Post on 26-Dec-2015
Update on Alternative Energy for Rural Producers
Robert Scott Frazier, Ph.D., CEM.Assistant Professor,
Renewable Energy Extension EngineerBiosystems & Agricultural Engineering
212 Ag HallOklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078(405) 744-5289
Imagine Energy in 100 years
• Sustainable/Renewable• Low Net Carbon
How will we get there? Two possible routes…
1. Mad Scramble – Manage by Emergency – competition for dwindling resources and hope for “breakthrough”
2. Design – Define Goal, Some false starts but eventually find solution(s) – Inclusive planning for future
How Does “Design” Approach Start?
– Find Fossil Fuel Substitutes– Become More Efficient
Renewable Energy – Fossil Fuel Substitutes
Energy generated from natural resources—Which are renewable (naturally replenished).
Examples of renewable energy include:• Ethanol• Biodiesel• Wind Energy • Solar Energy• Anaerobic Digesters• Gasification• Hydrogen (in various forms)
Ethanol
• Almost a drop-in gasoline replacement• “Food versus Fuel” debate• Can use some of the existing gasoline
distribution infrastructure• Some storage and distribution issues however• Domestically produced• Agricultural product (sugar or cellulous based)• This is not the same as biodiesel
Cellulosic versus Starch Ethanol Production
Biofuel Research at OSU:
Gasification-Fermentation Conversion Technology.• In this thermochemical process, carbon materials
such as grasses or wood chips are converted to synthetic gas using gasification technologies.
• The resulting “syngas” is then converted into ethanol using OSU Biofuel Team patented microorganisms.
• This process uses readily available organic materials, instead of grains, to produce ethanol fuel.
• The conversion process is approximately twice as productive as corn-based ethanol production. [Drs. Huhnke, Atiyah, Wilkins, Bellmer]
OSU Ethanol Strategy
Biomass
Grow, harvest, and transport
biomass
Gasifier
Convert biomass to producer gas
“syngas”(CO, CO2, H2)
Bioreactor
Ferment producer gasto ethanol (and other
useful products)
0 - operational
0 - under construction
Current Cellulosic Ethanol Production Facilities in the U.S.
Biofuel Research at OSU:Sweet Sorghum• OSU researchers are examining the viability of production of
ethanol on the farmer’s own farm using sweet sorghum. The OSU Biofuels team is working to determine the maximum possible harvest window for producing sweet sorghum in Oklahoma. [Drs. Bellmer, Huhnke]
Benefits of Using Sweet Sorghum for Ethanol Production
– Yields juice with 15-20% directly fermentable sugar (i.e. no starch to convert)
– Can be grown in temperate climates such as Oklahoma– ‘More Crop Per Drop’ – Low irrigation needs– Low fertilizer needs
Potential Ethanol Production Based on Current Information: • In Oklahoma, we could plant sweet sorghum about mid-April, and
stagger plantings for 2-3 months, which would give a harvest window of August through November. Assuming an average yield of 25 wet tons/acre, a juice expression ratio of 0.55 lb juice/lb biomass, and an average sugar content of 15%, the ethanol production would be more than 300 gallons of ethanol per acre.
Other Energy Research at OSU:
Thermo Tolerant Yeast [Dr. Wilkins]Biodiesel [Dr. Dunford]Small Scale Wind and Solar Energy Systems [Dr. Frazier] Hydrogen, Anaerobic Digestion [Drs. Welker,Bowser, Hamilton, Frazier, Others]
Anarobic Digestion EconomicsAnimal Type
Daily Biogas Production
Btu Content (600 Btu/ft3) kWh/day/head
Population Needed for 40kW Generation
Dairy Cow 50-80 ft3 30,000 - 48,000 2.6 - 4.2 230 - 370Sow 4-6 ft3 2,400 - 3,600 0.21 - 0.32 3,000 - 4,500
Installed Costs:$3,700 - $7,000 per kWhOperating Costs:$0.02 per kWhAvoided Utility Cost: $0.12 per kWhCow Example with 1,000 Head: Installed cost = $900,000, $15,600 per
year operating cost, energy savings per year = $93,600Simple Payback = 9.8 years** Payback may be better due to avoided environmental costs, etc.
Biodiesel• A true “drop-in” fuel substitute for petroleum diesel• Requires large quantities of some type of bio-oil• Fairly simple to make (Oil, Methanol, lye)…• Lower emissions when combusted• Completely domestic product• Problems
– You need lots of vegetable oil (food product) to start– Finished fuel, in general, more sensitive to cold (gels) than
petro-diesel– Cannot store for long periods of time (may phase separate)– Probably not price competitive with current (temporarily
lower) fuel prices
Energy Efficiency Pro - • Fastest way to save energy (most paybacks in less
than 5 years – some immediate)• Potential may be vast (33-40%)*• Great stop-gap until research and long-term
energy projects come on lineCon – • Often not “sexy” or super high tech• Usually requires user effort and change (possible
show-stopper here)* http://www.aceee.org/energy/eemra/eeassess.htm#natl
What about Energy Efficiency & Economics?
How Important is Efficiency versus Finding More Energy?
Consider: Between 1949 and 2006 the per capita energy use increased 1.6 times however the GDP increased 3.1 times.
We used energy more efficiently and effectively to be more productive.
Agriculture and Energy
• Energy Use in Agricultural Production (Supplier and End User)– 44% Direct Fuel Use
(Diesel, Gasoline, Gases)
– 29% Fertilizer– 7% Irrigation– 20% Other (Grain
drying, pesticides, operations…)
Direct Fuel Use• On-farm production of bio-diesel – possible, but
time consuming and expensive (need vegetable or waste animal oil to be viable) – storage issues
• Small-scale ethanol production – some potential, but some drawbacks (basically have to build a still and maintain it with US Treasury and state approval)
• Gasification possible for some operations (this has some potential but is fundamentally different than liquid fuel)
Direct Fuel Use• Efficiency of Operations – Fuel Storage Practices: Fuel tanks can loose up to
35% volume per year due to evaporation (paint tank white, shade, proper caps…)
– Thermostatic Electric Block Heaters (cheaper than running to warm up)
– Check Thermostat (stuck open can increase fuel consumption up to 25% @ 100F coolant temp)
– Minimize Idling (15-20% of fuel usage typically)– Equipment State of Tune– Field Practices (Tillage, Tire slippage, …)
Fertilizer Production and Use• Mostly “Indirect” energy consumption• Natural gas connection• Some application energy use (Efficiency of Operations)• Organic fertilizers use less energy for production (cheaper) but
probably use more for handling and application– collection of organic waste – loading and transportation of waste to a processing plant – unloading and putting waste into windrows – turning and irrigation of windrows to expedite composting– collection, loading, and transportation of composted waste from
processing plant to field – unloading waste for storage – loading and applying waste to field by farm equipment
http://www.eolss.net/ebooks/Sample%20Chapters/C08/E3-18-04-03.pdf
Irrigation Energy Efficiency
• Most efficiency improvements are in application and/or pump and impeller (involves trimming and system flow analysis)– Possible use of drip irrigation systems– Lower pressure requirements (for different zones?, 70-80
psi down to 20-25 psi - possibly)– Reduce line friction (larger diameter, smooth transitions)– Don’t design for the end-gun pressures, use a booster for
end guns– Change nozzle sizes to allow lower pressures (reduce flow
but not volume)– Use variable speed drives where applicable
Carbon – The Potential New “Crop”
• Tillage Methods can return carbon into the soil – could get “credit” for amount trapped, or Efficiency Improvements
• OK Conservation Commission would (probably) be Verification Agency
• At least one pilot program (W. Farmers Coop)• Voluntary trading on Chicago Carbon Exchange (CCX) – “Feel
Good”, “Green”, no Federal legislative teeth yet• Next administration (Dem or Rep) has said it will address
Carbon• OSU is tracking (S. Farrell, D. Adams)• If U.S. carbon mitigation does become law…
http://aceee.org/conf/08ag/presentations/RConant.pdf
Electrical and Natural Gas Efficiency in Oklahoma
• Working to Build State Rural Producer Energy Audit Program
• Probably Producer “Type” Specific (Crops, Poultry, etc.)
• Partners will probably be:– Electric and Gas Utilities (Possible Auditors)– State Extension Service (Link Customers/Services)– USDA (Farm Bill – Possible Funding)– State of Oklahoma Energy Office (Visibility)– Oklahoma State University (Auditor Training and
Program Design)
What About Extension Services?
• Vision for OSU BAE and District Relationships– Be able to have district personnel provide useful
energy answers without requiring extensive training in specific areas
– Personnel will have resources to either find answers or direct customer inquiries to self-help
– Provide a line of communication to disseminate research and legislative topics important to the customers through district
Extension Efficiency Services
• OSU BAE will provide district training and access to materials for applications/questions on:– Building and Home General Energy Efficiency
Topics– Equipment Energy Topics (Electric Motors, Process
Heating, etc.)
Small Scale Renewable Energy Systems Research
• Will provide district training and access to materials for applications/questions on:– Small Scale Wind Turbines– Small Scale Solar Electrical – Solar Heating– Gasification systems– Other
Other Programs
• Building Energy Monitor Lending Program• Various Research Areas:– Hydrogen Production– Fuel Cells– On-site electricity production (micro-turbine)– Other
Lots to Do…
Questions?
Thanks!