Bioenergy funding opportunities
Bioenergy: Technologies, Federal and State Incentives is a 2004 report by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, which provides an excellent review of federal and state level funding opportunities for bioenergy.
Biopower – Anaerobic Digestion
Biopower can be made from municipal solid waste in landfills. It can also be made using anaerobic digester technology from municipal wastewater and animal manure.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Landfill Methane Outreach Program provides helpful information regarding the conversion of municipal solid waste to power or direct use.
Methane Recovery from Animal Manures: The Current Opportunities Casebook (1998) by Philip Lusk, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, (NREL/SR-580-25145), is an excellent report with in-depth information.
There are a variety of biopower technologies. The Pacific Regional Biomass Energy Program has focused on the development of the anoxic gas flotation process for use with flush dairies and sewage treatment plants. "Anoxic" means without oxygen. Several demonstrations were conducted to prove the technology. We partnered with engineer Dennis Burke and the Environmental Energy Company. The following documents describe the AGF process:
- Application of AGF (Anoxic Gas Flotation) Process, by Dennis Burke, Environmental Energy Company, (2000) provides an overview of this biopower system.
- Commercialization of the AGF Process, by Jim Kerstetter, Washington State University Extension Energy Program (2000).
- Summary of the Benefits of the AGF Process, by Dennis Burke, Environmental Energy Company, (2000).
- Southwest Suburban Sewer District (Renton, WA) project: Summary of a commercial scale installation of the AGF technology, by Jim Kerstetter, Washington State University Extension Energy Program (1998).
- Nominal Economic Benefits from AGF deriving from Energy Production and Solids Disposal Reduction, by Environmental Energy Company (2000).
Biofuels
The Alternative Fuels Data Center of the U.S. Department of Energy provides information about alternative fuels including biofuels (ethanol, biodiesel and methanol).
Ethanol
The Energy Policy Division of the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development has posted information about the availability of ethanol in Washington State, plus four maps indicating the number of flexible fuel vehicles by zip code. The accompanying E85 Zip Code Database keys zip codes to communities. Kim Lyons of the Washington State University Extension Energy Program compiled these materials for the division.
The Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition provides an introduction to ethanol and biodiesel.
Quality standards for ethanol as a fuel are set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International. There are two standards: 1) D4806-04a is the standard specification for denatured fuel ethanol (1 to 10 percent) for blending with leaded gasolines; and 2) D5798-99 (2004) is the standard specification for denatured fuel ethanol (a nominal 75 percent to 85 percent by volume). This and other ethanol standards are available for sale by ASTM International.
Does the energy used to produce ethanol (crop production and refining) exceed the embedded energy in the fuel? Estimating the Net Energy Balance of Corn Ethanol, from the Economic Research Service of U.S. Department of Agriculture (2002) is an updated report that shows there is a net positive energy gain from ethanol production, with a ratio of 1.34 to one (energy out versus energy in). In addition, Argonne National Laboratory has developed a software analytical tool called GREET. GREET stands for Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions and Energy Use in Transportation. Both net energy efficiency and greenhouse gasses are modeled using this tool. It is public domain. The August, 2005 PowerPoint entitled Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Impacts of Fuel Ethanol provides an analytical overview of the net energy of ethanol and plots all the various studies of net energy balance in graphical form.
The Oregon Cellulose-Ethanol Study is an evaluation of the potential for ethanol production in Oregon using cellulose-based feedstocks, by Angela Graf, Bryan & Bryan, and Tom Koehler, Celilo Group for the Oregon Department of Energy (2000).
Biodiesel
Biodiesel - This 2003 report by Kim Lyons of the WSU Extension Energy Program provides a brief overview of biodiesel, emissions and costs.
Quality standards for biodiesel as a fuel are set by ASTM International. D6751-03a is the standard specification for biodiesel fuel (B100 is 100 percent biodiesel) blend stock for distillate fuels. This and other biodiesel standards are for sale through ASTM International.
Opportunities and Barriers for Biodiesel use in Washington State. This 2003 report by Kim Lyons of the WSU Extension Energy Program outlines a biodiesel action plan for the State of Washington.
2004 Biodiesel Handling and Use Guidelines from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory is an updated version of the popular Biodiesel Handling and Use Guidelines. It features a frequently-asked-questions section, expanded biodiesel basics information, and the most current blending information (2004). The University of Idaho is a long-time leader in biodiesel fuel. The university’s website provides additional information.
Oilseed Crops
Studies, Fact Sheets and Reports
Bioproducts
The Forest Biorefinery A Partial View--This PowerPoint presentation by B. A. Thorp, Georgia Pacific, was given at the Wisconsin Biorefining Videoconference June 17, 2004. It provides a look at the forest products industry’s Agenda 2020 that includes the development of biorefineries at pulp and paper mills.
Western Regional Capabilities in Plant/Crop based Renewable Resources--This 2003 study was developed by a consortium of Washington State University; University of Idaho; University of California, Davis; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. It delineated the organizational strengths of the Northwest Bioproducts Research Consortium.
WSU Bioproducts Research Summary--This October 2004 summary from the Agri-Environmental and Bioproducts Engineering Research Group provides an overview of their efforts to develop new high value bioproducts that are often linked with biopower and biofuels.
Biomass feedstocks
An Assessment of Forest-Based Biomass Supply And Use in Montana (22 pgs) -- April 2009 report from the University of Montana - Missoula (for the Forestry Assistance Bureau). This report examines and quantifies the volumes of four woody biomass types from several sources in Montana: live trees, standing dead trees, logging residue, and primary mill residue.
Woody Biomass Energy (16 pgs) -- June 2007 Report from the Oregon Forest Resources Institute with color photos and charts, examines opportunities for the conversion of woody biomass from forest thinning into “green” energy, biofuels and other bioproducts. It also looks at some short-term potential for moving Oregon forward in developing an industry tied to the removal of woody biomass from overcrowded forests.
Roadmap for Agricultural Biomass Feedstock Supply in the United States--This 2003 publication by the U.S. Department of Energy provides an in depth technical review of bioenergy production, harvesting, collection, storage, preprocessing, system integration, and transportation of bioenergy crops.
Gasification/Pyrolysis
Gasification and pyrolysis are closely related emerging bioenergy technology options. They are thermochemical in approach as opposed to biological. Fuel, power and chemicals can be made from across the range of these technologies. A number of gasifiers are now on-line through out the United States and others are in various stages of project development. Gasification heats organic material and drives off the volatile organic compounds into what is called producer gas. Pyrolysis adds pressure and can produce bio-oils. Various temperatures yields different results. Lower temperatures leave a very stable activated/crystallized carbon or biochar. Biochar is of special interest for two reasons: 1) The potential for carbon negative energy; and 2) The major soil improvements provided by biochar. Higher temperature systems produce more gases and leave an ash.
What about environmental concerns? The report, The Formation of Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons and Dixons During Pyrolysis: A Review of the Literature with Descriptions of Biomass Composition, Fast Pyrolysis Technologies and Thermochemical Reactions provides guidance on how to avoid environmental concerns (avoid heavy metals and chlorine) and have processes operated below 700 degrees C. In addition, it provides the results of a world wide literature review of what is known and what are areas needing further research.
Clean Heat and Power Using Biomass Gasification for Industrial and Agricultural Projects - This guide is a practical overview of gasification on the small (<1 MW) and medium scales appropriate for food processors, farmers, forest products industries and others with access to biomass materials. The selection and application of gasifiers, engines and turbines, feedstock preparation and handling equipment, gas clean up technologies, and other ancillary equipment are discussed. Practical strategies for avoiding slagging, fouling and corrosion in the gasifier and downstream equipment are discussed.