Sustainable Production and Distribution of Bioenergy for the Central USA

Agro-ecosystem Approach to Sustainable Biofuels Production via the Pyrolysis-Biochar Platform (USDA-NIFA AFRI CAP)

Oil Prices

Source: EIA for history, NYMEX for future

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Population2011   2030   2050

(billion) (billion) (billion)World 6.946 World 8.323 World 9.441

China 1.337

India 1.461

India 1.657

India 1.189

China 1.391

China 1.304

U.S. 0.311 U.S. 0.366 U.S. 0.423Indonesia 0.246

Indonesia 0.289

Nigeria 0.402

Brazil 0.203 Nigeria 0.264

Indonesia 0.313

Pakistan 0.187

Pakistan 0.243 Pakistan 0.291

Nigeria 0.166

Brazil 0.240 Ethiopia 0.278

Bangladesh 0.159

Bangladesh 0.211

Brazil 0.261

Russia 0.139

Ethiopia 0.162 Bangladesh 0.250

Japan 0.127

Philippines 0.138 Philippines 0.172

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, International Data Base

Liquid Fuel Usage2007 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035

(Million Barrels Oil Equivalent per Day) (Percent of 2007 Value)

United States 20.6 98% 100% 102% 104% 107%

Canada 2.3 96% 96% 96% 100% 104%

Mexico 2.1 105% 110% 114% 129% 138%

Europe 15.3 92% 88% 88% 89% 90%

Japan 5.0 84% 86% 86% 84% 82%

China 7.6 132% 153% 178% 201% 222%

India 2.8 114% 129% 139% 154% 168%

Africa 3.1 113% 116% 126% 135% 148%

Central and South America 6.0 110% 112% 117% 125% 133%

World 86.1 103% 107% 113% 121% 128%

Source: Energy Information Administration

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Conventional Biofuels Cellulosic Biofuels

Biodiesel Additional Advanced Biofuels

Renewable Fuels Standard

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Sustainable Bioenergy

This AFRI Challenge Area focuses on the priority to secure America's energy future. It supports the development of regional systems for the sustainable production of bioenergy and biobased products that contribute significantly to reducing dependence on foreign oil, have net positive social, environmental, and rural economic impacts, and are compatible with existing agricultural systems. The long-term outcome for this program is to implement regional systems that materially deliver liquid transportation biofuels to help meet the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 goal of 36 billion gallons/year of biofuels by 2022 and reduce the National dependence on foreign oil.

USDA’s Initiative

TheGrandVision

Target: Land Least Suitable for Corn/Soybean Production

Sources: NRCS, Purdue University, and Iowa State University

Pyrolysis Processing

Rapid thermal decomposition of organic compounds in the absence of oxygen to predominately produce liquid product known as bio-oil.

Fast pyrolysis can be built at small scales suitable for distributed

processing.

Co-product biochar is produced at yields

of 12-20 wt% biomass.

Biochar

Bio-oil is refined like petroleum into synthetic gasoline and biodiesel.

CenUSA Team

Led by ISU Agronomy professor Ken Moore Researchers from Iowa State University, Purdue University, University of Illinois,

University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska, University of Wisconsin, University of Vermont, Idaho National Laboratory and USDA Agricultural Research Service offices in Wisconsin, Nebraska, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Iowa

Feedstock Development ProgressSwitchgrass Big bluestem Indiangrass

• Perennial grass yield trials planted at 13 locations: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Wisconsin

Feedstock Development ProgressSwitchgrass Big bluestem Indiangrass

• Yield trials cover:22 switchgrasses

(7 cultivars and 15 experimental strains),12 big bluestems

(6 cultivars and 6 experimental strains), and 12 indiangrasses

(6 cultivars and 6 experimental strains)

Sustainable Production Systems• Seed plots established in Illinois, Iowa,

Indiana, Minnesota, and Nebraska• Plots are far enough along to explore

nutrient, pest, and disease pressures

Feedstock Logistics• Preliminary work on bale accumulation shows

potential for reduced fuel expenditures

System Performance

• Preliminary testing has begun with the Environmental Policy Impact Climate (EPIC) model to explore soil and nutrient movement

Feedstock Conversion

• Samples have been harvested to create baseline for energy analysis

Markets and Distribution

• Work has started to gather switchgrass trial data from previous and ongoing trials

• Establishment and production costs data is being gathered to develop decision tools and economic models

Health and Safety

• Major health and safety risks in working with biochar have been identified

Education

• 11 undergraduate students have worked at CenUSA institutions over the past summer on various aspects of the project

CenUSA Intern Kirsten Paff

Extension/Outreach

• Over 3,700 people participated in CenUSA programs over the past year (thanks for joining them this year)

• Nearly 2,500 Master Gardener volunteers explored the impact of biochar in gardens

A Few Year 2 Targets• Continue to build perennial grass breeding

program

• Study biomass handling and drying

• Adapt economic/environmental models to field trial data

• Quantify biochar impact on soil quality

• Continue to assess health and safety issues with biochar deployment

Thank you for your time and attention.

Any questions?

For more information, seewww.cenusa.iastate.edu

This project is supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant No. 2011-68005-30411 from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

. . . and justice for all

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Many materials can be made available in alternative formats for ADA clients. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964.