Biomass: A Renewable Resource

1
Biomass A Renewable Resource

• Nancy Dowe, Senior ScientistNational Bioenergy
  Center
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• June 26, 2007

2
Todays Presentation

• Introduction to the National Renewable Energy
  Laboratory
• The world energy challenge
• Biomass as a solution
• NRELs biomass research and development

3
The U.S. Department of Energys National
Renewable Energy Laboratory
NREL develops renewable energy and energy
efficiency technologies and practices, advances
related science and engineering, and transfers
knowledge and innovations to address the nations
energy and environmental goals.
4
NREL RD Portfolio

• Energy Delivery Storage
• Electricity Transmission Distribution
• Alternative Fuels
• Hydrogen Delivery and Storage

• Efficient Energy Use
• Vehicles
• Buildings
• Industry

• Renewable
• Resources
• Wind
• Solar
• Biomass
• Geothermal
• Oceans

5
The Energy Challenge

• Worldwide energy demand increasing
• Non-uniform access to affordable energy
• U.S. demand for fuels outstrips supply

6
Worldwide Energy Demand Increasing
World Energy Consumption, 1990-2025
644.6
553.5
411.5
348.2
17
16
10
12
8
13
16
17
24
21
21
24
Source Energy Information Administration,
International Energy Outlook 2004, Table A2
7
Non-Uniform Access to Affordable
EnergyImplications for national security and
social stability
Map of global energy poverty 1.6 billion people
have no access to electricity, 80 of them in
South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa
Source IEA World Energy Outlook 2002
8
Demand for Fuels Outstrips Supply Domestic
Production with Transportation Use (1970-2020)
9
Biomass Is Part of the Solution

• Biomass feedstocks can be
• Crop residues
• Wood waste
• Perennial crops
• Corn
• Algae
• Biomass is
• Abundant
• Renewable
• Carbon-neutral
• The only sustainable source of hydrocarbons
• Biomass can
• Fill the gap between energy demand and petroleum
  availability in the near term.
• Be a renewable source of hydrogen in the long
  term.

10
Constituents of Biomass

• Lignin 1525
• Complex aromatic structure
• Very high energy content
• Resists biochemical conversion
• Hemicellulose 2332
• Xylose is the second most abundant sugar in the
  biosphere
• Polymer of 5- and 6-carbon sugars, marginal
  biochemical feed
• Cellulose 3850
• Most abundant form of carbon in biosphere
• Polymer of glucose, good biochemical feedstock

11
Biomass to Bioproducts
Biomass Feedstocks

• Trees
• Grasses
• Agricultural crops
• Residues
• Animal wastes
• Municipal solid waste

12
Integrated Cellulosic Ethanol Biorefinery
13
(No Transcript)
14
Reducing the Cost of Ethanol From Stover
6.00
State of Technology Estimates
Enzyme
5.00
President's Biofuels Initiative
Previous DOE Cost Targets
Feed 53/ton
Costs in 2002 Dollars
4.00
Minimum Ethanol Selling Price (/gal)
3.00
2.00
2005 Yield
65 gal/ton
1.00
Feed 30/ton
Feed 30/ton
Yield 90 gal/ton
Yield 94 gal/ton
10,000 TPD
0.00
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
15
Fossil Energy Ratio
Source J. Sheehan and M. Wang (2003)
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Role of DOE Labs in Bioenergy

• Focus on execution of RD for U.S. DOE Biomass
  Program within the Office of Energy Efficiency
  and Renewable Energy
• Lignocellulose conversion to intermediates
• Bio-based products from biomass
• Integrated biorefinery concepts
• Maintain a balanced portfolio
• Long-term core research
• Accurate process and life-cycle analysis modeling
• Support to near-term commercialization projects
• Build partnerships with industry

17
Overview of NRELs National Bioenergy Center
Facilities

• Thermochemical Conversion
• Micro-reactors to pilot plants
• Biochemical Conversion
• Bench scale to ton/day
• Genomics Laboratory
• Tools for strain development
• Biomass Characterization
• Wet chemical and NIR
• Spectroscopy Facilities
• NMR, IR, LIBS, MBMS

18
NRELs Thermochemical User Facility

• Thermochemical conversion process simulation
• Gasification
• Pyrolysis
• Combustion
• Fully automated 0.5-ton/day biomass conversion
• Large-scale tar cracking and reforming reactor
• Close-coupled biomass conversion and testing of
  downstream processes
• 0.120 kg/h downstream reactors
• Upgrading/conversion research

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NRELs Alternative Fuels User Facility

• Extensive pretreatment research
• Full range of fermentation facilities (from shake
  flask to 9,000 liters)
• Flexible integration and configuration
• 1-ton/day fully automated pilot plant
• Frequent industry use

20
Summary

• Biomass is the only renewable option for liquid
  transportation fuels
• U.S. resource base sufficient to supply a large
  fraction of demand
• Cellulosic ethanol is one of the focuses of
  NRELs research and development efforts

21
Contacts

• Thomas Foust, Technology Manager
• Office of the Biomass Program, NREL
• thomas_foust_at_nrel.gov
• [phone]
• John Ashworth, Team Leader, Partnership
  Development National Bioenergy Center, NREL
• john_ashworth_at_nrel.gov
• [phone]

22
Additional Information

• DOE Biomass Program Web Site
• http//www.eere.energy.gov/biomass/
• NREL Biomass Web Site
• http//www.nrel.gov/biomass
• Alternative Fuels Data Center
• http//www.eere.energy.gov/afdc