LIQUID BIOFUELS METRICS

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LIQUID BIOFUELS METRICS
An Update on the AIChE Project on Metrics for
Liquid BioFuels Tuesday, June 9, 2009 Presented
at CSTP Exchanges A monthly educational virtual
meeting
John Carberry, P.E. AIChE - F Carberry
Envirotech Newark, DE
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BIOFUELS METRICSObjectives

• Establish science based
• biofuels metrics that
• are broadly accepted
• and widely used.

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BIOFUELS METRICSGoals

• Recognition, by suppliers of technologies and
  feedstocks, for metrics used by government and
  industry
• Identify the expected users of these metrics
• Identify the expected providers of feedstocks,
  technology, or data.
• Identify the key US Government functions that
  will be impacted by the metrics

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BIOFUELS METRICSScope

• Define the scope of the study
• 1. boundaries
• 2. impacts
• 3. supply/technology/use chain
• 4. standard vehicle(s)
• 5. most important metrics
• Work with international efforts to the extent
  they are compatible with each other.

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BIOFUELS METRICSBoundaries

• The entire chain from production to use
• Consider only primary metrics
• Liquid bio-fuels for transportation in the US
  derived from bio-systems in the US or non-US
  bio-systems that could significantly impact US
  needs.
• Any feedstock/conversion technology/fuel
  combination that could provide at least 1 of the
  US demand, via technology commercialized within
  10 years.

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BIOFUELS METRICSPrimary (direct) Impacts

• Cost
• Performance
• Net GHG reduction
• Performance as a gasoline (or diesel) alternative
  including corrosivity, water solubility, octane
  impact, ignition (flash point) performance, etc.
• Pollution
• Human and ecological toxicity
• Air
• Aquifers and other potable water supplies
• Surface waters as ecological habitats
• Degradation of soil or habitats

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BIOFUELS METRICSPrimary (direct) Impacts

• Resource usage (demand)
• Total energy
• Potable water
• Food production displacement
• Production of forest products and other
  bio-derived products
• Water balance for other ecological needs
• Land for habitats such as wetlands

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BIOFUELS METRICSComponents of the Use Chain

• Growth
• Harvest and transport
• Conversion to a fuel
• Distribution of the fuel
• Use, primarily as a transportation fuel

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BIOFUELS METRICSDefining the Standard Vehicle

• We have chosen the pragmatic approach

Royalty free ClipArt
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BIOFUELS METRICSIn place of the Standard
Vehicle

• Thermodynamic maximum heat will be calculated for
  each molecule or mixture
• Efficiency of conversion of theoretical heat to
  useful energy will be assumed to be the same
  among fuels
• Likewise (mileage per fuel unit) will be assumed
  the same among comparable engines. (e.g. among
  diesel fuels)
• Corrections will be developed as data warranting
  them emerges
• Thus all demands will be expressed normalized to
  per theoretical net renewable Btu. (nRBtu.)

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BIOFUELS METRICSQuantitative Continuous Metrics

• Cost per nRBtu.
• Net renewable energy per acre.
• Potable water use per nRBtu.
• Environmental impact on water quality per nRBtu.
• Environmental impact on air quality per nRBtu.
• Food production displaced per nRBtu.
• Adverse impacts on bio-diversity resulting from
  changing use of any land or water per nRBtu.
• Percent of sustainably available feedstock
  required for 10 of the U.S. demand

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BIOFUELS METRICSQuantitative Conditional Metrics

• Compatibility with co-use of production
  facilities by other feedstocks that would have a
  different production cycle
• Compatibility with present distribution systems
• Compatibility with existing vehicles.
• Impact on rebuilding or depleting the quality and
  sustainability of the soil or bodies of water.

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BIOFUELS METRICSHigh Priority Feedstock and
Fuel Combinations(Technology Options not
Selected)

• Biodiesel from soybeans
• Biodiesel from biomass gasification (FT Rxs)
• Biodiesel from jatropha
• Biodiesel from vegetable oil wastes
• Ethanol from corn
• Ethanol from sugar waste (bagasse)
• Ethanol from switch grass cellulose
• Ethanol from forestry waste cellulose
• Ethanol from corn waste cellulose
• Ethanol from algae
• Liquid fuels from human and animal wastes
• Bio-butanol from something

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BIOFUELS METRICSThis leads to at least a 144
Box Matrix

• Eight continuous metrics
• Plus four conditional metrics
• By 12 feedstock and fuel combinations
• Or more when technology options are added, plus
  other feedstock and/or fuel candidates and issues
  as they are uncovered
• Presently NOT considering how to develop a
  combined score

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BIOFUELS METRICSPlan for addressing this 72 x
n Box Matrix(One row at a time)

• Review the literature and consult with experts to
  develop the best estimate for one row (biodiesel
  from soybeans)
• Identify the quality, variability and underlying
  assumptions of the data
• Identify advances (technology, regulatory,
  practices) that could significantly improve the
  overall metric
• Identify resources (experts) to incorporate a
  next row on a common basis
• Repeat the process for the next row

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BIOFUELS METRICSPath Forward

• Continue developing rows as we build consensus
  on content and perception of value
• Recruit additional resources to work on the
  rows
• Present updated results on a regular basis
  (probably, at least at the Spring and Fall
  Meetings), to build use and a constituency.
• Identify and work with users of the information.
  Modify as necessary, based on what we learn and
  other feedback

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Thank you for your time !!!