Biological and Environmental Research Advisory Committee

Report on DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Biomass Program

John FerrellOffice of the Biomass Program

May 14, 2007

Enabling Legislation

• Biomass R&D Act of 2000 (http://www.brdisolutions.com/default.aspx) – Interagency coordination of biomass efforts, specifically between

DOE and USDA– Annual DOE/USDA joint solicitation– Creation of the Biomass R&D Technical Advisory Committee and

Interagency Board

• 2002 Farm Bill - Energy Title (Sections 9006 & 9008)

• Energy Policy Act of 2005

Program Drivers – Recent Energy Initiatives

• Advanced Energy Initiative– Reduce dependence on foreign sources of oil by addressing how

we power our automobiles and homes– Make cellulosic ethanol cost competitive by 2012– Includes vehicle efficiency and solar components (i.e. Solar America

Initiative)

• 20 in 10– Increase supply of renewable and alternative fuels

• Set Alternative Fuels Standard (AFS) at 35 billion gallons per year by 2017

– 5X the current Renewable Fuels Standard for 2012– 15% of projected annual gasoline use in 2017

– Increase vehicle efficiency• Reform and modernize CAFÉ

– 5% of projected annual gasoline use in 2017

DOE SC and EERE Working Together

Office of Science

U.S. Department of Energy

Joint plan

OBPTechnology TransferCore Applied Science

Multi YearProgram Plan

IndustryCommercialization

PULL

OBERScience & Research

Infrastructure

Bioenergy Centers

Biomass to Biofuels 30 x 3020 in 10

Modified from C Weatherwax, DOE SC

New Domestic Bioindustry

ConversionConversionProcessesProcesses

– Trees – Grasses– Agricultural Crops– Agricultural Residues– Forest Residues– Animal Wastes– Municipal Solid Waste

PRODUCTSPRODUCTSFuels:– Ethanol– Renewable Diesel – Renewable Gasoline– Hydrogen

Power:– Electricity– Heat (co-generation)

Chemicals– Plastics– Solvents– Chemical Intermediates– Phenolics– Adhesives– Furfural– Fatty acids– Acetic Acid– Carbon black– Paints– Dyes, Pigments, and Ink– Detergents– Etc.

Food, Feed and Fiber

- Enzymatic Fermentation- Gas/liquid Fermentation- Acid Hydrolysis/Fermentation- Gasification- Pyrolysis- Combustion- Co-firing

BiomassBiomassFeedstockFeedstock

While the growing need for sustainable electric power can be met by other renewables…

Biomass is our only renewable source of carbon-based fuels and chemicals

Unique Role of Biomass

Biomass Resource Base

USDA/DOE Billion Ton

Vision Paper• Land resources of the U.S. can

sustainably supply more than 1.3 billion dry tons annually and still continue to meet food, feed, and export demands

• Realizing this potential will require R&D, policy change, stakeholder involvement

• Required changes are not unreasonable given current trends

• Should be sufficient to replace 30% of current US petroleum requirements

Estimated crop moisture at Estimated crop moisture at harvest/collection harvest/collection

GIS Environmental Analysis

Field moisture

November humidity

November wind

November temperature

Stover at <18% db moisture

Biorefinery - “The Path Forward”

Pathways represent possible homes for deployment of new technology

Three major areas:• Existing Corn Ethanol Industry• Emerging Industry for Residues• New Bioenergy Crops

Office of the Biomass Program – Reducing Barriers

Barriers• High cost of enzymatic

conversion

• Inadequate technology for producing ethanol from sugars derived from cellulosic biomass

• Limitations of thermochemical conversion processes

• Demonstration/integration of technology in biorefineries

• Inadequate distribution infrastructure for expanding markets

Solutions• R&D to improve effectiveness and reduce

costs of enzymatic conversion

• R&D on advanced micro-organisms for fermentation of sugars

The expertise of the national laboratories and cutting-edge industrial partners is helping to solve major challenges to domestic biofuels.

• Re-establish thermochemical conversion as a second path to success

• Fund loan guarantees, Section 932 biorefinery demonstrations, and 10% scale validation projects

• Form interagency infrastructure team and Regional Feedstock Partnerships

Demo-scale Testing of Best Biomass Conversion Technology Funded by DOE

Biorefinery Selectee Technology Conversion CatalystAbengoa Mixed Conversion SSF and Syngas

Fermentation

Alico Mixed Conversion Syngas Fermentation with anaerobic bacterium

BlueFire Ethanol Mixed Conversion Concentrated acid hydrolysis/ fermentation

Broin Biochemical SSF ethanol production

Iogen Biochemical SSF ethanol production

Range Fuels Thermochemical Catalytic Upgrade to ethanol and methanol

DOE Funds Diverse Ethanologen Development

Selectee Conversion Technology Potential Funding

Cargill SSF/ SSCF $4.4 million

Celunol SSF/ SSCF $5.3 million

DuPont SSF/SSCF $3.7 million

Mascoma CBP $4.9 million

Purdue Univ

SSF/SSCF $5.0 million

Open & Upcoming Solicitations

• 10% Validation Solicitation: One-tenth to one-fifth of the projected scale of a first-commercial facility– Announced May 1, 2007– Integrated biorefinery demonstrations using cellulosic feedstocks

and producing a combination of fuels, chemicals, and substitutes for petroleum-based feedstocks and products

• Enzyme Solicitation: Second phase of cellulase development collaborations with cost-sharing industry partners. – Expected to be announced in FY07– Create commercially available, highly effective & inexpensive

enzyme systems for biomass hydrolysis

• Thermochemical Conversion Solicitation: Integration of gasification and catalyst development– Expected to be announced in FY07

For more information…

• Office of the Biomass Program Website: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/

• John Ferrell:– John.ferrell@ee.doe.gov– 202-586-6745