nreles at nrel · 2010. 3. 25. · nrel 2010march 31, 2010 of efficiencdbattelle. assessment •...

Biomass Resource Assessment and Analysis Activities at NRELActivities at NREL

Anelia MilbrandtSr. Energy Resources gy

Analyst

NRELMarch 31 2010March 31, 2010

NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy operated by Midwest Research Institute • Battelle

Biomass Resource Assessment

• Biomass resource assessment is essential inBiomass resource assessment is essential in analyzing the bioenergy potential in a given area

• Guides industry development strategies• Supports policy decisionspp p y

National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

Types of Resource Assessment

TheoreticalIll h l i i l b d l l iIllustrates the ultimate resource potential based on calculation or measurement of the net primary productivity of the biome

TechnicalTechnicalLimits the resource potential by accounting for terrain limitations, land use and environmental considerations, collection inefficiencies, and a number of other technical and social constraintsconstraints

EconomicLimits the resource potential by incorporating cost informationLimits the resource potential by incorporating cost information, such as harvest, transportation, and processing costs. The final outcome of this type of assessment is a supply curve either at the field or forest edge or the delivered product (MWh/liters)


Methods and Tools

• ModelingModeling• Surveys • Geospatial technologies such as remoteGeospatial technologies, such as remote

sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS)y ( )


Methods and Tools (cont.)

Modelingg• Models are simplified frameworks designed to illustrate a

system or process often using mathematical techniques to facilitate calculations or predictions

• Models (linear, dynamic, or geospatial) integrate various factors to asses resource availability

• Models’ complexity and the modeling technique depends upon the data available and the needs of the assessmentthe data available and the needs of the assessment

• The most commonly used modeling technique in biomass resource assessments is the statistical analysis: applying assumptions and factors that relate agricultural, industrial andassumptions and factors that relate agricultural, industrial and demographic statistics to the amount of residue (crop to residue ratio and per capita residue generation)



SurveysSurveys• Data is collected on site, via questionnaires, and

face-to-face or telephone interviews • Very valuable in specific site evaluations, but not

practical for broad scale inventoryOft d t lid t d l d i d ti t• Often used to validate model derived estimates

• It is a time-consuming, labor-intensive, and therefore costly procedure, even with today’s satellitecostly procedure, even with today s satellite communication technology (GPS)



Irrigated land in Nebraska, US

Remote sensinganalyzes land use patterns using aerial photography or satellite imagery. Useful in measuring and monitoring biomass density and productivity.y p y


Rice fields inThailand


Geographic Information Systems (GIS) integrates and analyzes multipleand analyzes multiple layers of information to illustrate spatial patterns and relationshipsand relationships. Useful in quantifying the resources, screening and site location analysessite location analyses.


Biomass Resource Assessment – U.S.Agricultural residues

– Plant based (crop residues) – Animal based (methane emissions

from manure management)from manure management) Wood residues

– Forest residues – Primary mill residues

Secondary mill residues– Secondary mill residues – Urban wood residues

Municipal Discards – Methane emissions from landfills

Methane emissions from domestic– Methane emissions from domestic wastewater treatment

Dedicated Energy Crops Case Studies – Conservation Reserve Program

(CRP) lands(CRP) lands – Abandoned mine lands – Brownfields

More information available at


More information available athttp://www.nrel.gov/gis/biomass.html

Biomass Resource Assessment - Liberia

• Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Liberia Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)

• Estimate the biomass resources currently available in Liberiaand their contribution for power generation andtransportation fuels production:

! Agricultural resources (food and cash crop residues, animal manure)

! Forest resources (logging residues)! Urban resources (MSW)

• Evaluate expansion of key biomass resources in Liberia (oil palm, coconut, and sugarcane) and the potential of Jatropha Curcas as an energy crop

• Discuss socio-economic and environmental implications of biomass resource development in Liberia

More information available athttp://www nrel gov/docs/fy09osti/44808 pdf


http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy09osti/44808.pdf

Biomass Resource Assessment on Marginal Lands in APEC Economies

Funded by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

The project identifies the marginal lands available in the APEC region and evaluate their potential for biofuels feedstocktheir potential for biofuels feedstock production

Marginal lands are lands characterized with li t d h i l h t i tipoor climate and physical characteristics

(soil and topography), difficult to cultivate:• Limited rainfall • Extreme temperatures• Low quality soil• Steep slopes

More information availablehtt // l /d /f 10 ti/46209 df


http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy10osti/46209.pdf

Ongoing Biomass Resource Assessments

Algae resource assessment in India:Algae resource assessment in India:Evaluate climate conditions, availability of CO2 and other nutrients, water resources, and land characteristics (topography, use and stewardship), infrastructure and labor availability to identify areas in India suitable forinfrastructure, and labor availability to identify areas in India suitable for algae production

Afghanistan biomass resource assessment:Afghanistan biomass resource assessment:The study will assess the biomass resources currently and potentially available in the country to support power generation and/or biofuels productionp


Integrated Analysis and Decision Support Tools

Integrated analysis combines resources infrastructureIntegrated analysis combines resources, infrastructure, demographic and socio-economic information to support strategic development:

• Site-suitability analysis (find best locations to site biorefineries or algae farms)

• On-site analysis (estimate biomass resource availability and ibilit ithi t i di f it )accessibility within a certain radius of a site)

Design and build tools that visualize and analyze bioenergy related information to support decision-gy ppmaking processes



Biofuels Tool – An interactive application that shows the current status and potential for biofuels production and use on a state-level basis


http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/sabre/sabre.php


Biopower Tool – An interactive application allowing users to view resources, infrastructure, and other relevant information, as well as query the data and conduct simple analyses


http://rpm.nrel.gov/biopower/biopower/launch

Thank you!

Anelia [email protected]

303-275-4633


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