Biomass Energy in the 21 st Century

Transcription

1 Biomass Energy in the 21 st Century A PRESENTATION BY: Keith Thomsen, DrEnv, PE, BCEE Asst. Director Center for Bioproducts and Bioenergy Washington State University TriCities, Richland, WA

2 Biomass Agenda Bioenergy Overview Biomass Resources Creating Energy from Biomass Biomass Economics Biomass Environmental Issues Promise of Bioenergy Ethanol Production 2

3 BioEnergy Overview 3

4 Global Energy

5 Renewable Energy Use 5

6 Carbon Cycle 6

7 Commercial Carbon Cycle 7

8 US Energy Cropland 8

9 Biomass Resources In Ecuador 9

10 Biomass Basic Data 10 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

11 Solar Energy Conversion Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004) 1 hectare = ~2.5 acres 11

12 Bioenergy Technologies 12 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

13 Biomass Resources 13

14 Types of Biomass 14

15 Biomass Resources Energy Crops Woody crops Agricultural crops Waste Products Wood residues Temperate crop wastes Tropical crop wastes Animal wastes Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Commercial and industrial wastes 15

16 Corn 16

17 Soybeans 17

18 Sorghum 18

19 Sugar Cane Bagasse 19

20 Switchgrass 20

21 Hybrid Poplar 21

22 Corn Stover 22

23 Wood Chips & Sawdust

24 Biomass-to-Energy Plant Truck unloading wood chips that will fuel the Tracy Biomass Plant, Tracy, California. 24

25 Municipal Solid Waste 25

26 Creating Energy from Biomass 26

27 Bioenergy Conversion 27 Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

28 Biomass Direct Combustion Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004) 28

29 Heat Energy Content Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004) 29

30 MSW Power Plant Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004) 30

31 Composition of MSW 31

32 Integrated Waste Plant Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004) 32

33 Landfill Gas Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004) 33

34 Integrated Biorefinery 34

35 Sugar Platform 1. Convert biomass to sugar or other fermentation feedstock 2. Ferment biomass intermediates using biocatalysts Microorganisms including yeast and bacteria; 3. Process fermentation product Yield fuel-grade ethanol and other fuels, chemicals, heat and/or electricity 35

36 Thermochemical Platform Direct Combustion Gasification Pyrolysis Hydrothermal Liquefaction 36

37 Gasification Biomass heated with no oxygen Gasifies to mixture of CO and H 2 Called Syngas for synthetic gas Mixes easily with oxygen Burned in turbines to generate electricity Like natural gas Can easily be converted to other fuels, chemicals, and valuable materials 37

38 Biomass Gasifier 200 tons of wood chips daily Forest thinnings; wood pallets Converted to gas at ~1850 ºF Combined cycle gas turbine 8MW power output McNeil Generating Station biomass gasifier 8MW 38

39 Pyrolysis Heat bio-material under pressure ºC ( ºF) atmospheres Carefully controlled air supply Up to 75% of biomass converted to liquid Tested for use in engines, turbines, boilers Currently experimental 39

40 Pyrolysis Schmatic 40

41 Hydrothermal Liquefaction 41

42 Anaerobic Digestion Decompose biomass with microorganisms Closed tanks known as anaerobic digesters Produces methane (natural gas) and CO 2 Methane-rich biogas can be used as fuel or as a base chemical for biobased products. Used in animal feedlots, and elsewhere 42

43 Carbon Rich Platform Natural plant oils such as soybean, corn, palm, and canola oils In wide use today for food and chemical applications Transesterification of vegetable oil or animal fat produces fatty acid methyl ester Commonly known as biodiesel. Biodiesel an important commercial air-emission reducing additive / substitute for diesel fuel could be platform chemical for biorefineries. 43

44 BioFuels Ethanol Created by fermentation of starches/sugars US capacity of 1.8 billion gals/yr (2005) Active research on cellulosic fermentation Biodiesel Organic oils combined with alcohols Creates ethyl or methyl esters SynGas Biofuels Syngas (H 2 & CO) converted to methanol, or liquid fuel similar to diesel Advanced Biofuels Jetfuel Other fuels 44

45 Biodiesel Bus 45

46 Plant Products Platform Selective breeding and genetic engineering Develop plant strains that produce greater amounts of desirable feedstocks or chemicals Even compounds that the plant does not naturally produce Get the biorefining done in the biological plant rather than the industrial plant. 46

47 Biomass Economics 47

48 Economic Issues Sustainable Development Move toward sustainable energy production Energy Security Reduce dependence on imported oil Rural Economic Growth Provide new crops/markets for rural business Land Use Better balance of land use 48

49 Landfill Gas Costs 49

50 Switchgrass Economics Tons Per Acre Total Variable Cost Per Acre Total Fixed Cost Per Acre Total Cost Per Acre Ethanol Min Price per Gallon 2 $ $66.50 $ $ $87.33 $44.33 $ $ $65.50 $33.25 $98.75 $ $52.40 $26.60 $79.00 $ $43.67 $22.17 $65.83 $ $37.43 $19.00 $56.43 $ $32.75 $16.63 $49.38 $ $29.11 $14.78 $43.89 $ $26.20 $13.30 $39.50 $

51 Energy Crop Potential 51

52 Environmental Impacts 52

53 Environmental Issues Air Quality Reduce NO x and SO 2 emissions Global Climate Change Low/no net increase in CO 2 Soil Conservation Soil erosion control, nutrient retention, carbon sequestration, and stabilization of riverbanks. Water Conservation Better retention of water in watersheds Biodiversity and Habitat Positive and negative changes 53

54 Heat and CO 2 Content 54

55 Net Life Cycle Emissions 55

56 Crop Erosion Rates SRWC = Short Rotation Woody Crops 56

57 Biocide Requirements Short Rotation Woody Crops 57

58 Promise of Bioenergy 58

59 Biomass Infrastructure Biomass Production Improvements Genetics, breeding, remote sensing, GIS, analytic and evaluation techniques Biomass Material Handling Storage, handling, conveying, size reduction, cleaning, drying, feeding systems, systems Biomass Logistics and Infrastructure Harvesting, collecting, storing, transporting, other biomass supply chain elements 59

60 Benefits of Bioenergy Multiple benefits would accrue: Rural American farmers producing these fuel crops would see $5 billion of increased profits per year. Consumers would see future pump savings of $20 billion per year on fuel costs. Society would see CO 2 emissions reduced by 6.2 billion tons per year, equal to 80% of U.S. transportation-related CO 2 emissions in

61 Growing US Energy 2004 assessment by the National Energy Commission concluded that a vigorous effort to develop cellulosic biofuels between now and 2015 could: Produce the first billion gallons at costs approaching those of gasoline and diesel. Establish the capacity to produce biofuels at very competitive pump prices equivalent to roughly 8 million barrels of oil per day (122 billion gallons per year) by

62 US Grows its Gas TODAY & BUSINESS AS USUAL 30 million hectares soy NEXT DECADE & FUTURE 30 million hectares switchgrass Switchgrass 1 to 3x protein productivity + 5 to 10 x mass productivity of soybeans animal protein feed oils animal protein feed oils Cellulose hydrolyzed into 30 billion gallons ethanol 62

63 Fuel Efficiency vs. Land 63

64 Bioenergy Forecasts 64

65 One Scenario Semi-Efficient, Ambitious Renewable Energy Scenario 65

66 Ethanol Production 66

67 Ethanol Yields 67

68 Ethanol Production Plant 68

69 69

70 Ethanol Production Corn kernels are ground in a hammermill to expose the starch The ground grain is mixed with water, cooked briefly and enzymes are added to convert the starch to sugar using a chemical reaction called hydrolysis. Yeast is added to ferment the sugars to ethanol. The ethanol is separated from the mixture by distillation and the water is removed from the mixture using dehydration 70

71 Ethanol Production Energy content about 2/3 of gasoline So E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline) will cause your gas mileage to decrease 3-4% Takes energy to create ethanol from starchy sugars Positive net energy balance Energy output/input =

72 Ethanol Consumption In comparison, US consumed an 140,000 million gallons of gasoline in

73 US Ethanol Facilities 73

74 Ethanol by State 74

75 Ethanol Fuel Use

76 Ethanol Use by Market Federal Reformulated Gasoline Required year round in high pollution metro areas (e.g. L.A., San Diego, Dallas, Houston, Washington, D.C.) Federal Winter Oxygenated Fuel Required during winter in selected high pollution metro areas (e.g. Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas) 76

77 MTBE MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether) A chemical compound that is manufactured by the chemical reaction of methanol and isobutylene Used almost exclusively a fuel additive in gasoline It is one of a group of chemicals commonly known as "oxygenates" because they raise the oxygen content of gasoline. At room temperature, MTBE is a volatile, flammable and colorless liquid that dissolves rather easily in water. 77

78 MTBE Oxygen helps gasoline burn more completely, reducing tailpipe emissions from motor vehicles Oxygen dilutes or displaces gasoline components such as aromatics (e.g., benzene) and sulfur Oxygen optimizes the oxidation during combustion. Most refiners have chosen to use MTBE over other oxygenates primarily for its blending characteristics and for economic reasons 78

79 MTBE and The Clean Air Act The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAA) require the use of oxygenated gasoline in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution The CAA does not specifically require MTBE. Refiners may choose to use other oxygenates, such as ethanol Winter Oxyfuel Program: Originally implemented in 1992, the CAA requires oxygenated fuel during the cold months in cities that have elevated levels of carbon monoxide Year-round Reformulated Gasoline Program: Since 1995, the CAA requires reformulated gasoline (RFG) year-round in cities with the worst ground-level ozone (smog). 79

80 MTBE and Groundwater Pollution MTBE has the potential to occur in high concentrations in groundwater Some MTBE has appeared in drinking water wells throughout the U.S Highly water soluble Not easily absorbed into soil Resists biodegradation Travels far from leak sources, Hazard on a regional scale. Some states are banning MTBE 80

81 State MTBE Bans 81

82 Corn Use for Ethanol 82

83 Corn Use by Segment 83

84 Sorghum Use by Segment 84

85 Energy Policy Act of 2005 Small Producer Biodiesel and Ethanol Credit 10 cent per gallon tax credit Up to 15 million gallons annually per producer Expires year end 2008 Fueling stations 30% credit for cost of installing clean-fuel vehicle refueling equipment $30,000 maximum e.g. E85 85% Ethanol, 15% gasoline GM pushing their E85 vehicles as an alternative to hybrids Seven SUV/Trucks, two sedans 85

86 Energy Policy Act of 2005 The Renewable Fuel Standard Requires use of 7.5 billion gallons of biofuels by 2012 includes ethanol and biodiesel Up from 3.4 billion gallons in 2004 All refiners required to abide by targets Credit trading mechanism in place For example, refiners in states with little or no ethanol production may buy credits from refiners in states with excess production Increased costs across the nation Decrease oil imports by 2.1% 86

87 Cellulosic Ethanol Ethanol produced from agricultural residues, woody biomass, fibers, municipal solid waste, switchgrass Process converts lignocellulosic feedstock (LCF) into component sugars, which are then fermented to ethanol 87

88 Cellulosic Ethanol Energy Policy Act of 2005 Minimum 250 million gallons/year by 2012 Incentive grants for facility construction 2006: $500 million 2007: $800 million 2008: $400 million Other research grants/production incentives : $485 million 88

89 Ethanol Energy Policy Act of 2005 Presidental Directive Reduce our addiction to oil Replace 75% of U.S. oil imports from the Middle East by 2025 But that s just 4.3 million barrels/day Total consumption of 26.1 million barrels/day 89

90 U.S. Petroleum Supply Domestic Oil Domestic Ethanol Western Hemisphere Europe/Africa Persian Gulf Domestic Oil Domestic Ethanol Western Hemisphere Europe/Africa Persian Gulf

91 Ethanol Energy Policy Act of 2005 Brazil produces ethanol at $25/oil equivalent barrel Adjusted price taking into account energy differences between ethanol and oil Compare $25/barrel to current oil price of $60+/barrel Largest commercial application of biomass energy in the world Sugar cane used a feedstock Domestic automakers building flex-fuel vehicles 91

92 Promoting Bioenergy Why not import ethanol from Brazil? The U.S. imposes a $22/barrel import tariff on Brazilian ethanol So, are the ethanol subsidies in the EPAct05 just a payoff to the agricultural lobby? Or, are we attempting to build a domestic ethanol industry by subsidizing its early efforts? How best to promote bioenergy? 92

93 Questions? 93