The Biomass Partnership: Replacing coal with dedicated energy crops at the University of Iowa

Transcription

1 The Biomass Partnership: Replacing coal with dedicated energy crops at the University of Iowa Emily Heaton 1 and Ferman Milster 2 1 Dept. of Agronomy, Iowa State University 2 Office of Sustainability, University of Iowa

2 Overview Heaton Introduction to dedicated energy crops in Iowa General agronomy of switchgrass and Miscanthus (Miscanthus giganteus) Milster Introduction to UI s renewable energy targets and plan Miscanthus as part of the portfolio

3 dirty cost obamas green power push 1 December 7, 2012

4 Hot spots of grassland conversion: This map shows the percentage of existing grasslands that were converted into corn or soybean fields between 2006 and Wright C K and Wimberly M C, PNAS 2013;110: by National Academy of Sciences 4

5 Nitrate-N Reduction Practices Practice % Nitrate N Reduction [Average (Std. Dev.)] % Corn Yield Change Nitrogen Management Timing (Fall to spring) 6 (25) 4 (16) Nitrogen Application Rate (Reduce rate to MRTN) 10 1 Nitrification Inhibitor (nitrapyrin) 9 (19) 6 (22) Cover Crops (Rye) 31 (29) 6 (7) Perennial Pasture/Land retirement 85 (9) Land Use Perennial Energy Crops 72 (23) Extended Rotations 42 (12) 7 (7) Controlled Drainage 33 (32)* Shallow Drainage 32 (15)* Edge of Field Wetlands 52 Bioreactors 43 (21) Buffers 91 (20)** *Load reduction not concentration reduction **Concentration reduction of that water interacts with active zone below the buffer

6 Phosphorus Reduction Practices Practice % Phosphorus P Reduction [Average (Std. Dev.)] % Corn Yield Change Phosphorus Management Producer does not apply phosphorus until STP drops to optimal level No till (70% residue) vs. conventional tillage (30% residue) 17 (40) 0 90 (17) 6 (8) Cover Crops (Rye) 29 (37) 6 (7) Land Use Perennial Land retirement 75 ( ) Pasture 59 (42) Buffers 58 (32) Edge of Field Terraces 77 (19) Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy; Slide Courtesy Matt Helmers

7 Complementing Corn Integrating perennial vegetation can ameliorate damage crop annual row crops. Those perennials can (and should be!) dedicated biomass crops. Source: Iowa NRCS 7

8 What makes a good biomass crop? C4 photosynthesis Long canopy duration High water use efficiency Recycles nutrients to roots Low input Mobile nutrients & carbs to shoot in spring Clean burning Sterile non-invasive Winter standing Easily removed translocated below ground as shoot senesces No known pests/diseases Easily managed Heaton et al., (2008) Current Opn in Biotech. 19, Translocation increases nutrient use efficiency in perennial grasses

9 Leading Energy Crops Sorghum Switchgrass Miscanthus Photo credit: Ceres, Inc. and Rothamsted Research Ltd. Energycane

10 Switchgrass US model biomass species Native prairie grass Widely adapted US DOE breeding and evaluation programs Yield 3-9 t ac -1 (8-22 Mg ha -1 ) Smooth seeded Can be established under corn Switchgrass plot harvest, Ames, Iowa, 2011

11 Planting Switchgrass Traditional switchgrass planting, Illinois, 2004 Photo credit: Emily Heaton Improved planting under corn, Iowa, 2009 Photo credit: Landscape Biomass Project 11

12 Switchgrass Management Pest management Weeds: plant under corn, use corn herbicides (not Roundup) Insect and fungi pests not yet commonly treated Fertility N: lb/ac P: lb/ac K: lb/ac

13 Switchgrass Harvest Near Ames, Iowa, 2012 Photo credit: Heaton Lab Near Ames, Iowa, 2012 Photo credit: Heaton Lab

14 Miscanthus yields more 30 Urbana, IL. Photo courtesy M. Liebman Mg ha Miscanthus Switchgrass Harvestable Dry Biomass Heaton et al. (2008) Global Change Biology; Dohleman et al. (2012) Global Change Biology Bioenergy

15 What is M. giganteus? Miscanthus sinensis Miscanthus sacchariflorus Miscanthus giganteus STERILE = Diploid 2n=2x=38 Tetraploid 2n=4x=76 Triploid 2n=3x=57

16 Rhizomes Plugs CEEDS Credit: Emily Heaton Credit: Nicolas Boersma Credit: New Energy Famrs

17 New Energy Farms Easton, IL 2009 Photo credit: Brian Barnick

18 18 Easton, IL 2009 Photo credit: Brian Barnick

19 19 Easton, IL 2009 Photo credit: Brian Barnick

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21 A year in the life of perennial grasses April May August/ September November December February Emergence Canopy Closure Maximum biomass Senescence Dry Down Over winter

22 Easton, IL 2012 Photo credit: John Caveny

23 Cane Harvest Options

24 Cane Harvesting Options Moisture 10-20% at winter harvest Photo: Carl Hart

25 Easton, IL 2012 Photo credit: John Caveny

26 Nutrient Recommendations Not limiting late spring nitrate test if possible Maintenance 10 lb/ton cane Not limiting at planting soil test Maintenance 1.5 lb/ton cane Not limiting at planting soil test Maintenance lb/ton cane N P K LIME: ph = 5 7.5

27 Weed Control ESSENTIAL!! Pre-emergent: Prowl (pendimethalin) Harness (acetochlor) Harness Extra (acetochlor + atrazine) * GREEN = LABELED Post-emergent Callisto (mesotrione) 2,4-D Dicamba Atrazine CULTIVATION Anderson et al. (2010). Weed Technology 24:

28 M. x giganteus Yields B F T C. C love r C ont r ol O a t s R. C love r R y e S. C lo v e r T r it ic a l W. C love r W. W h e a t Plug Rhizome Dry Matter Yield (Mg ha -1 )

29 Challenges: Many, mainly planting Planting Consistency of rhizomes Lifting Grading Storing Planting Irrigation of live plants Harvesting Feeding of long, slick, brittle material Harvest losses of chopped material if windy Equipment design for tall, dry, high yield 29

30 University of Iowa Biomass Fuel Project

31 2020 Vision - The University of Iowa's Sustainability Targets 2. Green Our Energy Portfolio The UI will pursue a renewable energy supply strategy that optimizes long term supply and fuel price stability while preserving an ability to test and take advantage of other potential fuels. As we transition from our dependency on fossil fuels, we will increase the use of biomass, geothermal, solar, wind, landfill gas, gasification and other emerging energy alternatives to achieve the goal of 40% renewable energy consumption on the campus by

32 UI 2010 Energy Profile Energy Form Quantity (MMBtu) Cost Unit Cost ($/MMBtu) CO 2 (US tons) Coal 2,004,555 $8,877,642 $ ,547 Natural Gas 742,076 $3,690,052 $ ,747 Purchased Electric 967,935 $12,479,650 $ ,339 Biomass 331,163 $573,278 $ Total 4,045,729 $25,620, ,633 40% of the total is 1,600,000 MMBtu. This is equivalent to energy used by 18,000 US homes (2009 data from EIA).

33 Sources of Renewable Energy Dedicated energy crops Miscanthus grass Short rotation woody crops Corn stover Organic industrial byproducts Oat hulls Paper sludge Wood Timber stand improvement Ecological restoration Emerald ash borer

34 UI Main Campus Power Plant

35 Two Main Campus Solid Fuel Boilers Circulating Fluidized Bed 170,000 lbs. per 750 o F 500 psig Stoker

36 University Research Park Campus 600 HP 120 psig saturated steam

37 Perennial Dedicated Energy Crops Positive impact on nonpoint source nutrient runoff, field stays covered year-round, improving water quality from reduced storm water runoff and soil erosion Deep root system facilitates growth in low moisture years Increases soil quality and adds quantity Sequesters more carbon, compared to annuals Little, if any, nutrient requirements after establishment, and Appropriate use of marginal cropland Revenue stream for farmer independent of corn and bean prices

38 Marginal Land Corn Suitability Rating between 25 and 75 Slope less than 12% Now in corn or bean production 380,000 acres

39 2013 Pilot field establishment Service fee 15% Total PO ammount per acre cost Invoice 1 Date Units Quantity Unit Cost Grower Cost Service Fee Land Rent Land rent acres 16 $ $ 2, $ 2,400 Pre planting burn down 5/21/2013 $ $ $ 417 $ Fertilizer & Application 6/20/2013 $ 1, $ $ 1,934 $ Spray Harness Xtra plus 2 4d 7/2/2013 $ $ $ 759 $ Spray 2 4d 7/7/2013 $ $ $ 170 $ $ 2, $ $ 3,281 $ Invoice 2 Back hoe lease for planter hours 4.0 $ $ $ $ 405 $ Prepare seed bed with fueld cultivator 2x acre 32.0 $ $ $ $ 491 $ Planting tractor lease hours 10.8 $ $ $ $ 919 $ Planting/Preplanting labor hours 13.0 $ $ $ $ 374 $ Cultivate weeks 2x labor hours 20.0 $ $ $ $ 575 $ Cultivate Weeds 2x tractor rate acres 32.0 $ $ $ $ 552 $ Bickup and return borrowed cultivator $ $ $ 230 $ $ 3, $ $ 3,546 $ Fuel for refrigerated trailer gallon 185 $ 3.67 $ $ 679 Total Grower Services & land rent $ 9,905 $ 30,000 (five years) New Energy Farms $ 23,360 $ 46,900 Total $ 33,265 $ 76,900 Cost per acre $ 2,

40 per acre est. information source Field Preparation 1 Tillage $ Vertical Tillage ISU Custom Rate Survey Herbicide spray $ pilot burn down Meeker Ag LLC invoice Fertilizer and Nutrients $ estimate $ 0.09 per rhizome delivered Vegetative Material (delivered) $ 741 7,000 plants per acre 85% Germination rate Planting Planter 2 $ NEF Planter lease 250 horsepower tractor Tractor $ ISU Custom Rate Survey $ 0.27 per horsepower per hour Land Rolling, post planting $ 7.90 ISU Custom Rate Survey 5.0 acres per hour Total Per Acre Establishment $ 900 Production Scale Miscanthus Growing Field Establishment Cost Estimates Notes: 1 Field preparation includes all steps to establish a 'clean' field, ready for planting with NEF planter 2 Planter lease includes delivery and return freight charges 3 ISU 2013 Custom Rate survey available here 4 Assumes traditional rhizome planting method, same as 2013 pilot

41 Forecast Miscanthus Production, Processing & Delivery Costs Without Establishment Costs Harvest + Land Rent Cost per ton (w/o establishment) $ $ $ $ $ $ Cost per MMBtu (w/o establishment) $ 9.28 $ 3.80 $ 3.10 $ 3.10 $ 3.10 $ 3.10 Cost per bale (w/o establishment) $ $ $ $ $ $ Auxillary Costs Cost per ton grower services $ 2.78 $ 0.79 $ 0.56 $ 0.56 $ 0.56 $ 0.56 Coast per ton ag services provider $ $ 7.35 $ 5.44 $ 5.44 $ 5.44 $ 5.44 cost per ton transportation (farm to fuel yard) $ 5.33 $ 5.33 $ 5.32 $ 5.32 $ 5.32 $ 5.32 Cost per ton fuel vard services, includes storage, densification, transportation to MPP $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ MPP delivered fuel cost $/ton $ $ $ $ $ $ $/MMBtu $ $ 6.37 $ 5.52 $ 5.52 $ 5.52 $

42 Project Risk Risk is front loaded and primarily in the establishment year. Current pilot project has contract provisions for early out on part of UI or grower. Envision something similar for large production plantings.

43 Mxg eradication Burn down with herbicide, may require more than one application Mechanically cultivate. Cost estimate for 3 sprays and two cultivations is $83. per acre. Possible market for rhizomes may mitigate need to eradicate, but incur costs to lift material via custom method.

44 Kohn Lecture UI, E.A. Heaton

45 Kohn Lecture UI, E.A. Heaton

46 Giant Grass Miscanthus Can Meet US Biofuels Goal Using Less Land Than Corn Or Switchgrass ScienceDaily (Aug. 4, 2008) In the largest field trial of its kind in the United States, researchers have determined that the giant perennial grass Miscanthus x giganteus outperforms current biofuels sources by a lot. Switchgrass and Miscanthus Urbana, IL;Photo courtesy Matt Liebman

47 A year in the life of perennial grasses April May August/ September November December February Emergence Canopy Closure Maximum biomass Senescence Dry Down Over winter Miscanthus: A Promising Biomass Crop, E.A. Heaton, et. all

48 Ag Services Provider 1. Assess the project business plan and recommend changes and adjustments. 2. Develop a framework for modified cash-rent contracts, with the ag services vendor serving as tenant. 3. Find the growers. 4. Provide custom harvest management from the field to farm gate storage. 5. Develop and implement a nutrient management plan for each field, and adjust as required.

49 Ag Services Provider 6. Direct and provide weed management during the field establishment period (first two years of growth). 7. Direct and provide insecticide risk management. 8. Make payments to landowners (cash rent) and other project service providers. 9. Aggregate project expenses and periodically invoice UI for costs associated with the project (land rent, custom harvesting, grower services, etc.) 10. Implement a UI approved automated system for agricultural field record keeping and reporting.

50 Resources

51 Questions?

52 Boersma et al. In preparation

53 Boersma et al. In preparation