Bioenergy Break-out Session

Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass to Fuels and Chemicals - Pyrolysis and Gasification

Nii Ofei Mante — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

The development of advance thermochemical technologies is critical for sustainable production of affordable biofuel, biopower and bioproduct from biomass. Thermochemical conversion processes are flexible and independent of feedstock. Currently, pyrolysis and gasification are promising thermochemical conversion processes that use heat and chemistry to produce bio-oil, syngas, bio-char and chemicals from a wide spectrum of biomass feedstocks, varying from woody and herbaceous biomass to agricultural and forest residues, oilseed crops, animal solid waste and urban residues. The biomass derived intermediates can further be processed in an existing infrastructure into drop-in fuels, blendstocks, and chemicals. The study presents an overview of these technologies and asses the opportunities and obstacles in the current state of the thermochemical conversion technology.

Sanpete Valley Clean Energy Project

Jon Lear — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Fuels for Schools

Angela Farr — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

This presentation will provide an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities associated with installing small-to-medium scale biomass heating systems in rural communities. The Northern and Intermountain Regions of the USFS partnered with six State Foresters nearly a decade ago, to implement a vision of small, distributed biomass systems in forested areas, thereby creating renewable energy, reducing open pile burning, and adding value to waste wood from fire hazard reduction and forest restoration. Through 17 installations in five states, Fuels for Schools gained a national reputation and has been a resource for numerous other states, as well as internationally. We have learned a tremendous amount about what works, where and why, and developed strategies to promote success. This unvarnished look at challenges overcome will include specific advice on developing and communicating fuel specifications, working with engineers, boiler manufacturers, and energy services corporations, locating alternative funding sources for projects, and working with air quality professionals on permitting.

Viable Bioenergy Options

Mark Knaebe — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

• Did you know that if you pay $2.00 a gallon for propane, you could afford to pay $426 per cord of wood or $378 per ton of wood pellets to get the same energy? You have access to this simple calculator to learn more. • If you know how much biomass you have access to (tons/year), you’ll learn what size electrical power generator you should get and what the economics would be. • Should you make wood pellets? • What is far better than those smoky outdoor wood burners? • How much money could you save if you switched your school to wood heat? • What’s the future of liquid fuels from biomass?

Bioenergy 101

Dallas Hanks — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Biomass conversion to energy is a relatively new topic in Utah. The Utah Biomass Resources Group (UBRG) is interested in supporting the use of Utah’s woody biomass for energy production. The UBRG’s mission is to promote healthy forests and woody products in Utah. The UBRG is engaged with other partners in Utah and the surrounding region to investigate how to utilize woody biomass for energy production. The group includes participation from stewards of federal land, state land and private individuals as well. The main woody biomass focus right now is on a species of pinyon pine and juniper that is considered to be either an invasive or aggressive species. Local, federal and state agencies are very interested in managing these species and in restoring effected habitat.

Billion Ton Report

Anthony Turhollow — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

The 2011 Billion-Ton Update (BTU) found that in 2030 between 1.0 and 1.5 million dry metric tons of biomass would potentially be available in the United States at $66 per dry metric ton or less, with 70 to 80% of this biomass available for new uses. The BTU revises the 2005 Billion-Ton Study (BTS), which found between 0.9 and 1.2 million dry metric tons potentially available. The BTU includes presently used resources, and forest resources, agricultural residues, and energy crops. The BTU contains county level supply inventories of primary feedstocks, supply curves for the individual resources, and a more rigorous and explicit modeling of sustainability. The BTU has two scenarios, Baseline and High-Yield.