Bioenergy

Biomass Energy Professor Stephen Lawrence Leeds School of Business University of Colorado – Boulder

1

Biomass Agenda • • • • • • •

Bioenergy Overview Biomass Resources Creating Energy from Biomass Biomass Economics Biomass Environmental Issues Promise of Bioenergy Ethanol Production 2

BioEnergy Overview

3

Global Energy Sources 2002

4 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Renewable Energy Use – 2001

5 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Bioenergy Cycle

6 http://www.repp.org/bioenergy/bioenergy-cycle-med2.jpg

Bioenergy Cycle

7 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Carbon Cycle

8 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Commercial Carbon Cycle

9

US Energy Cropland

10 http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/energy/renewable/map_bioenergy_image.html

US Biomass Resources

11

Biomass Resource Potential

12 http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/biomass/biomass.gif

Biomass Basic Data

13 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Solar Energy Conversion

1 hectare = ~2.5 acres Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

14

Boiling 1l of Water

15 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Biomass Energy Production Sector/Source

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004P

Total

2,907

2,640

2,648

2,740

2,845

Wood Energy Total

2,257

1,980

1,899

1,929

1,989

Residential

433

370

313

359

332

Commercial

53

40

39

40

41

1,636

1,443

1,396

1,363

1,448

134

126

150

167

168

Waste Energy Total

511

514

576

571

560

MSW/Landfill Gas

400

419

467

440

443

Commercial

41

35

37

42

43

Industrial

64

74

87

85

88

295

310

343

314

312

111

95

108

131

117

6

4

5

6

5

Industrial

81

76

81

85

84

Electric Powera

23

14

22

41

28

139

147

174

239

296

139

147

174

239

16 296

Industrial Electric Powera

Electric Powera Other Biomassb Commercial

Alcohol Fuelsc Transportation

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/biomass/biomass.html

Bioenergy Technologies

17 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Biomass Resources

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Types of Biomass

19

Biomass Resources • Energy Crops – Woody crops – Agricultural crops

• Waste Products – Wood residues – Temperate crop wastes – Tropical crop wastes – Animal wastes – Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) – Commercial and industrial wastes http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/bio_resources.html

20

Corn

21 http://www.geo.msu.edu/geo333/corn.html

Soybeans

22 http://agproducts.unl.edu/

Sorghum

23 http://www.okfarmbureau.org/press_pass/galleries/grainSorghum/

Sugar Cane Bagasse

24 http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html

Switchgrass

25 http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html

Hybrid Poplar

26 http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html

Corn Stover

27 http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html

Wood Chips & Sawdust

28 http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html

http://www.energytrust.org/RR/bio/

Tracy Biomass Plant

Truck unloading wood chips that will fuel the Tracy Biomass Plant, Tracy, California. http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/biomass/biomass.html

29

Municipal Solid Waste

30 http://www.eeingeorgia.org/eic/images/landfill.jpg

Creating Energy from Biomass 31

Bioenergy Conversion

32 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Biomass Direct Combustion

33 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Heat Energy Content

34 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

MSW Power Plant

35 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Composition of MSW

36 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Integrated Waste Plant

37 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

EU MSW Incineration

38 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Landfill Gasses

39 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Biorefinery

40 http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/biorefinery.html

Sugar Platform 1. Convert biomass to sugar or other fermentation feedstock 2. Ferment biomass intermediates using biocatalysts • Microorganisms including yeast and bacteria;

3. Process fermentation product • Yield fuel-grade ethanol and other fuels, chemicals, heat and/or electricity 41 http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/proj_biochemical_conversion.html

Thermochemical Platform

• Direct Combustion • Gasification • Pyrolysis

42 http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/thermochemical_platform.html

Gasification • Biomass heated with no oxygen • Gasifies to mixture of CO and H2 – Called “Syngas” for synthetic gas

• Mixes easily with oxygen • Burned in turbines to generate electricity – Like natural gas

• Can easily be converted to other fuels, chemicals, and valuable materials 43

Biomass Gasifier • 200 tons of wood chips daily • Forest thinnings; wood pallets • Converted to gas at ~1850 ºF • Combined cycle gas turbine • 8MW power output

McNeil Generating Station biomass gasifier – 8MW 44

http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html

Pyrolysis • Heat bio-material under pressure – 500-1300 ºC (900-2400 ºF) – 50-150 atmospheres – Carefully controlled air supply

• Up to 75% of biomass converted to liquid • Tested for use in engines, turbines, boilers • Currently experimental

45 http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/pyrolysis.html

Pyrolysis Schmatic

46 http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/pyrolysis.html

Anaerobic Digestion • Decompose biomass with microorganisms – Closed tanks known as anaerobic digesters – Produces methane (natural gas) and CO2

• Methane-rich biogas can be used as fuel or as a base chemical for biobased products. • Used in animal feedlots, and elsewhere 47 http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/other_platforms.html

Carbon Rich Platform • Natural plant oils such as soybean, corn, palm, and canola oils – In wide use today for food and chemical applications

• Transesterification of vegetable oil or animal fat produces fatty acid methyl ester – Commonly known as biodiesel.

• Biodiesel an important commercial air-emission reducing additive / substitute for diesel fuel – could be platform chemical for biorefineries.

48

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/other_platforms.html

BioFuels • Ethanol – Created by fermentation of starches/sugars – US capacity of 1.8 billion gals/yr (2005) – Active research on cellulosic fermentation

• Biodiesel – Organic oils combined with alcohols – Creates ethyl or methyl esters

• SynGas Biofuels – Syngas (H2 & CO) converted to methanol, or liquid fuel similar to diesel 49 http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/bio_fuels.html

Biodiesel Bus

50 http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html

Plant Products Platform • Selective breeding and genetic engineering • Develop plant strains that produce greater amounts of desirable feedstocks or chemicals • Even compounds that the plant does not naturally produce • Get the biorefining done in the biological plant rather than the industrial plant. 51 http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/other_platforms.html

Biomass Economics 52

Economic Issues • Sustainable Development – Move toward sustainable energy production

• Energy Security – Reduce dependence on imported oil

• Rural Economic Growth – Provide new crops/markets for rural business

• Land Use – Better balance of land use 53

http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/bio_integrated.html

Landfill Gas Costs

54 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Switchgrass Econ Tons Per Acre

Total Variable Cost Per Acre

Total Fixed Cost Per Acre

2

$131.00

$66.50

$197.50

$2.47

3

$87.33

$44.33

$131.67

$1.65

4

$65.50

$33.25

$98.75

$1.23

5

$52.40

$26.60

$79.00

$0.99

6

$43.67

$22.17

$65.83

$0.82

7

$37.43

$19.00

$56.43

$0.71

8

$32.75

$16.63

$49.38

$0.62

9

$29.11

$14.78

$43.89

$0.55

10

$26.20

$13.30

$39.50

$0.4955

http://www.agecon.uga.edu/~caed/Pubs/switchgrass.html

Ethanol Min Total Cost Price per Per Acre Gallon

Energy Crop Potential

56 Michael Totten, Conservation International, January 27, 2006

Environmental Impacts 57

Environmental Issues • Air Quality – Reduce NOx and SO2 emissions

• Global Climate Change – Low/no net increase in CO2

• Soil Conservation – Soil erosion control, nutrient retention, carbon sequestration, and stabilization of riverbanks.

• Water Conservation – Better retention of water in watersheds

• Biodiversity and Habitat – Positive and negative changes

http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/bio_integrated.html

58

Heat and CO2 Content

59 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Net Life Cycle Emissions

60 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Crop Erosion Rates

SRWC = Short Rotation Woody Crops

61 Michael Totten, Conservation International, January 27, 2006

Biocide Requirements

Short Rotation Woody Crops Michael Totten, Conservation International, January 27, 2006

62

Promise of Bioenergy 63

Biomass Infrastructure • Biomass Production Improvements – Genetics, breeding, remote sensing, GIS, analytic and evaluation techniques

• Biomass Material Handling – Storage, handling, conveying, size reduction, cleaning, drying, feeding systems, systems

• Biomass Logistics and Infrastructure – Harvesting, collecting, storing, transporting, other biomass supply chain elements 64 http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/bio_resources.html

Benefits of Bioenergy Multiple benefits would accrue: • Rural American farmers producing these fuel crops would see $5 billion of increased profits per year. • Consumers would see future pump savings of $20 billion per year on fuel costs. • Society would see CO2 emissions reduced by 6.2 billion tons per year, equal to 80% of U.S. transportation-related CO2 emissions in 2002. 65 www.bioproducts-bioenergy.gov/pdfs/NRDC-Growing-

Growing US Energy • 2004 assessment by the National Energy Commission concluded that a vigorous effort in the USA to develop cellulosic biofuels between now and 2015 could: – Produce the first billion gallons at costs approaching those of gasoline and diesel. – Establish the capacity to produce biofuels at very competitive pump prices equivalent to roughly 8 million barrels of oil per day (122 billion gallons per year) by 2025. 66 Nathaniel Greene et al., Growing Energy, www.bioproducts-bioenergy.gov/pdfs/NRDC-

US Grows its Gas TODAY & BUSINESS 30 AS million USUAL hectares soy

animal protein feed

oils

NEXT DECADE & 30 million hectares FUTURE switchgrass

Switchgrass 1 to 3x protein productivity + 5 to 10 x mass productivity of soybeans

animal protein feed

oils

Cellulose hydrolyzed into 30 billion gallons ethanol 67

http://thayer.dartmouth.edu/thayer/rbaef/.

Fuel Efficiency vs. Land

68

Bioenergy Forecasts

69 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

One Scenario

Semi-Efficient, Ambitious Renewable Energy Scenario Michael Totten, Conservation International, January 27, 2006

70

Ethanol Production

71

Ethanol Yields

72 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Ethanol Production Plant

73 http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html

74

Ethanol Production • Corn kernels are ground in a hammermill to expose the starch • The ground grain is mixed with water, cooked briefly and enzymes are added to convert the starch to sugar using a chemical reaction called hydrolysis. • Yeast is added to ferment the sugars to ethanol. • The ethanol is separated from the mixture by distillation and the water is removed from the mixture using dehydration 75

Ethanol Production • Energy content about 2/3 of gasoline – So E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline) will cause your gas mileage to decrease 3-4%

• Takes energy to create ethanol from starchy sugars – Positive net energy balance – Energy output/input = 1.67

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In comparison, US consumed an 140,000 million gallons of gasoline in 2004

77

US Ethanol Facilities

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Ethanol by State

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Ethanol Fuel Use 2003

80

Ethanol Use by Market

Federal Reformulated Gasoline Required year round in high pollution metro areas e.g. L.A., San Diego, Dallas, Houston, Washington, D.C. Federal Winter Oxygenated Fuels Required during winter in selected high pollution metro areas e.g. Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas

81

MTBE • MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether) – A chemical compound that is manufactured by the chemical reaction of methanol and isobutylene – Used almost exclusively a fuel additive in gasoline – It is one of a group of chemicals commonly known as "oxygenates" because they raise the oxygen content of gasoline. – At room temperature, MTBE is a volatile, flammable and colorless liquid that dissolves rather easily in water.

Source: EPA (http://www.epa.gov/mtbe/gas.htm)

82

MTBE • Oxygen helps gasoline burn more completely, reducing tailpipe emissions from motor vehicles • Oxygen dilutes or displaces gasoline components such as aromatics (e.g., benzene) and sulfur • Oxygen optimizes the oxidation during combustion. • Most refiners have chosen to use MTBE over other oxygenates primarily for its blending characteristics and for economic reasons Source: EPA (http://www.epa.gov/mtbe/gas.htm) 83

MTBE and The Clean Air Act • The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAA) require the use of oxygenated gasoline in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution – The CAA does not specifically require MTBE. Refiners may choose to use other oxygenates, such as ethanol – Winter Oxyfuel Program: Originally implemented in 1992, the CAA requires oxygenated fuel during the cold months in cities that have elevated levels of carbon monoxide – Year-round Reformulated Gasoline Program: Since 1995, the CAA requires reformulated gasoline (RFG) year-round in cities with the worst ground-level ozone (smog). 84

Source: EPA (http://www.epa.gov/mtbe/gas.htm)

MTBE and Groundwater Pollution • MTBE has the potential to occur in high concentrations in groundwater • Some MTBE has appeared in drinking water wells throughout the U.S • Highly water soluble – Not easily absorbed into soil – Resists biodegradation

• Travels far from leak sources, – Hazard on a regional scale.

• Some states are banning MTBE Source: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (http://www.llnl.gov/str/Happel.html)

85

State MTBE Bans

86

Corn Use for Ethanol

87

Corn Use by Segment

88

Sorghum Use by Segment

89

Energy Policy Act of 2005 • Small Producer Biodiesel and Ethanol Credit – 10 cent per gallon tax credit – Up to 15 million gallons annually per producer – Expires year end 2008

• Fueling stations – 30% credit for cost of installing clean-fuel vehicle refueling equipment – $30,000 maximum – e.g. E85 • 85% Ethanol, 15% gasoline • GM pushing their E85 vehicles as an alternative to hybrids • Seven SUV/Trucks, two sedans

90

Energy Policy Act of 2005 • The Renewable Fuel Standard – Requires use of 7.5 billion gallons of biofuels by 2012 • includes ethanol and biodiesel

– Up from 3.4 billion gallons in 2004

• All refiners required to abide by targets – Credit trading mechanism in place • For example, refiners in states with little or no ethanol production may buy credits from refiners in states with excess production

• Increased costs across the nation • Decrease oil imports by 2.1% 91

Cellulosic Ethanol • Ethanol produced from agricultural residues, woody biomass, fibers, municipal solid waste, switchgrass • Process converts lignocellulosic feedstock (LCF) into component sugars, which are then fermented to ethanol

92 Source: American Coalition for Ethanol (http://www.ethanol.org/documents/ACERFSSummary.pdf)

Cellulosic Ethanol Energy Policy Act of 2005 • Minimum 250 million gallons/year by 2012 • Incentive grants for facility construction – 2006: $500 million – 2007: $800 million – 2008: $400 million

• Other research grants/production incentives – 2006 – 2010: $485 million 93 Source: American Coalition for Ethanol (http://www.ethanol.org/documents/ACERFSSummary.pdf)

Ethanol Energy Policy Act of 2005 • President Bush – Reduce our “addition to oil”

• Replace 75% of U.S. oil imports from the Middle East by 2025 – But that’s just 4.3 million barrels/day – Total consumption of 26.1 million barrels/day

94 Source: American Coalition for Ethanol (http://www.ethanol.org/documents/ACERFSSummary.pdf)

U.S. Petroleum Supply 2004

2.6

3.3

8.6

6.2

Domestic Oil Domestic Ethanol Western Hemisphere Europe/Africa Persian Gulf

1.8

2025 5.8

5.1 Domestic Oil Domestic Ethanol

3.2

5.3

Western Hemisphere Europe/Africa Persian Gulf

6.7 MMBPD Source: Department of Energy/Energy Information Agency

95

Ethanol Energy Policy Act of 2005 • Brazil produces ethanol at $25/oil equivalent barrel – Adjusted price taking into account energy differences between ethanol and oil – Compare $25/barrel to current oil price of $60+/barrel

• Largest commercial application of biomass energy in the world – Sugar cane used a feedstock

• Domestic automakers building flex-fuel vehicles

96

Source: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Promoting Bioenergy • Why not import ethanol from Brazil? • The U.S. imposes a $22/barrel import tariff on Brazilian ethanol • So, are the ethanol subsidies in the EPAct05 just a payoff to the agricultural lobby? • Or, are we attempting to build a domestic ethanol industry by subsidizing its early efforts? • How best to promote bioenergy?

97

Source: American Coalition for Ethanol (http://www.ethanol.org/documents/ACERFSSummary.pdf)

Next Week:

Midterm Review

98

Extra Slides

99

Biomass Basics

100 http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/bio_basics.html

BioPower Electricity • Direct Combustion – Burn biomass to create steam

• Co-Firing – Mix biomass with coal in coal plants – Economically attractive

• Gasification • Pyrolysis • Anaerobic Digestion 101 http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/bio_biopower.html

Integrated Systems

102 http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/bio_integrated.html

Biomass Resources • • • • • • • • •

Herbaceous Energy Crops Woody Energy Crops Industrial Crops Agricultural Crops Aquatic Crops Agricultural Crop Residues Forestry Residues Municipal Waste Animal Waste 103

http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/bio_resources.html

Sugar Platform • Most plant material consists of cellulose – Not starch and starch and sugar

• Need to break cellulose into its sugars – Research underway to make economical

104 http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/sugar_platform.html

Biorefinery Platforms

105 http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/

106 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Average UK Fuel Prices

107 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Energy Crop Yields

108 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Biodiversity friendly Bioenergy? Perennial prairie grasses

109

110

Other Platforms • Biogas Platform • Carbon-Rich Chains Platform • Plant Products Platform – Selective breeding and genetic engineering – develop plant strains that produce greater amounts of desirable feedstocks or chemicals – even compounds that the plant does not naturally produce – getting the biorefining done in the biological plant rather than the industrial plant. 111 http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/other_platforms.html

Direct Hydrothermal Liquifaction

112

Thermochemical R&D

113

Simple vs. CCGT Plant

114 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Carbon/Solar Cycle

115