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!