NREL Biomass and Biofuels ExperienceAndy Aden, PESenior Research EngineerNation Renewable Energy Laboratory

August 16, 2009g ,

1

Energy Efficiency & Renewable EnergyEnergy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Technology Development Programs

oP

ortfo

lioL

R&

D P

Efficient Energy Use• Vehicle Technologies• Building Technologies

Energy Delivery & Storage

• Electricity

Renewable Resources• Wind• Solar

NR

EL

g g• Industrial

TechnologiesTransmission & Distribution

• Alternative Fuels • Hydrogen Delivery

So a• Biomass• Geothermal

• Hydrogen Delivery and Storage

Foundational Science

Bi F d t k I t di t Transportation FuelsBiomass Feedstocks

Lignocellulosic

Intermediates

Syn GasGasification

Transportation FuelsEthanol &

Mixed Alcohols

Diesel*

Catalytic synthesis

FT synthesis

Fermentation

gBiomass (wood, agri, waste, grasses, etc.)

y

Bio-OilsPyrolysis & Liquefaction

ese

Methanol

Gasoline*

Diesel*

MeOH synthesis

HydroCracking/Treating

MTG

Ag residues,(stover, bagasse)

Lignin Gasoline* & Diesel*Catalytic upgrading

Sugar/Starch Crops(corn, sugar cane, etc.) SugarsHydrolysis

Diesel*

Gasoline*

Hydrogen

APP

Catalytic pyrolysis

APR

Natural Oils( l t l )

Ethanol, Butanol, Hydrocarbons

Biodiesel

Fermentation

Transesterification

National Renewable Energy

(plants, algae)

* Blending Products

Green dieselHydrodeoxygenation

Biomass Program Mission and ObjectivesBiomass Program Mission and ObjectivesProgram Mission

Develop and transform our renewable and abundant, non food biomass reso rces into s stainable costnon-food, biomass resources into sustainable, cost-competitive, high-performance biofuels.

Focus on targeted research, development, and demonstrationdemonstration

• Support through public and private partnerships

• Deploy in integrated biorefineriesDeploy in integrated biorefineriesProgram Performance Goals

• Make cellulosic ethanol cost competitive at a modeled cost for mature technology: $1 76/gallon by 2012$1.76/gallon by 2012

• Help create an environment conducive to maximizing production and use of biofuels, 21 billion gallons of advanced biofuels per year by 2022 (EISA)

U.S. Biomass Resource Assessment• Updated resource assessment April 2005• Updated resource assessment - April 2005• Jointly developed by U.S. DOE and USDA• Referred to as the “Billion Ton Study”

Taken from ORNL & USDA Resource Assessment Study by Perlach et.al. (April 2005) http://www.eere.energy.gov/biomass/pdfs/final_billionton_vision_report2.pdf

In 2008, the Biomass Program, Sun Grant Initiative universities, and USDA selected, and in some cases established the first round of replicated field trials of corn stover removal and dedicated herbaceous energy crops.

This map shows the selected locations and types of crops.

Commercial developmentCommercial development

Early Stage: Simple spreadsheet,

Appropriate Level of Analysis for Project Stage of Development

y gback of the envelope estimates

Mid Stage: Industry-relevant ASPENPlus™ process simulation

Early Stage: Simple cash flow analysis

Mid Stage: Discounted cash fl t f t l i

R&D

Kinetic modeling and regression analysis tools

flow rate of return analysis

ConceptualProcess Material and

Energy Balance

Capital and Project Cost Economic

AnalysisDesign Energy Balance Estimates Analysis

National Renewable Energy 8

Environmental / Sustainability

Analysis

Biochemical Conceptual Design ReportBiochemical Conceptual Design Report Drives R&D Direction

EnzymeProduction (Currently being updated)

Co-f t ti P d tE ti

(Currently being updated)

Hybrid Saccharification & Fermentation - HSF

Pretreatment Conditioning fermentationof C5 & C6

Sugars

ProductRecovery Ethanol

EnzymaticHydrolysis

By-productsResidue

Processing

• Conceptual design of a 2,000 tonnes/day commercial plant –one possible tech package, not optimized• NREL pilot plant based on this process

• Basis for connecting R&D targets to cost targetsg g g• Has undergone rigorous peer review

• Basis for comparison against other technology options

Technical Achievements Translate into Cost Savings

FY08 Bi h i l St t f T h l$7.00

$6.47

FY08 Biochemical State of Technology (yr $2007 actual)

$5.00

$6.00

per g

allo

n) Feedstock Conversion

$4.00

ng P

rice

(200

7$

$2.00

$3.00

m E

than

ol S

ellin $2.85

$2.69 $2.61 $2.36

$1.98 $1 68d

in F

Y07

$1.00Min

imum

$1.68 $1.49

FY06

Incl

uded

$0.002001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

NREL Pilot Plant Capabilities

1 ton per day biochemicalbatch & continuous pretreatmentenzymatic hydrolysisfermentation (9000L)DistillationSeparations

0.5 ton per day thermochemicalGasificationPyrolysis

National Renewable Energy

Tar ReformingSyngas cleanupFuel synthesis

Thermochem Conceptual DesignFeed

Processing and Handling

Thermochem Conceptual Design Report Drives R&D Targets

Products

Gasification

I di t

Gas Cleanup

High T

Gas Conditioning Fuel Synthesis Heat&

Indirect High T Separation Collection/Fractionation Upgrading Power

Indirect Gasification and Mixed Alcohol Synthesis

• Conceptual design of a 2000 tonnes/day commercial plant

• NREL pilot plant based on this process

B i f ti R&D t t t t t t• Basis for connecting R&D targets to cost targets

• Has undergone rigorous peer review

Fast Pyrolysis and Bio-oil as Feed to Power Plant or Petroleum Refinery

Bio-oil is is comprised of many oxygenated organic chemicals, with water miscible and oil miscible fractions

y

Dark brown mobile liquid,Combustible,N t 100% i ibl ith h d bNot 100% miscible with hydrocarbons,Modest heating value ~ 17 MJ/kg,High density ~ 1.2 kg/l,A idi H 2 5Acidic, pH ~ 2.5,Pungent odour,“Ages” - viscosity increases with time

Based on research at NREL (1990 - 2006)

Stage of Development of Biofuels Technologiesg p gCompared to Penetration of Conventional Fuels

R&D MarketEntry

DemonstrationInitial System Refined Commercial

MarketPenetrationBiofuel y

Prototypes Prototypes Prototypes

Ethanol fromCorn/Sugarcane

Ethanol from htt // 1 /bi / 2012 – few 700 tons/dayEthanol fromlignocellulosics

Biodiesel

Renewable

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/ 2012 few 700 tons/day start commercial operation

RenewableDiesel

Bio Syn-Gas Liquid Fuels

Heat & Power

Conventional

Bio-Oil Fuels

Ren. Diesel from Algae

Chemicals

Specialties

National Renewable Energy

from AlgaeSugars to

Hydrocarbons

Key challenges facing the biofuels industryKey challenges facing the biofuels industry1. The “Blend Wall”

E10 market will soon be saturated and E85 market is very small E10 market will soon be saturated and E85 market is very small and stagnant

Even if E20 blends are allowed, market is limited Advanced biofuels key for expanding markets and achieving Advanced biofuels key for expanding markets and achieving

societal benefits

2. Cost Competitive Cellulosic Biofuels

Current “credit crunch” affects entire industry

3. Sustainability

Land use change / availability Water use / water quality GHG / Climate change

16

Life Cycle Assessment

A H li ti d Ri A h + Water Use/RecycleA Holistic and Rigorous Approachto Answer Sustainability Questions

y+ Land Use

+ Land Use Change+ Direct/Indirect Impacts

+ Biodiversity…

emissions emissionswaste materials

ExtractionWastedisposal

non-renewable

energy

energy net emissions

emissionsemissionsraw materials energy

energy

energy

process

final product

Intermediatefeedstock

IntermediatefeedstockProcess Process

Processof

Interest

non-renewable materials

emissions

emissions

emissions raw materialsenergy

energy energyIntermediatefeedstock

ProcessExtractionprocessemissions p

Life cycle system boundary

Relative Emissions Impacts

GHG Impacts

Relative Emissions Impacts

CO PlantsWet DGSWet DGS

Reduction36%

Greenhouse gas emissions of fuels vary by feedstockand by type of energy used for processing.

Algae

Microalgae

60%Triglyceride

CO2

Cultivation Ponds

40%Carbohydrates

and Protein

Jet Fuel (JP-8)

• Ethanol• Power• F d

Green Diesel

National Renewable Energy

• Food

Thank You for theThank You for the Opportunity

Are there any Questions ?Are there any Questions ?