Unconventional Sources of Advanced Biofuels

Transcription

1 Unconventional Sources of Advanced Biofuels Dr. Jonathan J. Burbaum Program Director, ARPA-E PETRO April 24, 2014

2 The ARPA-E Mission Catalyze and support the development of transformational, high-impact energy technologies Ensure America s National Security Reduce Imports Economic Security Energy Security Technological Lead Improve Efficiency Reduce Emissions

3 The ARPA-E Approach Transformational & disruptive technologies that lead to new learning curves. transformational Steam-powered Cugnot (1769) cost / performance tipping point Benz Motorwagen (1885) transformational & disruptive existing learning curve new learning curve time Ford Model T (1914)

4 What Makes an ARPA-E Project? IMPACT High impact on ARPA-E mission areas Credible path to market Large commercial application TRANSFORM Challenges what is possible Disrupts existing learning curves Leaps beyond today s technologies BRIDGE Translates science into breakthrough technology Not researched or funded elsewhere Catalyzes new interest and investment TEAM Comprised of best-in-class people Cross-disciplinary skill sets Translation oriented

5 Focused Programs BEEST Solar ADEPT PETRO BEETIT Electrofuels Transportation Energy Technologies Stationary Energy Technologies GRIDS IMPACCT MOVE ADEPT RANGE HEATS AMPED REACT SBIR/STTR METALS SWITCHES GENI REMOTE FOCUS 5

6 Reaching the PETRO goals CO 2 CO 2 pyruvate CBB sugars Optimizing Photosynthesis Yield: 160 GJ Ha -1 year -1 (2X corn EtOH) Energy Density: >26 MJ L -1 (EtOH) Cost: < $10 GJ -1 ($50 BOE -1 ) Multiple approaches can meet metrics Breeding capability becomes critical Natural trait stacking; Elite lineages Measurement of gene synergy Metabolic engineering Heritable Traits

7 Tracking carbon through biofuel production From Borak, JB, Ort, DR & Burbaum, JJ, Curr Op in Biotech, 2013

8 Current paths are inefficient From Borak, JB, Ort, DR & Burbaum, JJ, Curr Op in Biotech,

9 PETRO HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY CROPS FOR BIOFUELS Mission Develop non-food crops that directly produce transportation fuels to be cost-competitive with petroleum without impact on U.S. food supply. Program Director Year 2011 Projects 10 Total Investment Dr. Jonathan Burbaum $62 Million Goals To reduce biofuel production costs To increase energy yields per acre of land To recycle atmospheric CO 2 Highlights Develop pine trees that will accumulate 20% of their biomass as high energy terpene molecules Develop tobacco that produces oil directly, together with high planting density agriculture Introduce multiple metabolic pathways into oilseed crops to significantly improve photosynthesis

10 Crop feedstocks being developed Oilseed C 4 Grasses Trees Other U of Florida (sugarcane, sorghum) (loblolly pine) (sorghum, sugarcane) (tobacco) (tobacco, Arundo donax) (sorghum) (Oilseeds Switchgrass) (switchgrass) (energy beet)

11 Terpene-Enhanced Pine Loblolly pine The Technology: Increase storage capacity for turpentine/fuel molecules Increase the production of fuel molecules from 3% to 20% by weight The Impact: Bolt-on to an existing industry Potential to produce 100 million gallons of fuel per year from less than 25,000 acres of forestland Tapping pine trees

12 Vegetative production of oil cane and sorghum (PETROSS) Converting sugarcane and sweet sorghum from sugar to oil producing crops, which can be processed using sugarcane mill crushing technology to release the oil. Improving photosynthetic capacity and cold tolerance will increase growing ranges in the U.S.

13 Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement Purpose: To guide program and regulators after ARPA-E Quantitative impact with public input versus base case Covers a variety of plants expressing energy traits Initial region: Southeastern U.S. Formally addresses regulatory & societal risks from PETRO

14 Can tobacco be an energy crop? 16% DW TAG 9 tons per acre = 48 GJ ha -1 y -1 vs. soybean = 17 GJ ha -1 y -1 vs. corn = 80 GJ ha -1 y -1 Plant Biotechnology Journal 24 OCT 2013 DOI: /pbi.12131

15 Contacts Jonathan Burbaum, Program Director David Lee, SETA Support T. J. Augustine, T2M Support