Biological and Biotechnology Solutions to Climate Change

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1 Biological and Biotechnology Solutions to Climate Change David B. Layzell, Ph.D., FRSC President and CEO, BIOCAP Canada Foundation Professor & Research Chair, Dept. Biology and Institute for Energy & Environmental Policy, Queen s University, Kingston, Ontario ABIC - Calgary, September 24, 27

2 21st Century Challenges Climate Change We need sustainable solutions Energy Price & Security Iraq, Iran, Venezuela

3 Stabilization Wedges : Modified from National Round Table on the Environment & the Economy GHG Emissions Mt CO 2 e/yr Kyoto Commitment Period (28-12) Actual Emissions Kyoto Target BAU GHG emissions: +1.7%/yr There can be a domestic solution NTREE Geological Sequestration (19) Nuclear (44) Cogeneration (116) Non-bio, Renew. Energy (182) Bioeconomy Solutions (>24 Mt CO 2 e/yr) Effic. & Conserv. - Non-industry (3+) Effic. & Conserv.- Industry (4+) Year * Modified from June 26 Advice on a long term strategy on Energy & Climate Change NRTEE Canada s target if we are to stabilize global CO 2 at 2X pre-industrial

4 Bioeconomy Solutions Addressing Climate Change / Energy Priorities Offsets Agricultural carbon sinks: Low-tillage agriculture, Biochar into soils. Forest carbon sinks Through improved mgmt and new technologies Biosphere emission reductions 3+ Mt/yr 7+ Mt/yr 4 Mt/yr From: Crop & animal production, Landfill sites, Managed aquatic systems. Renewable Energy Heat and power Transportation fuels 1+ Mt/yr Bioethanol,, Solid Fuels (e.g. wood Biomethane,, Biodiesel,, Biomethanol,, or straw pellets) Biobutanol.. By 25, Canada s biosphere solutions could be as important as geological sequestration in reducing GHG emissions. with significant benefits to energy security & the rural economy

5 Bioeconomy Solutions Addressing Climate Change / Energy Priorities Offsets Agricultural carbon sinks: Low-tillage agriculture, Biochar into soils. Forest carbon sinks Through improved mgmt and new technologies Biosphere emission reductions 3+ Mt/yr 7+ Mt/yr 4 Mt/yr From: Crop & animal production, Landfill sites, Managed aquatic systems. (Bio)Technology Opportunities: Crops or soil microbes that build soil carbon; Bio-Charcoal into soils for fertility and carbon sink benefit. Tree genotypes optimized for future climate; Pest / disease resistance or control; Measurement / monitoring technologies. Waste to energy technologies (microbial & thermo-chemical); Management practices; Measurement / monitoring $15-$3/t CO 2 e, market potential of $2 - $4B per year within Canada

6 Bioeconomy Solutions Addressing Climate Change / Energy Priorities Energy Comparison 1 tonne dry biomass ($5 to $1) = ~3 barrels oil (over $2) Renewable Energy Heat and power Transportation fuels 1+ Mt/yr Bioethanol,, Solid Fuels (e.g. wood Biomethane,, Biodiesel,, Biomethanol,, or straw pellets) Biobutanol.. What is Canada s Bioenergy?

7 Bioenergy s & Targets Biomass Mt dry/yr 1 TOTAL Municipal Wastes Agriculture Forestry Aggressive est. (similar to USA & EU) 2 Energy EJ/yr 16 t(dry) / person / yr 3 PER CAPITA CANADA: (2-6X USA) 75 CDN Energy Use (24) Target for 23 USA (USDOE & USDA) Target EU Conservative est. Canada (BIOCAP 27) 8 4 Note: Canada does not have a bioenergy target 1 USA (USDOE & USDA) Canada (BIOCAP 27)

8 Bioenergy s & Targets Biomass Mt dry/yr CDN Energy Use (24) Target for 23 USA (USDOE & USDA) Municipal Wastes Agriculture Forestry Target EU Aggressive est. (similar to USA & EU) Conservative est. Canada (BIOCAP 27) Towards a Bioenergy Target for Canada Residue estimate? Cdn Agr + For* (Crop yield + Roundwood) Proposed 23 target: 2% of energy use +2 EJ/yr (~1M boe/d) +13 Mt(dry)/yr Existing (.7 EJ) Target? * From Stats Can 2 Energy EJ/yr 16 est. 23 Energy use # # Assumes conservation & energy efficiency improvements

9 Canada s Bioenergy and Proposed Target Bioenergy - Mt(dry) biomass/yr Aggressive Conser -vative Biomass Crops Silviculture/ Forest Mgmt Pest/Disease Residue Fire Residue Unused AAC Forest Harvest Residues Mill Residues Crop Residues Manure MSW Target: 13 Mt/yr: Requires existing harvest residues + ~5% increase in agriculture & forest production. For Comparison: Current Forestry and Agriculture Production (165 Mt/yr) Corn Hay Wheat Que BC Agriculture Forestry

10 For large scale bioenergy, most food/feed crops don t make the grade Canadian Grain & Straw Yields (t(dry)/ha) Flaxseed Lentils Straw Grain Mha required to provide 1% Cdn energy (1.1 EJ/yr) Canola Hay Field peas Wheat Oats Soybeans Barley Fodder Corn Grain Corn Crop yield needed in this range to get energy from available land Biomass Crops (switchgrass, willow, Miscanthus, hemp,?) Source: Yield data from Stats Canada, assumes 1:1 straw:grain ratio; energy content: ligno-cellulose (16 GJ/t), oil (4 GJ/t); Oilseed content: Flax (45%), Canola (43%) soybean (2%) Land required for 1% Energy (millions of hectares) For biomass crops to provide 1% of Canada s energy demand (1.1 EJ/yr) on 1 Mha, the average yield will need to be ~6.8 t(dry)/ha Canadian agriculture needs new biomass crops

11 Building a Bioenergy Crop Crop Plant Limitations A Typical Crop Plant N 2 CO 2 Soil N Respiration Nitrogen Assimilation CO 2 Photosynthesis Growth Straw, vegetative biomass Grain H 2 O (X4) Transpiration H 2 O Physiological: Low Transpiration Efficiency; o 3-6 H 2 O per 1 CO 2 Half of C gain is lost in again; o Too much investment in N assimilation, etc. Not enough biomass/ha; Input costs too high; Straw biomass not optimized for energy use: o Need higher thermal energy content, lower nutritional value (e.g. protein, min., etc); o Need optimization for cellulose fermentation. Ethical & Environmental: Food vs. Fuel debate; o For crops & agric. lands Life Cycle Analysis; o e.g. corn ethanol Loss of biodiversity o Need to get more on less land

12 Building a Bioenergy Crop Characteristics of a Bioenergy crop Physiological Higher Photosynthesis rate; Better transpiration efficiency (1-2 H 2 O/CO 2 ); Lower respiration; Lower Nitrogen demand; Low tissue N More stem/straw, less grain Fast Growth Rate Agricultural Low Input Can grow on marginal lands; Perennial At least root system Pos. harvest every 3-4 yrs Poss. year around harvest

13 Building a Bioenergy Crop N 2 Soil N CO 2 CO 2 Straw, vegetative biomass Grain H 2 O (X2) H 2 O Characteristics of a Bioenergy Crop Physiological Higher Photosynthesis rate; Better transpiration efficiency (1-2 H 2 O/CO 2 ); Lower respiration; Lower Nitrogen demand; Low tissue N More Stem/straw, less grain Fast Growth Rate Agricultural Low Input Can grow on marginal lands; Perennial At least root system Pos. harvest every 3-4 yrs Poss. year around harvest But how can our existing crops be selected or engineered to contribute to an energy / climate change bioeconomy?

14 Food & Feed Crops for an Energy / Climate Change Bioeconomy Grain Higher oil or starch content (for biodiesel or ethanol prod n) Straw Increased production (2nd prod.); Low nutritional value; With easily fermentable cellulose; Dry at harvest (<2% H 2 O) Roots (and nodules) Slow degrading - to build soil C; Improved N use efficiency; Metabolize N 2 O (a GHG) Soil Microbes That build soil C; That produce less N 2 O

15 Thank you: David Layzell Ph.D., FRSC President and CEO, BIOCAP Queen s University Research Chair, Institute for Energy & Environmental Policy Queen s University, 156 Barrie Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6 Web Site: Tel: (613) Fax: (613) info@biocap.ca