Biofuels Opportunities for Agriculture

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Biofuels Opportunities for Agriculture

• Energy Solutions for Our Farms
• Moncton, NB
• November 18 19, 2008
• Bruce Roberts, Ph.D., P.Ag.
• Kelco Consulting Ltd.

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Renewable Energy

• Renewable/Alternative Energy is like a buffet
  we will use some of each type depending on the
  circumstances
• Wind
• Solar
• Tidal
• Biofuels
• Biogas

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Biofuels Types

• Biodiesel diesel from oilseeds
• Ethanol ethyl alcohol
• Solid biofuels combustion biomass

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Bioenergy Flow ChartPprimary, Ssecondary,
Ttertiary
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Biodiesel Process
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What is Biodiesel?

• Biodiesel is the product of a chemical reaction
  between the basic feedstock (vegetable oil or
  animal fat) and alcohol (methanol or ethanol) in
  the presence of a catalyst (usually sodium or
  potassium hydroxide).

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Types of Oil Crops

• Canola
• Soybeans
• Flaxseed
• Mustard
• Oriental
• Ethiopian
• Yellow
• Corn

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Biodiesel Benefits

• Can use with fossil-based diesel at any mix
• Most economical biofuel in relation to emission
  reduction
• Less corrosion and engine wear than fossil-based
  diesel
• Only fuel to have completed health effects
  testing requirements of the Clean Air Act.

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Ethanol Production Process (Grain)
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Ethanol Facts

• Ethanol is produced from fermentation-based
  processing of sugars and starches.
• Potential feedstock include
• Corn, grain, sugarcane, sugar beets, potatoes
• Agricultural waste straw, corn cobs, crop
  residues
• Agricultural energy crops mostly grass-based
• Waste from industries that process these products

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Ethanol Facts (contd)

• Corn-based ethanol most common
• Wheat-based ethanol common in Western Canada
• Cellulose ethanol is in commercialization stage

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Why Ethanol?

• We grow crops that can be used to produce ethanol
• We have unused or underutilized crop land
• Ethanol is good for the environment in the
  right location
• USDA study showed that corn ethanol is energy
  efficient producing 1.67 units of energy output
  for each unit of energy input
• Brazil sugar cane ethanol 5 to 1 ratio
• Viable production systems are in commercial
  operation
• Cellulosic ethanol has real potential for
  Maritimes

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Cellulosic Ethanol

• Cellulosic biomass contains sugars but they are
  much harder to access than in starchy biomass
• Plants contain hemicellulose and lignin that
  surround the cellulose and inhibit fermentation
• Feedstock has to be pre-treated to access sugars
• Produces ethanol and by-products from further
  refinement of lignin
• Can use lignin to generate power for process

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Potential Cellulose Ethanol Crops/Inputs

• Switchgrass
• Reed canary grass
• Short rotation forestry
• Corn Stover
• Plant breeders are presently breeding for low
  lignin and high sugar

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Solid Biofuels

• Combustion is the oldest form of energy
• Solid Biofuel Feedstock
• Forest products
• Forest waste materials
• Energy crops
• Switchgrass
• Reed canary grass
• Short rotation forestry

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Why Solid Biofuels?

• Capital cost/gigajoule 5-6 for pellet driven
  electricity plant
• Work being done on plant breeding to increase
  efficiency
• Can be used to replace coal-fired power plants
• Carbon neutral, renewable source of energy
• We have the forestry and agricultural resources

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Energy Comparison
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Capital Cost Estimates

• Investment per GJ of energy
• Corn Ethanol Plant - 45
• Wheat Ethanol Plant - 48
• Cellulosic Ethanol - 175 (ignores by-products)
• Combustion - 5 to 6

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What Are Our Opportunities?

• Revenue generation and cost savings
• Investment opportunities
• Treat it like a buffet we need to look at all
  biofuels
• Diversification
• Be innovative in inputs old and new crops,
  waste from various inputs
• Need to work together regionally

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How Do We Get There?

• What makes sense?
• Small biodiesel production from waste grease
• Rotation crops in some areas (potatoes/oilseeds)
• Solid biofuels combustion energy crops same as
  cellulosic ethanol
• Small plants are becoming more common
• Many new ethanol plants are in non-corn areas
  with 5-10 million US gallon capacity
• Develop renewable energy infrastructure so we
  dont get left behind!

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Biofuels Opportunities for Agriculture

• Atlantic Farm Energy Conference
• Moncton, NB
• November 18 19, 2008
• Bruce Roberts, Ph.D., P.Ag.
• Kelco Consulting Ltd.