Wood Biofuels Bill Hubbard and Sarah Ashton Southern Regional Extension Forestry

Setting the Stage  Humanity’s Top 10 Problems over the next 50 years * 1.Energy 2.Water 3.Food 4.Environment 5.Poverty 6.Terrorism & War 7.Disease 8.Education 9.Democracy 10.Population  Humanity’s Top 10 Problems over the next 50 years * 1.Energy 2.Water 3.Food 4.Environment 5.Poverty 6.Terrorism & War 7.Disease 8.Education 9.Democracy 10.Population Dr. Richard Smalley, Professor of Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, 1996 Nobel Prize Winner

Fossil Fuel Situation  Current worldwide demand for oil  81 million barrels/day  6 barrels used for every 1 discovered  Demand in 20 years  Projected at 121 million barrels/day  Where will it come from?  Politically unstable countries (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Venezuela)  Or undesirable locations (ANWAR, deep-platforms, near- shore)  Current worldwide demand for oil  81 million barrels/day  6 barrels used for every 1 discovered  Demand in 20 years  Projected at 121 million barrels/day  Where will it come from?  Politically unstable countries (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Venezuela)  Or undesirable locations (ANWAR, deep-platforms, near- shore)

US Dependence on Foreign Oil Have Oil Saudi Arabia26% Iraq11% Kuwait10% UAE8% Venezuela6% Russia5% Libya3% Mexico3% China3% Nigeria2% US2% Have Oil Saudi Arabia26% Iraq11% Kuwait10% UAE8% Venezuela6% Russia5% Libya3% Mexico3% China3% Nigeria2% US2% Use Oil US26% Japan7% China6% Germany4% Canada4% Russia3% Brazil3% S. Korea3% France3% India3% Mexico3% Italy2% The U.S. uses more than the next 5 highest consuming nations combined

Climate Change is Real and Creates Real Impacts Mountain Pine BeetleHurricane Katrina

So what does all this mean?

One Alternative is the Utilization of Woody Biomass as Fuel  We have an abundance of woody biomass that, in general, needs to be extracted for various reasons including:  Woody weed control,  Integrated Pest Management,  Fuel Load Reduction,  Improving growth rates of standing timber,  Salvage  But is NOT always extracted or utilized  We have an abundance of woody biomass that, in general, needs to be extracted for various reasons including:  Woody weed control,  Integrated Pest Management,  Fuel Load Reduction,  Improving growth rates of standing timber,  Salvage  But is NOT always extracted or utilized

What is Woody Biomass?  Woody biomass is the accumulated mass, above and below ground, of the wood, bark, and leaves of living and dead woody shrubs and trees.

What is Bioenergy?  Energy produced from biomass including woody biomass, agricultural biomass, and other biological materials  Includes electricity, heat, and transportation fuels  Energy produced from biomass including woody biomass, agricultural biomass, and other biological materials  Includes electricity, heat, and transportation fuels

Availability of Biomass  OECD – commercial, industry-led  Asia and Latin America – modern, commercial  Africa – harvested informally  OECD – commercial, industry-led  Asia and Latin America – modern, commercial  Africa – harvested informally Source: IEA Renewables Information. Paris

Utilization of Biomass  Biomass is the most important renewable energy source in the world today  10.6% world total energy supply % total renewable energy supply  Solid biomass has grown at 1.8%  Liquid biomass has grown at 84%  Biomass is the most important renewable energy source in the world today  10.6% world total energy supply % total renewable energy supply  Solid biomass has grown at 1.8%  Liquid biomass has grown at 84% Solid biomass/ charcoal 77.4% Liquid Biomass 0.7% Renewable Municipal Solid Waste 1.20% Gas from Biomass 0.50% Source: IEA Renewables Information. Paris

Biomass in the United States  Domestic energy production  9% renewable: 47% biomass: 72% wood-based  Domestic energy production  9% renewable: 47% biomass: 72% wood-based 2% Wind 45% Hydroelectric 5% Geothermal 47% Biomass 1% Solar Source: Energy Information Administration 2004

Energy Potential  Forest residues  Ethanol potential  Southern advantage  Forest residues  Ethanol potential  Southern advantage Source: Mabee et al. 2006

Woody Bioenergy Potential 40 million dry tons of recoverable logging residues in the US Approximately 20 million dry tons in the South Each Southern state could produce at least 100 MW of electricity using logging residues 40 million dry tons of recoverable logging residues in the US Approximately 20 million dry tons in the South Each Southern state could produce at least 100 MW of electricity using logging residues Operational power/electricity capacity from logging residues by state--Gan and Smith 2006

Woody Biomass-Harvesting Residues  Unconsolidated  Comminuted  Bundled  Unconsolidated  Comminuted  Bundled

Woody Biomass-Wood Processing Residue  Black liquor  Sawdust  Bark  Black liquor  Sawdust  Bark

Woody Biomass- Other Sources  Energy Plantations  Construction Waste  Salvage  Energy Plantations  Construction Waste  Salvage

Woody Biomass Resources in the South Forestland (mil acres) Logging Residues (mil dry tons) Processing Residues (mil dry tons) Urban Wood Waste (mil dry tons) Alabama Florida Georgia Kentucky Mississippi North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Virginia Arkansas Louisiana Oklahoma Texas Region Total

Conversion Processes  Woody biomass can undergo-  Biochemical Conversion  Aerobic Digestion  Anaerobic Digestion  Fermentation  Thermochemical Conversion  Combustion  Gasification  Pyrolysis  Etc.  Woody biomass can undergo-  Biochemical Conversion  Aerobic Digestion  Anaerobic Digestion  Fermentation  Thermochemical Conversion  Combustion  Gasification  Pyrolysis  Etc. UGA Pyrolysis Unit

USDA/DOE Biorefinery Concept

End Products  Heat and Power  Liquid Transportation Fuel  Ethanol  Methanol  Biodiesel  Industrial Products  Chemicals  Bioproducts  Heat and Power  Liquid Transportation Fuel  Ethanol  Methanol  Biodiesel  Industrial Products  Chemicals  Bioproducts

Solid and Gaseous Biofuels Opportunities  Solid  Char  Pellets  Chips  Gas  Syngas  Biogas  Solid  Char  Pellets  Chips  Gas  Syngas  Biogas

Bioenergy  Producing bioenergy in the form of heat and power from woody biomass is the “lowest hanging fruit”.

Example-- Forest Products  Forest products industry is largest user of forest biomass for energy  70% of energy in-house  Created from by-products  Forest products industry is largest user of forest biomass for energy  70% of energy in-house  Created from by-products

Biomass & Forest Products

Liquid Biofuels Opportunities  Ethanol  Bio-diesel  Ethanol  Bio-diesel

Liquid Biofuels  President Bush’s 2006 and 2007 State of the Union Addresses  Mentioned ethanol from wood chips  Set a goal to have more than 7.5 billion gallons of ethanol and biodiesel in the nation’s fuel supply by 2012  Pledged $250 million to help achieve “homegrown cellulosic ethanol”  President Bush’s 2006 and 2007 State of the Union Addresses  Mentioned ethanol from wood chips  Set a goal to have more than 7.5 billion gallons of ethanol and biodiesel in the nation’s fuel supply by 2012  Pledged $250 million to help achieve “homegrown cellulosic ethanol”

Liquid Biofuels  Fermentation, pyrolysis and gasification.  Tech not currently available at a commercial scale  Breaking the cellulose and hemicellulose free from lignin in a cost effective manner remains a primary barrier  Several firms say they hold the key  Range Fuels  Fermentation, pyrolysis and gasification.  Tech not currently available at a commercial scale  Breaking the cellulose and hemicellulose free from lignin in a cost effective manner remains a primary barrier  Several firms say they hold the key  Range Fuels

Benefits of Using Woody Biomass  Environmental Benefits  Economic Benefits  Energy Benefits  Environmental Benefits  Economic Benefits  Energy Benefits

Environmental Benefits  Carbon sequestration  Reduced greenhouse gas emissions  Carbon sequestration  Reduced greenhouse gas emissions

Environmental Benefits  Forest health  Reduce wildfire risk  Reduced mortality due to insect and disease  Recovery of degraded land  Forest health  Reduce wildfire risk  Reduced mortality due to insect and disease  Recovery of degraded land

Economic Benefits  Landowners  Increased income potential  Reduced site preparation costs  Communities  New markets for forest products  Economic diversification  Landowners  Increased income potential  Reduced site preparation costs  Communities  New markets for forest products  Economic diversification

Energy Benefits  Reduced fossil fuel use  Renewable source  Improved energy security  Reduced fossil fuel use  Renewable source  Improved energy security

Promoting Biomass  Market Formation  Bioenergy systems  Biofuels  Challenges  Market Formation  Bioenergy systems  Biofuels  Challenges

Market Formation  System-level focus across entire value chain  Biomass production  Harvesting, transport, processing  Utilization and energy generation capacity  Direct combustion  Conversion technology  Consumer demand  Marketing messages  Reliable and affordable  Enables secure energy future  System-level focus across entire value chain  Biomass production  Harvesting, transport, processing  Utilization and energy generation capacity  Direct combustion  Conversion technology  Consumer demand  Marketing messages  Reliable and affordable  Enables secure energy future

Challenges in Bioenergy  Supply and Market Development  Integration  Competitiveness and Mainstreaming  Sustainability  Transportation  Conversion Technologies  Supply and Market Development  Integration  Competitiveness and Mainstreaming  Sustainability  Transportation  Conversion Technologies

Creating Synergies  Energy sector  Greater use of by-products for fuel  Sale of excess electricity to the grid  Agriculture  Cooperate in market development for ethanol  Energy sector  Greater use of by-products for fuel  Sale of excess electricity to the grid  Agriculture  Cooperate in market development for ethanol

Conclusions  Forest biomass is an attractive renewable energy source.  It provides environmental, economic, and energy benefits to society.  Challenges and barriers do exist.  Market development  Technology  Collaboration  Education  Forest biomass is an attractive renewable energy source.  It provides environmental, economic, and energy benefits to society.  Challenges and barriers do exist.  Market development  Technology  Collaboration  Education