lynn wright wrightlink consulting, inc · 2016-10-06 · bioenergy use and new feedstock...

Bioenergy Use and New Feedstock

Developments in the US

Lynn Wright

WrightLink Consulting, Inc wrightlld@gmail.com

Presented to Lund University Biofuels Seminar October 22, 2014 National Bioenergy Day in U.S.

www.woodycrops.org

Presentation Outline

• US energy & renewables background

• Biofuels policy drivers & success history

• Advanced biofuels and new feedstocks

• Other biomass markets (pellets, bio-chemicals, jet fuels)

• Woody Crop R&D highlights in U.S. (institutions to watch)

http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/aeo/er/early_fuel.cfm

2013 Consumption 97.53 Quadrillion Btu = 102,894 Petajoules

2013 Production 81.68 Quadrillion Btu = 86,172 Petajoules

http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/aeo/er/early_production.cfm

2013 Production 86,172 Petajoules

2013 Consumption 102,894 Petajoules

Renewable Energy Use

(Quadrillion Btu)

Source: September 2014, Monthly Energy Review

Renewable Energy Use

(Quadrillion Btu)

Source: September 2014, Monthly Energy Review

Wood and Waste Use by Sector

(Quadrillion Btu)

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

Electric Power Industrial Commercial Residential

Waste

wood

Source: EIA Short-term Energy Outlook, Sept 2014

~ 200 biomass facilities supplying electricity,

heat and CHP (~6 million GW Capacity)

Biomass (biofuels + biopower + waste) – 176%

Hydro – 114%

Wind – 2300%

Solar/PV – 500%

Geothermal – 134%

Renewable Energy Use Has Grown

Source: Energy Information Administration, June 2014 Monthly Energy Review , via Tim Theiss

Biofuels production drives recent growth

in overall bioenergy use

Source: EIA, Mar 2014; http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=15451 Note: Inputs to biodiesel and ethanol equal the amount consumed plus losses and coproducts from production

= 2.46 Million Tons of Oil Equivalent

CAFE = Corporate Average Fuel Economy NMOG = Non methane organic compounds EISA 2007 = Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

EPA annually modifies mandates

based on reality checks

Corn starch 15 vs 16.55 billion gal

Biodiesel 1 vs 1.28 billion gal

Advanced Renewable 2 vs 2.75 billion gal

Cellulosic Ethanol 1.75 billion vs 6 million gal

Original versus 2013 EPA mandates*

*Source: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/documents/420f13042.pdf

2014

Advanced biofuels and bioproducts

are a commercial reality ! (maybe)

INEOS, Vero Beach, FL (spotty production since opening) • Expected to produce 8 million gallons per year of cellulosic ethanol and 6

MW of power from wood and vegetative waste

• initiated commercial production of cellulosic ethanol in July 2013

• First commercial production of cellulosic ethanol in the U.S.

Myriant Succinic Acid Biorefinery , Lake Providence, LA • Biochemical conversion of sorghum grits to succinic acid.

• Expected to process 50 dry tons/day to produce 30 Million Lbs/year of succinic

acid and gypsum (Start-up June, 2013 – no news since)

Abengoa Bioenergy, Hugoton, KS • Expected to produce 25 million gallons per year of ethanol and 18 megawatts

of green electricity at full capacity

• Mechanical completion is scheduled for April 2014;

• Commissioned October 19, 2014

POET-DSM Project LIBERTY, Emmetsburg, IA • Expected to produce 20 million gallons per year of cellulosic ethanol at full

capacity

• Major construction began November 2012

• Opened September 3, 2014

Additional biorefineries are

under construction – 88 MGY

14 Active Biofuels Projects in Feb 2013

5 million gallons estimated by 2013 end

Source: EIA Feb 2013; http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=10131

Sources for Names: Ethanol Producer Magazine, Wikipedia, Solecki 2013 (E2 report)

INEOS (waste stream, MSW)

Myriant Succinic Acid Sorghum grits & other

POET-DSM (corn stover & cobs)

Abengoa Bioenergy (wheat straw)

Dupont Cellulosic (corn stover)

Mascoma (wood)

???

ZeaChem demo (wood)

Fulcrum Bioenergy (MSW)

Quad County (Corn fiber) Fiberight

(MSW)

Bluefire (wood)

KiOR (wood)

“Commercial realities”

change quickly

Advanced Biofuels Capacity Actual and

Low-End Projections made in 2013 (millions of gallons/year)

http://www.e2.org/ext/doc/E2AdvancedBiofuelMarketReport2013.pdf

Source: Solecki, Advanced Biofuel Market Report 2013 (numbers rounded)

Fuel type 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Count

Actual Projected (Low-End)

Ethanol 1.0 3.8 12.1 118.2 162.8 207.8 26

Drop-In 75.2 88.5 229.0 320.6 382.4 417.4 16

Other 1.0 1.6 1.6 1.6 20.0 20.0 1

Biodiesel 350 369.9 717.9 747.0 829.5 954.0 116

Total 427.2 463.8 960.1 1187.4 1394.6 1599.2 159

April 2013 analysis show poor

history of success of projects

http://www.theusipa.org/Documents/NAFO-US_Bioenergy_Markets-FINAL-201306261.PDF

Biodiesel production has been a

success – exceeding mandates

2013 standard for biomass-based diesel set at 1.28 billion gallons Total Production in 2013 was 1.8 billion gallons

Graph source: http://www.fuelsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/bio.jpg

Biodiesel accepted as an “Advanced Renewable” by EPA

A wide range of existing feedstocks

are used for biodiesel

Source: EIA, March 2014 http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=15451 Monthly Biodiesel Production Report referenced.

New Biodiesel Feedstocks help to supply

Advanced and Jet Fuel Markets

• Camelina – Distant relative of Rapeseed, relatively drought tolerant. Big claims have been made, to date only ~ 100,000 acres has been grown in U.S.

• Carinata – Ethiopian mustard seed, adapted to heat and drought, suitable in Great Plains and as rotation crop

• Canadian National Research Council recently performed first ever aviation tests using pure carinata oil

But, In 2013 United Airlines agreed to purchase 15 million gallons of Camelina derived jet fuel from AltAir Fuels over 3 years.

U.S. Military Interest Increasing

The U.S. Navy's interest in biofuels is part of its goal to generate 50% of its energy from alternative sources by 2020: But – biofuels must be “drop-in fuels” at prices competitive with traditional fuels

http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=17271 July 14, 2014

Sept 2014 News: “ReEnergy awarded contract to provide power to Fort Drum” The feedstock supply will be bush willow!

http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/11007/reenergy-awarded-contract-to-provide-power-to-fort-drum/

Probable changes in Policy

Drivers soon to occur

an “unexpected boom of domestic oil and gas production…married to possible shifts in society’s historical driving habits and greater fuel efficiencies of vehicles, have pushed back a decade or two the pressing need for biofuels seen at the time of the RFS”. Statement by Douglas Faulkner, the former acting Undersecretary of Agriculture and a former Assistant Secretary of Energy, titled “The Renewable Fuel Standard: Mend It AND End It.” September 18, 2014

2013 total exports =~ 2,902,000 metric tons

Are pellet exports a possible

woody crop market?

Source: Seth Walker, 2012 North American Wood Pellet Market (swalker@risi.com

Source: Seth Walker, 2012 North American Wood Pellet Market (swalker@risi.com) 2014 US capacity = 9.25 million tonnes source: Biomass Magazine Pellet Plant list ~ 2016 US capacity = 14.6 million tonnes based on ongoing construction

Pellet production forecasts do not increase greatly

Capacity forecast

Wood crops not yet needed

Consensus exists that on a national level annual growth of forest wood exceeds current and viable projected demands including bioenergy.

Wood crops must provide advantages of quality, sustainability, convenience, or location and cost.

But Woody Crop R&D Continues!

Goals: Profitable woody crop markets,

Low cost/high quality, local feedstocks

US Woody Crops Highlights

3 Companies GreenWood Resources – Timber investment & management Company

ArborGen – Commercial Tree Seedling producers/breeders

Ecolotree, Inc – Phytoremediation technology development & implementation

4 University Research Programs University of Minnesota – Hybrid poplar genetic improvement for Midwest US

Cornell University – Willow genetic improvement for Northeast

State University of New York – Willow crop management

Mississippi State University – Black Willow for Lower Mississippi River Valley

2 Consortium

Hardwoodbiofuels.org

A USDA funded consortium working to develop a system for producing advanced biofuels from hybrid poplar trees.

Feedstock development, Conversion processes,

Sustainability evaluations, Education

Extension activities http://www.washington.edu/ (leader) , http://agcenterofexcellence.com/ http://www.greenwoodresources.com/, http://oregonstate.edu/, http://rockymountainwildlifeinstitute.com/, http://www.ucdavis.edu/, http://www.uidaho.edu/, http://wsu.edu/, http://zeachem.com/

Field Trials

4 sites

Hardwoodbiofuels.org

Oak Ridge National Laboratory- Lead

http://bioenergycenter.org/besc/about.cfm

Partners: ArborGen, LLC Ceres, Inc DartmouthCollege E.I. Dupont Georgia Institute of Technology GreenWood Industries Mascoma Corporation National Renewable Energy Laboratory North Carolina State University Samual Roberts Noble Foundation University of California-Los Angeles University of California-Riverside University of Georgia University of North Texax University of Tennessee West Virginia University

GreenWood Resources (GWR) A global timberland investment and asset management company specializing in the acquisition, development and managements of forestry assets

greenwoodresources.com/

GreenWood Resources Farm ~ 10,000 Ha Productivity ~ 22 Mg/ha/yr Timber Harvest at 10-12 years 4-5 ha/day, ~1800 Mg/day in 10 hrs 800 – 1200 ha/yr (~10%)

Harvest rate matched to veneer mill demand

New: GWR growing biomass and timber trees inter-planted in 2013 Intent: supply feedstock to ZeaChem for Biofuels

Biomass trees planted as 9-12” cuttings at 1152 trees/acre in 2013 Timber trees planted by hand in winter 2013 using 2yr (~20 ft tall) bare poles, 5 ft below ground with 12-15 ft left above ground. Photo by Lynn Wright – July 2014

http://www.woodycrops.org/Conference%20Reports/

www.arborgen.com/

*

*9 Gtons/ac/yr = 9 Green Tons/ac/yr = ~4.5 dry Tons/ac/yr =~

*

Ecolotree, Inc is effectively

using trees in phytoremediation

Ecolotree, Inc., has installed more than 60 ECap® and EBuffer® systems across the US plus one in Slovenia using hybrid poplar and grass systems.

Source: website http://www.ecolotree.com/applications.html

The inputs and outputs shown on the figure are used by Ecolotree to develop hydrologic models and to design site-specific ECaps®.

Ebuffers®and Ecaps® by EcoloTree, Inc

Long poplar cuttings planted deep in first trial planting of Ebuffer®

After 8 years, height growth was 40 feet Root system after 7 years was 7 feet deep

ECaps® pump water from the cover soils, thus dehydrating the soil during the growing season and creating water storage capacity for the dormant winter months.

Source: website http://www.ecolotree.com/applications.html

Plant growth prevents precipitation from penetrating into waste Trees 5 yrs old

A construction debris landfill cell planted to poplars and grass

Two decades of poplar breeding and field testing in Minnesota,

USA: results and implications to future genetic improvement

Bill Berguson, Bernie McMahon, Dan Buchman and Don Riemenschneider

www.nrri.umn.edu/cartd/forestp/hpbreed.htm

http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/people/driemenschneider

Champion - IP - Verso Paper - Central Minnesota

• 1,000 ha yr-1 planting

• 90% in NM6, some DN34

• DN 34 later eliminated

• 10,000 ha total

• 12 year rotation

0.00

0.10

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0.40

0.50

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Bas

al A

rea

(sq

ft)

Families

Strugis 1 Family Field Trial - 10 Years Growth Top Ten Families Compared to NM6

Top 3 Clones in Family

Family Mean

Ratio of top 30 clones: NM6 = 1.88

http://www.poplar.ca/upload/documents/ips-2014/presentations-list.pdf

Yield Testing – The Final Stage

• New clones surpassing current commercial clone by a significant margin

• Yield of NM6 on moderate sites in Midwest is 8.0 to 10.0 Mg ha-1 yr-1

• Expected yield in range of 10 to 12 Mg ha-1 yr-1 in first generation (20% improvement)

Photo courtesy of Steve Thomas, DOE-BETO

What Have We Learned?

• Selected pure P. deltoides and pure P. nigra clones as productive as the best

hybrids in MN

• P. nigra adaptable to harsh Minnesota conditions

• Significant additive effects indicating high potential for yield improvement with

each breeding cycle

• Yield increases range from 1.4 to 1.7 times that of the best commercial clones in

first breeding and testing cycle

• No shortcuts in field testing – four years needed for initial selection plus

additional monitoring in subsequent years

Great opportunity to improve growth and biomass yield over time through breeding

but must be continued through successive cycles

Thanks to DOE Sun Grant program

http://www.woodycrops.org/Conference%20Reports/

SUNY-ESF Willow Biomass

Program

http://www.esf.edu/willow/

Willow commercialization Harvesting & Logistics Biomass Yield Trials Bioremediation Economic Efficiency & Analysis Extension & Outreach

http://www.poplar.ca/upload/documents/ips-2014/presentations-list.pdf

Overview Summary

1. Biofuels use is increasing Biodiesel doing well Cellulosic ethanol is real !

2. Yet biofuel outlook is uncertain Many projects are stalled Yet jet fuels/drop-in fuels still gaining $$ support Policy changes are gaining supporters

3. Woody crop profitable markets are mostly conventional Pellet mill numbers increasing – but using forest resources Phytoremediation success using hybrid poplars Biorefinery use planned but projects stalled

4. Woody crop R&D active; making progress for future Higher yields in Midwest poplars and Northeast willows New crops: Hybrid Sweetgum, Black willow in Southern US

Thank You

Questions ?

wrightlld@gmail.com

Feedstock Types by User Facilities - 1

Cellulosic Feedstock Resource Types Biofuel Biopower Pellet Mills

E C E C E C

Hardwood & softwood clean chips 45 3

Hardwood clean chips 1 43

Softwood clean chips 35 4

Forest thinnings & pine beetle wood 3 6 2

Logging & Mill Residues 55

Woody biomass, wood wastes, fibers 2 68 9 2 1

Short rotation tree crops 1 2 1

Tall grass biomass crops 2 1 4

Corn Stover, Bagasse 4 6

Industrial waste streams, paper waste, 1 1

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) sorted 2 79 2

Beets, wood sugar, peanut hulls, biosolids, Poultry litter, alfalfa hay, and mixtures

1 6 2

E = Existing, C = in Construction

Feedstock Types by User Facilities - 2

Cellulosic Feedstock Resource Types Biofuel Biopower Pellet Mills

E & C P E & C P E & C P

Hardwood & softwood clean chips 48 5

Hardwood clean chips 1 43 2

Softwood clean chips 39 5

Forest thinnings & pine beetle wood 9 4 2 1

Logging & Mill Residues 55

Woody biomass, wood wastes, fibers 2 2 77 7 3 5

Short rotation tree crops 1 2 3 1

Tall grass biomass crops 2 5 1 1 4

Corn Stover, Bagasse 4 6

Industrial waste streams, paper waste, 1 1 1

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) sorted 2 4 81 1

Beets, wood sugar, peanut hulls, biosolids, Poultry litter, alfalfa hay, and mixtures

1 6 2 1

E = Existing, C = in Construction, P = Proposed Facilities

Company Feedstocks Conversion process Capacity MMG/yr

Fiberight, LLC MSW Enzyme digest & fermentation 6

INEOS MSW, other wastes Thermochem+biochem (gasification) 8

ZeaChem Inc. Poplar, straw, stover Biochem to acetic acid + thermochem to ethanol

0.25/ 25

Abengoa Bioenergy Straw, Stover Fermentation & enzyme hydrolysis 25

Bluefire Wood waste Concentrated acid hydrolysis 9

Dupont Cellulosic Corn Stover Pretreat, enzyme hydrolysis, fermentation, distillation

0.25/30

Poet DSM Corn cobs & stover ?? Yeasts and enzymes co-ferment C6 & C5 sugars

25

Quad Co. Cellulosic Corn fiber Not described 2

Enerkem MSW, wood wastes Gasification, syngas cleaning, catalytic synthesis

10

KiOR Pine chips Biomass Fluid Catalytic Cracking (BFCC) to drop in fuels

13

Fulcrum Bioenergy MSW MSW to syngas, Fischer-Tropsch to Jet fuel & diesel

11

Cool Planet Pine chips Mechanical heat & pressure to syngas + catalysts

10

Myriant Succinic Sorghum grits & other

Anerobic fermentation w/ microbes to chemicals, vitamens & enzymes

30 million lbs/yr