Bioenergy Bioenergy for for the the Consumer Consumer Susan Powers, PhD, Clarkson Susan Powers, PhD, Clarkson University University Scott Gordon, PhD, Green Scott Gordon, PhD, Green Technologies, LLC Technologies, LLC Jock Gill, Vermont Grass Energy Jock Gill, Vermont Grass Energy Collaborative Collaborative
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Grass pelletsGrass pelletsPowerPower– From the gridFrom the grid
BiofuelBiofuel– BiodieselBiodiesel– Green dieselGreen diesel– EthanolEthanol
UsesUses– Home heatingHome heating– TransportationTransportation– ElectricityElectricity– Industrial heating, Industrial heating,
combined heat and combined heat and powerspowers
Example Conversion TechnologiesExample Conversion Technologies
Wood* ConversionWood* Conversion
– Direct combustionDirect combustion
– High efficiency High efficiency combustioncombustion
– GasificationGasification
– FermentationFermentation
Energy ProductsEnergy Products
– HeatHeat
– Combined heat and Combined heat and powerpower
– Green dieselGreen diesel
– EthanolEthanol
* the “original” bioenergy source; “nature’s oldest renewable energy source”the “original” bioenergy source; “nature’s oldest renewable energy source”
Wide variety in processes can result in a wide range of products; Just like petroleum!
But outdoor wood boilers?But outdoor wood boilers?
OWBs may be among the dirtiest and least economical modes of heatingProperly operated, OWBs emit more fine particulate matter pollution– 4 times more than conventional wood stoves, – 12 times more than EPA-certified wood stoves, – 1000 times more than oil furnaces, – 1800 times more than gas furnaces.
Fine particulate matter pollution has both short-term and long-term health effects.
(Elliot Spitzer, 2005)
Economics – Supply and DemandEconomics – Supply and Demand
Rural areas Rural areas – Less demandLess demand– Faced with smaller supply of bioenergy Faced with smaller supply of bioenergy
productsproducts
ExampleExample– Wood pellets 2006Wood pellets 2006– Many pellet stoves sold Many pellet stoves sold
but limited supply of pelletsbut limited supply of pellets
– Curran Renewable Energy LLC, Massena, Curran Renewable Energy LLC, Massena, proposed wood pellet facilityproposed wood pellet facility
St. Lawrence, St. Lawrence, Franklin, Franklin, Essex, Essex, Clinton Co.Clinton Co.
Current Ethanol SupplyCurrent Ethanol Supply
Ethanol added to Ethanol added to gasoline for gasoline for transportationtransportation
E10 required as E10 required as oxygenate in gasolineoxygenate in gasoline
Planned ethanol Planned ethanol production facilitiesproduction facilities
ProposedProposed
E85
Creating the DemandCreating the Demand
Identify customer base Identify customer base – Who is the “consumer”?Who is the “consumer”?
Advocate for increased Advocate for increased use of bioenergyuse of bioenergy
Vote and consumeVote and consumeknowledgeablyknowledgeably
IndustriesAssociated CollegesFleet Transporters
Small BusinessesK-12 institutions
Home-owner
The continuing role of politicsThe continuing role of politics
Pres. Bush and Gov. PatakiPres. Bush and Gov. Pataki– Ethanol advocatesEthanol advocates– Mostly corn, some from cellulosicsMostly corn, some from cellulosics tax incentives for new production, fuel tax tax incentives for new production, fuel tax
creditscredits
Gov. SpitzerGov. Spitzer– ““Spitzer's Silence on Ethanol Fight Speaks Spitzer's Silence on Ethanol Fight Speaks
Volumes " (April 19, 2007)Volumes " (April 19, 2007)– B-20 tax credit at sale – expires June 30, 2007B-20 tax credit at sale – expires June 30, 2007
Doing it rightDoing it right
SUSTAINABILITYSUSTAINABILITY– People, prosperity and planetPeople, prosperity and planet
Use bioenergy in a manner that Use bioenergy in a manner that – Does not negatively impact human conditionDoes not negatively impact human condition– Recognizes the limits to the Earth’s capacity Recognizes the limits to the Earth’s capacity
to renew itselfto renew itself– Concentrates on LOCAL supply and demand Concentrates on LOCAL supply and demand
as much as possibleas much as possible
Conservation most importantConservation most important
Sue’s Opinions on Sue’s Opinions on SustainableSustainable Bioenergy in NNYBioenergy in NNY
We have a great capacity for forest and We have a great capacity for forest and dedicated crop biomass productiondedicated crop biomass production
We should expand local resource We should expand local resource utilization and bioenergy economyutilization and bioenergy economy– Biomass harvest / growthBiomass harvest / growth– Biomass conversionBiomass conversion– Bioenergy product distribution and useBioenergy product distribution and use
We should approach increased utilization We should approach increased utilization of corn-based ethanol very cautiouslyof corn-based ethanol very cautiously
Learning MoreLearning More
TonightTonight– Scott Gordon – BiodieselScott Gordon – Biodiesel– Jock Gill – PelletsJock Gill – Pellets– Bill Olsen – Wood gasificationBill Olsen – Wood gasification