemical and Thermochemical)
3. Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Infrastructure
§ Pipelines
§ Rail, Barge, and Highway
§ Systems Integration
§ Regional Markets
4. End-Use Markets
5. Crosscutting Processes and Technologies
§ Biorefinery Demonstration and Deployment
§ Transportation Studies
§ Modular/Distributed Systems
§ Integrated Systems Analysis
§ Metrics Development
§ Other Analytical Studies
The Roadmap will continue to be used as a reference document for applicants seeking research funds under the joint solicitation for biomass research issued annually by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy.
With increased national interest in bioenergy, the Roadmap can also provide strategic guidance to other national initiatives that seek to increase energy security and reduce dependence on oil, such as the President’s “Twenty in Ten” goal which establishes an even more aggressive goal for biofuels than the Committee’s Vision. Although the Committee’s Vision document and its Regional Roadmap Workshops preceded the launch of “Twenty in Ten,” the Committee’s Roadmap fully supports the initiative. However, “Twenty in Ten” warrants major advances in the categories of research and policy outlined in the Roadmap, especially in plant sciences and conversion technologies, to make cellulosic ethanol cost competitive. It will require infrastructure development to harvest, store, transport, and treat feedstocks, as well as advances in technology and infrastructure to produce and distribute biofuels.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
State Spotlight: Florida 
Over the past few years, Florida has been taking major steps to lead the nation’s efforts in advanced biofuels development. “Florida has unique opportunities for biomass research and development,” stated Jay Levenstein, Deputy Commissioner of Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.[I] The state offers these opportunities because of the types of crops Florida grows, one of these crops being sugar. The state can not process the sugar into ethanol the same way as Brazil, a country renowned for producing ethanol from sugar, as Levenstein explains, “Florida’s sugar is too valuable as a food product, thus it is economically infeasible to convert it to ethanol using conventional methods.”[II] Instead Florida is looking toward converting bagasse, a byproduct of sugarcane processing, into cellulosic ethanol. Currently, bagasse is being used as a fuel at the nation’s largest biomass cogeneration facility, operated by the Florida Crystals Corporation (FCC) in Palm Beach County.[III] In 2007, Florida’s legislature awarded $20 million to researchers at the University of Florida to construct a cellulosic ethanol pilot plant near the Palm Beach facility; the research and demonstration plant is being constructed by FCC for the University. The researchers will use the bagasse to create cellulosic ethanol, but will experiment with other feedstocks as well. In addition to the University of Florida, Florida International University is doing research on enzymes that can cost-effectively convert the bagasse into ethanol.[IV] Additionally, strides are being made in researching the conversion of orange peels into ethanol.[V]
The push for biofuels in the state is mainly coming from the Florida Farm to Fuel Initiative, a division of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Legislated in 2006, the Initiative’s goal is to promote the production and distribution of biofuels created from Florida-grown crops and other biomass sources in order to expand agri-business in the state.[VI] The Initiative allocated $25 million in grant funding on January 22, 2008 to 12 biofuels-related projects. The awardees for the funding were selected from 76 potential recipients. The Initiative has already hosted two successful “Farm to Fuel Summits” during the summers of 2006 and 2007 and is currently planning a 2008 Summit. In the past, the Summits have brought together hundreds of participants to discuss issues ranging from biomass resources in Florida, the business of biofuels, advances in biofuels science and policy.[VII]
Other agencies in Florida are also promoting the use of biofuels and other renewable technologies. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection administers the Florida Renewable Energy Technologies Grant. This grant is focused on projects that generate or utilize energy from renewable energy resources, including biomass.[VIII] In addition to the Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida legislature recently formed an energy commission to examine renewable energy issues.[IX] Florida’s Governor, Charlie Crist also formed the Governor’s Action Team on Climate and Energy to examine energy choices and how they affect the climate.[X]
Non-government organizations are also working toward advancing biofuels in Florida. One such organization is the American Biofuels Council, a non-profit organization that conducts research, development, outreach and education to promote the sustainable use of biofuels in the United States. The Council, which is based in Miami, is divided into different committees that determine the direction of research projects and outreach efforts.[XI] The Council is planning their first annual biofuels congress for September 2008.
Florida is currently home to two biodiesel production facilities, with a combined capacity of 48 million gallons a year.[XII] In addition, three other biodiesel facilities with 70 million gallons a year of combined capacity are under construction.[XIII], [XIV] One of the plants under construction, a 60 million gallon a year facility being constructed by a partnership between Greenline Industries LLC and Oilsource Holding LLC, will be located in Miami and may be the largest biodiesel facility in the southeast United States once completed.[XV] Exhibit 1 details the biodiesel facilities currently operating and under construction in Florida. In addition to biodiesel production facilities, Florida has 13 biodiesel and 11 E85 fueling stations.[XVI]
Exhibit 1: Biodiesel Production Facilities in Florida
Overall, Florida is poised toward becoming a front-runner in biofuels, particularly in the development of advanced biofuels. Mr. Levenstein noted that “advanced biofuels are going to be necessary in order to fulfill the newly passed renewable fuel standard that requires 36 billion gallons of fuel to be produced by 2022.”[XVII]
[I] Phone interview with Jay Levenstein, conducted by the author. 1/23/08.
[IV] Phone interview with Jay Levenstein, conducted by the author. 1/23/08.
[IX] Phone interview with Jay Levenstein, conducted by the author. 1/23/08.
[XVII] Phone interview with Jay Levenstein, conducted by the author. 1/23/08.
| |
|
|
|
|
| Bill # |
Sponsor |
Description |
Last Action |
|
| H.R. 6 |
Rep. Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3] |
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 An Act to move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers, to increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government, and for other purposes. |
12/19/2007: Became Public Law No: 110-140 |
| H.R.4162 |
Rep Lewis, Jerry [CA-41] (introduced 11/13/2007) |
San Bernardino Biomass Use Facilitation Act. To provide for an exchange of lands with San Bernardino County, California, to enhance management of lands within the San Bernardino National Forest, and for other purposes. |
11/20/2007: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. |
| H.R.4306 |
Rep King, Steve [IA-5] (introduced 12/6/2007) |
To amend the Clean Air Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the use of ethanol and bio-diesel, and for other purposes. |
12/6/2007: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. |
| H.R.4773 |
Rep Young, Don [AK] (introduced 12/17/2007) |
Renewable and Hydroelectric Energy for Alaska's Tomorrow Act. To authorize the Department of Energy to make grants to carry out renewable energy projects, and for other purposes. |
12/17/2007: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. |
| H.R.4839 |
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] (introduced 12/19/2007) |
Tax Technical Corrections Act of 2007. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make technical corrections, and for other purposes. |
12/19/2007: Became Public Law No: 110-172 |
|
| | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nebraska Corn Board Tout State's Crop (1/3)
LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Nebraska Corn Board is touting the state's crop in a new report. The report says that last year Nebraska farmers harvested a state record 1.47 billion bushels of corn, and more than 90 percent of it was graded the best corn you can buy. The Nebraska Corn Board said Tuesday that 91 percent of the crop tested at Grade No. 1. The 2007 test was the third in a row to hit 90 percent or higher. There was no test in 2006, said Corn Board spokesman Randy Klein, but the 2005 test hit 97 percent Grade No. 1, and the 2004 test hit 92.3 percent Grade No. 1.
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/16/AR2008011600649.html
Virgin Plans To Run 747 In Biofuel Test (1/14)
LONDON - Virgin Atlantic said Monday it would fly one of its Boeing 747 planes on biofuel during a demonstration flight from London to Amsterdam next month. Virgin Atlantic Chairman Richard Branson said the test flight, which he called the first of its kind, would yield crucial information on how to reduce aviation's carbon footprint. Branson launched an alternative fuels division at Virgin in 2006, pledging the profits from his airline and trains for 10 years.
Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20080114/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_britain_virgin_biofuel_1
General Motors Buys Stake in Ethanol Made From Waste (1/14)
General Motors, eager to ensure a supply of fuel for the big fleet of flex-fuel ethanol-capable vehicles it is building, has joined the rush into alternative energy and invested in a company that intends to produce ethanol from crop wastes, wood chips, scrap plastic, rubber and even municipal garbage. Rick Wagoner, GM’s chairman and chief executive, announced the investment on Sunday in a speech at the opening of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The company purchased an equity stake in Coskata, a start-up company in Warrenville, Ill., that plans to make ethanol without using corn. GM would not say how much it paid or how big a stake it took in the company.
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/14/business/14gm.html?scp=4&sq=corn
Ethanol Helps to Boost U.S. Farmers' Bottom Line (1/16)
U.S. farmers overwhelmingly said they have benefited from the demand for corn to produce ethanol, with 71 percent of those surveyed saying the renewable fuel has helped boost their bottom line, according to a Reuters poll released on Wednesday. The demand for corn to meet growing consumption by the food and biofuels industries has pushed the price of the grain from about $2 to $3 a bushel, where it was for several years, to an 11-year high of about $5.00 a bushel. David Waide, a Mississippi corn, soybeans, wheat and cattle farmer, said he has received over $3.00 for corn for years because he lives in a remote area of the state that doesn't grow much of the crop. But even he has enjoyed the jump in corn prices.
Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUSN1662976420080116
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Marketplace provides data relevant to the production of biofuels from biomass as well as the state of the petroleum markets in which biofuels are used. Cost fluctuations in the price of a bushel of soybeans, the main biodiesel feedstock, and corn, affect the finished products i.e., biofuels. Key indicators in the petroleum industry provide a snapshot of the supply of finished products stocks and production, and how they relate to demand and the price of finished product (i.e. gasoline and diesel). The tables show actual grain prices, indicators which may affect gasoline prices, and the production of ethanol. |
| Grain Prices Received by Farmers |
December 2007 |
December 2006 |
% Change |
24 Months |
| Corn ($/bushel) |
3.88 |
3.05 |
29% |
 |
| Soybean ($/bushel) |
10.4 |
6.18 |
68% |
 | |
| Spot Prices W. Tex. Int Cush & Henry Hub |
December 2007 |
December 2006 |
% Change |
24 Months |
| W. Tex. Int Cush ($/Bbl) |
91.69 |
61.96 |
48% |
 |
| Henry Hub ($/MMBtu) |
7.179 |
7.538 |
-5% |
 | |
|
|
| Oxygenate Production |
October 2007 |
October 2006 |
% Change |
24 Months |
Ethanol Production
(1,000 bbl) |
14,018 |
11,215 |
33% |
 |
MTBE Production
(1,000 bbl) |
1,632 |
1,503 |
4% |
 |
Data Sources:
U.S. DOE-Energy Information Administration, "Weekly Petroleum Status Report" and "Monthly Oxygenate Report"; USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service, "Agricultural Prices","Grain Stocks"; Wall Street Journal, Markets Data, Spot Prices, Oil Prices | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title: |
I Power Awarded Biomass Grant by the State of Indiana |
|
Description: |
I Power Energy Systems announced the award of one of several grants made by the Indiana Office of Energy & Defense Development (OED) through its Biomass Feasibility Study Program. The grant program provides cost share grants to Indiana's public, non-profit, and business sectors for the production of feasibility studies investigating the use of biomass for energy. The purpose of the grant program is to develop technically and economically feasible biomass to energy projects. |
|
Recipients: |
I Power Energy Systems |
|
Award Total: |
Not specified |
|
Sponsoring Office: |
Indiana Office of Energy & Defense Development |
|
URL: |
http://www.centredaily.com/business/technology/story/307912.html |
|
Title: |
U.S. DOE awards $2M Funding for Biomass to Diesel Project |
|
Description: |
The US Department of Energy has selected an Iowa State University-ConocoPhillips research project for up to a $2 million award for the design and construction of a biomass gasification system to produce synthetic diesel fuel. |
|
Recipients: |
Iowa State University, ConocoPhillips |
|
Award Total: |
$2 Million |
|
Sponsoring Office: |
U.S. Department of Energy |
|
URL: |
http://www.biofuelreview.com/content/view/1364/ |
|
Title: |
Florida Farm to Fuel Initiative Grants Awarded |
|
Description: |
Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner
Charles H. Bronson announced the recipients of $25 million in renewable energy grants. The 12 entities chosen were among 76 vying for the awards, which were funded by the Florida Legislature last spring. The grants are part of Bronson’s “Farm to Fuel” initiative, a program designed to get Florida’s agriculture industry to produce 25 percent of the state’s energy needs by the year 2025 in an effort to reduce Florida’s dependency on foreign oil and to keep land in agriculture. |
|
Recipients: |
12 Seperate Projects |
|
Award Total: |
$25 million |
|
Sponsoring Office: |
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services |
|
URL: |
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/press/2008/01222008.html |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title: |
Biotechnology, Biochemical, and Biomass Engineering |
|
Description: |
The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research (OBER), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), National Research Initiative (NRI) Competitive Grants Program hereby announce their interest in receiving applications for genomics-based research that will lead to the improved use of biomass and plant feedstocks for the production of fuels such as ethanol or renewable chemical feedstocks. Specifically, applications are sought for fundamental research on plants that will improve biomass characteristics, biomass yield, or sustainability. Systems biology approaches to identify genetic indicators enabling plants to be efficiently bred or manipulated, or research that yields fundamental knowledge of the structure, function and organization of plant genomes leading to improved feedstock characterization and sustainability are also encouraged. |
|
Government Agency: |
National Science Foundation |
|
Schedule: |
Mar 1, 2008 |
|
URL: |
http://www07.grants.gov |
|
Title: |
Energy for Sustainability |
|
Description: |
The Energy for Sustainability program supports fundamental research and education in energy production, conversion, and storage and is focused on energy sources that are environmentally friendly and renewable. Most world energy needs are currently met through the combustion of fossil fuels. With projected increases in global energy needs, more sustainable methods for energy production will need to be developed, and production of greenhouse gases will need to be reduced. |
|
Government Agency: |
National Science Foundation |
|
Schedule: |
Mar 01, 2008 |
|
URL: |
http://www07.grants.gov |
|
Title: |
West Coast Collaborative Innovations in Clean Diesel |
|
Description: |
EPA Region 9 is soliciting proposals on a competitive basis for innovative projects that reduce emissions from existing diesel engines within the jurisdiction of Region 9, which includes California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, and the U.S. Pacific Islands . In addition, Region 9 includes approximately 146 federally-recognized Tribal governments. Projects must demonstrate effective emissions reductions (including, but not limited to, reductions in particulate matter, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons) from existing diesel engine operations through a variety of strategies such as emissions control technologies; idling reduction strategies; cleaner burning fuels; and alternative and biofuels production, distribution, and use. All projects must demonstrate applications, technologies, methods or approaches that are new, innovative or experimental. |
|
Government Agency: |
Environmental Protection Agency |
|
Schedule: |
Feb 15, 2008 |
|
URL: |
http://www07.grants.gov |
| |
|
|
|
|
February 6 - 7, 2008
Washington,D.C., USA |
Biomass Committee Quarterly Meeting |
February 19 - 22, 2008
Las Vegas, USA |
POWER-GEN Renewable Energy & Fuels 2008
|
February 25 - 27, 2008
Orlando, FL |
Renewable Fuels Association 13th Annual National Ethanol Conference - Policy & Marketing |
| March 10, 2008, Washington, D.C. |
Ecological Dimensions of Biofuels Conference |
March 12 - 15, 2008
Vancouver, Canada |
10th Biennial Trade Fair Conference on Business and the Environment |
April 15 - 17, 2008
Minneapolis, MN |
International Biomass Conference & Trade Show |
| April 17-18, 2008, Alexandria, VA |
Biomass 2008: Fueling Our Future |
| April 27-30, 2008, Chicago, IL |
2008 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing (BIO) |
|
|
Click here for additional bio-related events. | | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|