Introduction to Biofuels and Bioenergy

Why Biofuels and Bioenergy• Executive Order S-06-06

Biofuel/Bioenergy Production and Use

• Executive Order S-01-07 Low-Carbon Fuel Standard

• Strategic Directive 9.2Encourage development of alternative energy and bio-fuels

• Strategic Directive 9.3Play an active role in Bioenergy Interagency Working Group

• Climate Change Implications

What Are BiofuelsBiofuels

Renewable fuels produced from biomass resources to make liquid or gas fuel

– Ethanol– Biodiesel– Compressed or Liquid Natural Gas– Hydrogen– Dimethyl Ether (diesel-like fuel– Biobutanol

Feedstock for Biofuels and Bioenergy

• Forest and Agricultural Biomass

• Urban Biomass

• Biomass fraction of MSW

• Landfill Gas

Biomass Resources in California

• Gross resources are 80 billion bone dry tons annually

• Three principal resources are agriculture, forestry, and waste

• Forestry in northern and central mountains

• Agriculture in Central Valley

• Waste in Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area

Source: California Biomass Collaborative

Waste Characterization in California

Other Mixed and Mineralized

8%

Glass2%

Paper/Cardboard20%

Food15%

C&D Lumber10%

Other Organics4%

Metal8%

Other C&D12%

Textiles 5%

Film Plastic4%

Leaves and Grass4%

Prunings, trimmings, branches and stumps

3%

All non-Film Plastic5%

Fraction of waste

stream (%)

Biomass 56

Plastics/ textiles

14

Inorganic 30

Total 100

• 42 million tons disposed in 2005

• 23 million tons biological in origin

• 5.7 million tons plastic and textiles

Post-MRF Residuals

• Targeted Feedstock

• Single-Stream - 496,000 Tons

• Multi-Stream - 35,931 Tons

• Mixed Waste - 6.7 Million Tons

• Construction and Demolition - 161,736 Tons

Available Residuals – Single Stream (496,000 Tons)

Available Residuals – Multi Stream (35,931 Tons)

Available Residuals – Mixed Waste (6.7 Million Tons)

Available Residuals – C&D (161,736 Tons)

Biofuels/Bioenergy ProductionThermochemical Processes

– PyrolysisVery little air/oxygen added or none at all750o F to 1500o F

– GasificationSome air/oxygen used but less than for incinerationBegins at 1300o F

Technology Primary Product Secondary Product Residue

Gasification Fuel Gas

Synthesis Gas

Fuels, Chemicals, Power

Char, Ash

Pyrolysis Fuel Gas

Synthesis Gas

Pyrolytic oils

Fuels, Chemicals, Power

Char, Ash

Biofuels/Bioenergy Production

Biochemical Processes– Anaerobic Digestion

Bacteria breaks down feedstockNo oxygen

– FermentationAlso anaerobic processMicrobes used to produce ethanol

Technology Primary ProductSecondary

ProductResidue

Anaerobic Digestion

BiogasHeat, Electricity,

Fuels, Soil Amendment

Lignin, inorganics

Fermentation Ethanol Lignin, inorganics

TECHNOLOGY TYPE COMMERCIAL OR R&D STATUS VENDOR PROJECT STATUS

Pyrolysis to Electricity Commercial scale in Japan. Pilot-scale facility in California

IES Second round of emissions testing to be validated by SCAQMD. Health risk assessment underway.

Gasification to Ethanol Pilot-scale facility in Arkansas. Biorefinery to be built in Florida

BRI Energy & Alico

Alico received DOE biorefinery grant. Will use BRI technology

Gasification to Electricity Commercial scale in Japan. None in California

Various Two companies short-listed by Los Angeles County

Acid Hydrolysis Demonstration scale in Ohio and Japan (separate companies). Bluefire

Ethanol to construct commercial-scale facility at El Sobrante

Landfill

Bluefire Ethanol Bluefire Ethanol recipient of DOE and Energy Commission grants

Enzymatic Hydrolysis Demonstration facility in Canada. Commercial-scale facility to be constructed in Idaho. R&D on

enzymes continuing.

Iogen (Canada) Iogen recipient of DOE biorefinery grant

Enclosed Anaerobic Digestion Commercial scale in Europe and Israel. Commercial-scale facility under construction in Australia. Small demonstration plant at UC Davis

campus.

Arrow EcologyOnSite Power

Arrow Ecology short-listed by Los Angeles County

Major Technology Types and Status

Operating Facilities

Biochemical– Predominantly anaerobic digestion in Europe– Installed capacity in 2000 = 1.1 million TPY– Installed capacity in 2004 = 2.8 million TPY– 250% increase!!!

Thermal– Gasification and Waste-to-Energy in

Japan

AD Capacity in Europe

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Cap

acit

y (

mil

lio

n t

on

s/y

)

*

Solid Waste Anaerobic Digester Capacity in Europe

AD Facilities

• Kompogas (Switzerland)• Arrow Bio (Israel)• DRANCO (Belgium)• Valorga (France)• BTA (Germany)• Biopercolat (Germany)• CiTec (Finland)• Linde-KCA (Germany)

Hydrolysis/Fermentation Facilities

• BlueFire Ethanol

• Masada Oxynol

• Genahol/Waste-to-Energy

• BRI

DOE cellulosic biorefinery commercialization awards

• Abengoa Bioenergy – Kansas

• Alico(BRI technology) - Florida

• BlueFire - California

• Broin – South Dakota

• Iogen - Idaho

• Range Fuels - Georgia