Meeting the Demands of Food, Feed, and Energy by Sweet Sorghum

Shi-Zhong LiThe USThe USThe USThe US----Sino Joint Center for Sino Joint Center for Sino Joint Center for Sino Joint Center for BiofuelBiofuelBiofuelBiofuel Research Research Research Research

Institute of New Energy Technology, Institute of New Energy Technology, Institute of New Energy Technology, Institute of New Energy Technology, TsinghuaTsinghuaTsinghuaTsinghua University, ChinaUniversity, ChinaUniversity, ChinaUniversity, China

Email:szli@tsinghua.edu.cnEmail:szli@tsinghua.edu.cnEmail:szli@tsinghua.edu.cnEmail:szli@tsinghua.edu.cn

FAO, 14-15 July 2010How to make integrated food-energy systems work for both small-scale farmers

and rural communities in a climate change-friendly way

Food Crisis, Climate Change, and Food Crisis, Climate Change, and Food Crisis, Climate Change, and Food Crisis, Climate Change, and Energy PovertyEnergy PovertyEnergy PovertyEnergy Poverty

Political will needed to halt food price surge - FAO

Reuters, Saturday April 19, 2008

Challenges

BROKEN CIRCLE CLOSED CIRCLE

Fossils Biomass

BiofuelsBiofuelsBiofuelsBiofuels are today the only direct substitute for oil in transport are today the only direct substitute for oil in transport are today the only direct substitute for oil in transport are today the only direct substitute for oil in transport that is available on a significant scale. that is available on a significant scale. that is available on a significant scale. that is available on a significant scale. 73.6 billion litters of 73.6 billion litters of 73.6 billion litters of 73.6 billion litters of bioethanolbioethanolbioethanolbioethanol were produced in 2009, and is projected to replace were produced in 2009, and is projected to replace were produced in 2009, and is projected to replace were produced in 2009, and is projected to replace 12121212----14% of global gasoline consumption by 2015.14% of global gasoline consumption by 2015.14% of global gasoline consumption by 2015.14% of global gasoline consumption by 2015.

Greenland is melting!

Why biofuels

Major concerns on biofuels

Food starch & sugar

First generation bioFirst generation bioFirst generation bioFirst generation bio----fuel fuel fuel fuel feed stocks divert food feed stocks divert food feed stocks divert food feed stocks divert food crops to produce fuel, andcrops to produce fuel, andcrops to produce fuel, andcrops to produce fuel, andcan compete directly, or can compete directly, or can compete directly, or can compete directly, or indirectly with food indirectly with food indirectly with food indirectly with food production resulting in:production resulting in:production resulting in:production resulting in:

– higher food priceshigher food priceshigher food priceshigher food prices

– food shortages food shortages food shortages food shortages

– DeDeDeDe----forestation forestation forestation forestation

– Expansion into Expansion into Expansion into Expansion into environmentally environmentally environmentally environmentally sensitive ecosystemssensitive ecosystemssensitive ecosystemssensitive ecosystems

� BiofuelBiofuelBiofuelBiofuel has to be nonhas to be nonhas to be nonhas to be non----competitive to feed, food & competitive to feed, food & competitive to feed, food & competitive to feed, food & domestic energy domestic energy domestic energy domestic energy

� A crop should combines A crop should combines A crop should combines A crop should combines energy and food on the energy and food on the energy and food on the energy and food on the same plot:same plot:same plot:same plot:

– addresses food, fuel, addresses food, fuel, addresses food, fuel, addresses food, fuel, fodder, fiber (FFF)fodder, fiber (FFF)fodder, fiber (FFF)fodder, fiber (FFF)

– suits arid and semi suits arid and semi suits arid and semi suits arid and semi ----arid arid arid arid conditionsconditionsconditionsconditions

– C4 C4 C4 C4 ---- with efficient with efficient with efficient with efficient photosynthesisphotosynthesisphotosynthesisphotosynthesis

Why IFES?Why IFES?Why IFES?Why IFES?

A A A A ‘‘‘‘closed loopclosed loopclosed loopclosed loop’’’’////‘‘‘‘zero wastezero wastezero wastezero waste’’’’ system is established in Chinasystem is established in Chinasystem is established in Chinasystem is established in China

有机肥有机肥有机肥有机肥Organic fertilizer

沼气沼气沼气沼气Biogas

粪便Manure

饲料饲料饲料饲料/养牛羊Feed for cattle

发酵后糟渣Fermented bagasse 高粱米高粱米高粱米高粱米

Sorghum grains

甜高粱甜高粱甜高粱甜高粱Sweet sorghum

粮食粮食粮食粮食Food

高粱秆固体发酵Stalks/ ASSF

乙醇乙醇乙醇乙醇Ethanol

厌氧发酵Anaerobic fermentation

IFES trials in China

Nov. 2007, Financial Incentive Policy for Nov. 2007, Financial Incentive Policy for Nov. 2007, Financial Incentive Policy for Nov. 2007, Financial Incentive Policy for BioenergyBioenergyBioenergyBioenergy was issued by MOF and was issued by MOF and was issued by MOF and was issued by MOF and NDRC total five ministries, ChinaNDRC total five ministries, ChinaNDRC total five ministries, ChinaNDRC total five ministries, China---- to support 20to support 20to support 20to support 20----40% investment of 40% investment of 40% investment of 40% investment of biofeulbiofeulbiofeulbiofeul & & & & biobiobiobio----based product producers using nonbased product producers using nonbased product producers using nonbased product producers using non----food food food food feedstocksfeedstocksfeedstocksfeedstocks; $400/hectare ; $400/hectare ; $400/hectare ; $400/hectare subsidies for farmers.subsidies for farmers.subsidies for farmers.subsidies for farmers.

Sweet sorghum for feed & ethanol mode in ShanXi Province

$ 2 mil. Is invested by a garo company

Sweet sorghum for ethanol & feed mode in Inner Mongolia

$ 9 mil. Is invested by a coal company

45 % of fibrous residues 45 % of fibrous residues 45 % of fibrous residues 45 % of fibrous residues (1.18t)(1.18t)(1.18t)(1.18t) for boiler fuel, 55% (1.42t) for boiler fuel, 55% (1.42t) for boiler fuel, 55% (1.42t) for boiler fuel, 55% (1.42t) to feed 1 cattle, and nutrition report is as the followingto feed 1 cattle, and nutrition report is as the followingto feed 1 cattle, and nutrition report is as the followingto feed 1 cattle, and nutrition report is as the following

11.910.130.3222.540.6263.7530.127.2694.22

Fermented

bagasse

(dry sample)

16.440.060.061.345.769.894.591.4724Corn silage

3.370.020.051.299.2913.346.560.8319.21

Fermented

bagasse

(wet sample)

Total

energy

MJ/kg

PhosphateCalciumCrude

ash

Acid

detergent

fiber

Neutral

detergent

fiber

Crude

fiber

Crude

Protein

content

Dry

matter

Raw material

Why ASSF

Sweet sorghum is suitable in more areas

Why Sweet Sorghum

Why Sweet Sorghum

� Sweet Sorghum may produce grain, sugar, ethanol, electricity, Sweet Sorghum may produce grain, sugar, ethanol, electricity, Sweet Sorghum may produce grain, sugar, ethanol, electricity, Sweet Sorghum may produce grain, sugar, ethanol, electricity, and feed without and feed without and feed without and feed without adversely impacting existing food crops or requiring the clearinadversely impacting existing food crops or requiring the clearinadversely impacting existing food crops or requiring the clearinadversely impacting existing food crops or requiring the clearing of new land to grow g of new land to grow g of new land to grow g of new land to grow fuels crops.fuels crops.fuels crops.fuels crops.

� Grown in drier areas (waste lands or sandy soils) with only limGrown in drier areas (waste lands or sandy soils) with only limGrown in drier areas (waste lands or sandy soils) with only limGrown in drier areas (waste lands or sandy soils) with only limited water and ited water and ited water and ited water and fertiliserfertiliserfertiliserfertiliseras compared to sugar cane and other crops:as compared to sugar cane and other crops:as compared to sugar cane and other crops:as compared to sugar cane and other crops:

1 ton sorghum: 1 ton sorghum: 1 ton sorghum: 1 ton sorghum: 11 ton water11 ton water11 ton water11 ton water

1 ton sugarcane:1 ton sugarcane:1 ton sugarcane:1 ton sugarcane: 48 ton water 48 ton water 48 ton water 48 ton water (data from ICRIST)(data from ICRIST)(data from ICRIST)(data from ICRIST)

� sweet sorghum is significantly saltsweet sorghum is significantly saltsweet sorghum is significantly saltsweet sorghum is significantly salt----tolerant, permitting it to be grown in hightolerant, permitting it to be grown in hightolerant, permitting it to be grown in hightolerant, permitting it to be grown in high----salinity salinity salinity salinity soils that are often unusable for other crops (e.g., in high salsoils that are often unusable for other crops (e.g., in high salsoils that are often unusable for other crops (e.g., in high salsoils that are often unusable for other crops (e.g., in high salinity)inity)inity)inity)

�High yield stalks: High yield stalks: High yield stalks: High yield stalks: 70 ton/ha/harvest, 70 ton/ha/harvest, 70 ton/ha/harvest, 70 ton/ha/harvest, 4 months per harvest4 months per harvest4 months per harvest4 months per harvest

� Producing additional food (Producing additional food (Producing additional food (Producing additional food (3 ton/ha/harvest3 ton/ha/harvest3 ton/ha/harvest3 ton/ha/harvest) without the necessity to displace existing ) without the necessity to displace existing ) without the necessity to displace existing ) without the necessity to displace existing crops, such ad corn.crops, such ad corn.crops, such ad corn.crops, such ad corn.

Why Sweet Sorghum

� Short processShort processShort processShort process

Directly ferment stalks to ethanol, 2/3 equipment compare to liqDirectly ferment stalks to ethanol, 2/3 equipment compare to liqDirectly ferment stalks to ethanol, 2/3 equipment compare to liqDirectly ferment stalks to ethanol, 2/3 equipment compare to liquid uid uid uid state fermentation process (LSF)state fermentation process (LSF)state fermentation process (LSF)state fermentation process (LSF)

� Less fermentation timeLess fermentation timeLess fermentation timeLess fermentation time

24hr 24hr 24hr 24hr vsvsvsvs 36 hr for liquid process, and 55 hr for corn ethanol36 hr for liquid process, and 55 hr for corn ethanol36 hr for liquid process, and 55 hr for corn ethanol36 hr for liquid process, and 55 hr for corn ethanol

� Less water consumption and less waste water Less water consumption and less waste water Less water consumption and less waste water Less water consumption and less waste water

1 ton water required 1 ton water required 1 ton water required 1 ton water required vsvsvsvs 5+ ton for liquid process 5+ ton for liquid process 5+ ton for liquid process 5+ ton for liquid process

� Less energy consumptionLess energy consumptionLess energy consumptionLess energy consumption

About 300kwh/ton ethanol About 300kwh/ton ethanol About 300kwh/ton ethanol About 300kwh/ton ethanol vsvsvsvs 800kwh/ton ethanol for liquid process800kwh/ton ethanol for liquid process800kwh/ton ethanol for liquid process800kwh/ton ethanol for liquid process

� Less total investment costLess total investment costLess total investment costLess total investment cost

About 75% investment About 75% investment About 75% investment About 75% investment vsvsvsvs liquid processliquid processliquid processliquid process� Simple operationSimple operationSimple operationSimple operation

Low educated labor for operationLow educated labor for operationLow educated labor for operationLow educated labor for operation

Advantages of Advantages of Advantages of Advantages of Advanced Solid State Fermentation (ASSF)Advanced Solid State Fermentation (ASSF)Advanced Solid State Fermentation (ASSF)Advanced Solid State Fermentation (ASSF)

Conversion technology- ASSF

10 liter fermentor

50 liter fermentor 5m3 fermentor

Flask test

Solid State Solid State Solid State Solid State FermentorFermentorFermentorFermentor with with with with

mass transfer and heat transfer mass transfer and heat transfer mass transfer and heat transfer mass transfer and heat transfer

from bench scale to pilot plantfrom bench scale to pilot plantfrom bench scale to pilot plantfrom bench scale to pilot plant

127m3 fermentor

Why ASSF

Moving particles in industrial fermentor

Why ASSF

46.6146.6146.6146.61TotalTotalTotalTotal（（（（GJGJGJGJ））））13.8513.8513.8513.85TotalTotalTotalTotal（（（（GJGJGJGJ））））

0.500.500.500.505.0 t hot air for drying distiller5.0 t hot air for drying distiller5.0 t hot air for drying distiller5.0 t hot air for drying distiller（（（（GJGJGJGJ））））

29.3029.3029.3029.301t ethanol (GJ1t ethanol (GJ1t ethanol (GJ1t ethanol (GJ））））11.9211.9211.9211.924.52 t steam for distillation4.52 t steam for distillation4.52 t steam for distillation4.52 t steam for distillation（（（（GJGJGJGJ））））

17.3117.3117.3117.311.18t pellets1.18t pellets1.18t pellets1.18t pellets（（（（GJGJGJGJ））））1.3431.3431.3431.3430.8280.8280.8280.8280.5150.5150.5150.515

Electricity: 373 Electricity: 373 Electricity: 373 Electricity: 373 KwhKwhKwhKwh (GJ(GJ(GJ(GJ））））ethanol producing 230 ethanol producing 230 ethanol producing 230 ethanol producing 230 KwhKwhKwhKwh (GJ(GJ(GJ(GJ））））distiller pelletizing 143 distiller pelletizing 143 distiller pelletizing 143 distiller pelletizing 143 KwhKwhKwhKwh (GJ(GJ(GJ(GJ））））

Energy outputEnergy outputEnergy outputEnergy outputEnergy inputEnergy inputEnergy inputEnergy input

Energy balance of the whole processEnergy balance of the whole processEnergy balance of the whole processEnergy balance of the whole process(based on 1 ton of fuel ethanol )(based on 1 ton of fuel ethanol )(based on 1 ton of fuel ethanol )(based on 1 ton of fuel ethanol )

The energy The energy The energy The energy input/output ratioinput/output ratioinput/output ratioinput/output ratio during ethanol production process is during ethanol production process is during ethanol production process is during ethanol production process is 1111：：：：22222222, hence ethanol produced from sugar crops by ASSF can be , hence ethanol produced from sugar crops by ASSF can be , hence ethanol produced from sugar crops by ASSF can be , hence ethanol produced from sugar crops by ASSF can be regarded as ADVANCED BIOFUEL defined by U.S.A.regarded as ADVANCED BIOFUEL defined by U.S.A.regarded as ADVANCED BIOFUEL defined by U.S.A.regarded as ADVANCED BIOFUEL defined by U.S.A.““““ Energy Energy Energy Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007Independence and Security Act of 2007Independence and Security Act of 2007Independence and Security Act of 2007””””

� The sorganolproduction cost of is estimated at $463.3/t ethanol at the sorghum stalk cost of $20/t

� The capital cost is around $9 million for the ethanol plant with the capacity of 10,000t/a.

Layout for a 10,000t/a Layout for a 10,000t/a Layout for a 10,000t/a Layout for a 10,000t/a SorganolSorganolSorganolSorganol Plant based on Plant based on Plant based on Plant based on the successful pilot plant in Inner Mongoliathe successful pilot plant in Inner Mongoliathe successful pilot plant in Inner Mongoliathe successful pilot plant in Inner Mongolia

Fuel & feed module

USGC to Japan and the Philippines: Why not Sorghum?June 3, 2010 Global Update w w w . g r a i n s . o r gw w w . g r a i n s . o r gw w w . g r a i n s . o r gw w w . g r a i n s . o r g

Constraints and solutions

�Constraints-There is lack of cost-effective conversion technologies.

-Less financial support to demonstration plants.

�Solutions-R&D is the priority

-Governments should support to build demonstration plants

-Incentive policies to encourage venture capitals flow into IFES

FAO can help Africa to make great opportunity using sweet sorghum

Where billions of dollars were going to overseas oil producers, some can now be invested locally- in poor rural communities to benefit Africa

As African economies strain under the burden of importing oil this session will examine the critical issues of how African countries can lessen their energy dependence, improve their balance of payments, create new jobs and industry in a sustainable manner without impacting food production.

Sweet sorghum to FUEL and POWERSweet sorghum to FUEL and POWERSweet sorghum to FUEL and POWERSweet sorghum to FUEL and POWER

� Using 2,000 hectares land to grow sweet sorghum to produce Using 2,000 hectares land to grow sweet sorghum to produce Using 2,000 hectares land to grow sweet sorghum to produce Using 2,000 hectares land to grow sweet sorghum to produce 10,000 tons10,000 tons10,000 tons10,000 tonsof ethanol per year , and generate of ethanol per year , and generate of ethanol per year , and generate of ethanol per year , and generate 18 million 18 million 18 million 18 million KwhKwhKwhKwh electricityelectricityelectricityelectricity....

� During this module, the energy input of ethanol is only fossil During this module, the energy input of ethanol is only fossil During this module, the energy input of ethanol is only fossil During this module, the energy input of ethanol is only fossil fuel in fuel in fuel in fuel in plantation and transportation, has much environmental benefit.plantation and transportation, has much environmental benefit.plantation and transportation, has much environmental benefit.plantation and transportation, has much environmental benefit.

Africa module-fuel & power

10,000t/a ethanol plant 2.5MW bio-power plant

ASSF

Production Cost for Ethanol ($/t)Production Cost for Ethanol ($/t)Production Cost for Ethanol ($/t)Production Cost for Ethanol ($/t)

Interest @4%40.5finance7

No. Item Cost (USD) Remarks

1 Feedstock

stalks 235.2 Sweet sorghum stalks,

Other materials

26.5 Enzymes+yeast

2 Utility

water 1.0

electricity Self supply

steam Self supply

3 Labor 57 120people,

4 Maintenance 31.6

5 Depreciation 102.9 14 years

6Admin. expense

18

Total 513.4

8Ethanol sale value

848.1 Price: @67cent/liter

9Electricity sale value

70.91200kw Price: 5.9cent/kwh

No tax (VAT, business tax, income tax) has been included.

Typical Project Data

Plant location: Africa

Plant capacity: 12mil liter ethanol (99.5%v)

Total installed cost: US$ 15 million

Sweet sorghum stalk required: 160,000t/a

Land area required: 2,300ha @ 70ton/ha

Finance Data

Capital loan interest 4%

Construction period: 12 months

Stalk price: $14.7 per ton at plant

Ethanol price (ex-works): $67cent per liter

Electricity price: 5.9cent/kwh

IRR: 21% @no business and income tax

The US-Sino Joint Center for biofuel Research was established on 19 Aug 2008

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