The Future of
Biomass Energy
A U.S. Perspective
Tomek Stadnik
The Biomass Program
An Overview
• US federally funded
research/development
program
– Establish Biomass as
source of energy
• Goals:
– Reduce dependency on
oil
– Promote affordable,
eco-friendly energy
Key Definitions
• Biorefineries – facility that converts
biomass to fuel, power, chemicals, etc.
• Enzymatic hydrolysis – chemical reaction
that releases sugars
• Lignocellulose – combination of lignin and
cellulose in woody plant cells
The Biomass Program
Areas of Research
•
5 new areas created under
one office
– Feedstock Interface
• Feedstock harvesting,
storage, and transport
technology to convert
biomass to energy
– Sugar Platform
• Cost-effective ways to extract
sugars from lignocellulosic
biomass
– Products
• Converting sugars
(chemically/biologically) into
fuels, etc.
– Thermochemical Platform
• Cost-effective conversion of
biomass to gaseous and
liquid intermediates
– Industry-Led Integrated
Biorefineries
• Commercialization
Developments:
Old and New
• Technology development in 3 categories:
– Existing – Already in operation
• Sugar Platform – produces 2-billion-gallon-peryear corn grain ethanol
• Thermochemical – paper mill industry
– Emerging – most likely out in 5-10 years
• Sugar Platform – “based on enzymatic hydrolysis
of biomass to produce sugars¹”
• Thermochemical – develop technologies used
with coal but not yet with biomass efficiently
– Advanced – Conceptual or not yet thought of
• Asks broad questions in hopes of encountering
new ways to produce energy
Negative effects of
biomass
• Increased erosion due to foresting
• Chemical pollution due to increased
fertilizers and pesticides
• Degradation of soil quality after continual
use
• Loss of biodiversity due to “monoculture”
trees planted
Conclusion and
Sources
•
Programs exist to develop the technologies of
one of the nation’s energy providers – biomass
1.
United States. Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy. Department of Energy. Biomass Program. 15 Oct.
2005
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/biomass/pdfs/mytp.pdf>.