Energy Crops for NC · Wood gas truck. VIDIR BIOMASS INC ... Hydrogen. Carbon Monoxide. Carbon...

transcript

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Energy Crops for NC Dr Nicholas George

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Why pursue alternative fuels?

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

1. Climate change

There is a warming trend across the USA

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Biofuel crops are carbon-neutral.

They are therefore a way to reduce carbon emissions and address climate

change.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

2. Oil depletion

Oil is a finite resource!!!

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

http://www.theoildrum.com/

How long do we have? Predictions vary…

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070

We are here!

My children

My grandchildren

…it will be problem for the next generation, not a problem far in the future!

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Western Society is EXTREMELY dependent on cheap oil!!! The

consequences of running out with no alternative are serious!

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

3. Energy security

www.eia.doe.gov

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

The USA consumes 10 bb/year but has only 210 bb proven reserves (i.e.

20 years)!!!Most of the oil we use comes from unstable nations or those hostile to

the USA.Domestic fuel production will

circumvent this.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

www.eia.doe.gov

NC imports virtually all of it’s fuel. $16 billion a year could be used domestically!

4. Money flow

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Why biofuels and not some other energy source?

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Coal, hydro and nuclear

“Big”, centralized, expensive and environmentally damaging.

These do not produce a liquid fuel!

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Solar and wind

Small-scale, “diffuse” and environmentally benign, but unreliable.

These also do not produce a liquid fuel!

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

HydrogenNon-polluting, but energy intensive to produce, and hard to transport and

store.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Future power???

(i.e. fusion or satellites)

“Big”, expensive or will not be ready before we need them.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Biofuels are potentially better options!

1. Environmentally benign (if done properly).

2. Diffuse & local production.3. Can produce liquid fuels.

4. Readily developed using existing technologies.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

What types of biofuels are there?

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Liquid fuels

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Biodiesel replaces regular diesel1. Easy to manufacture.

2. Biodegradable and non-toxic.

3. Less polluting than regular diesel.

4. Requires no engine modification.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Biodiesel can be produced from any oil or fat

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Ethanol replaces gasoline1. Produced via fermentation and

distillation.2. Acts as an oxygenate.

3. Lower energy density than gasoline.4. Requires some engine modification.5. Problems with transport and storage.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Ethanol is typically produced from starch sources, usually grains.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

SugarCellulose

But there are other sources of alcohol

EthanolSugar

Ethanol

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Sources of cellulose

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Crop residue

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Dedicated biomass crops

Switchgrass Miscanthus

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Wood chips

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Why go to the effort of making cellulosic ethanol?

Higher ethanol yields per acre!!!

Corn 5 tons / acre = 550 gal ethanol

Miscanthus 15 tons / acre = 1500 gal ethanol

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Other biofuels

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Algae produces over 10 times the yield of crops, but infrastructure is intensive

and expensive.

Other biomass sources - Algae

Cellpharm tubular reactor New Mexico State University

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Biomass energy(as opposed to biofuels)

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

VIDIR BIOMASS INCWood gas truck

Biomass gasification

BiomassHydrogen

Carbon MonoxideCarbon Dioxide

Methane

CombustionHEAT

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

www.woodgas.com

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Craven County 50 MW Wood Energy Plant

Biomass combustion

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Important considerations for biofuels production

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

1. Production feasibility

What technology and infrastructure is needed, what is the market for feed stock

and is production economical?

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

ENERGY IN

ENERGY OUT

2. The energy balanceHow much energy does it take to

produce the fuel versus what you get out?

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

http://thefraserdomain.typepad.com

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Fertilizers28%

Diesel27%

Electricity21%

Gasoline9%

Pesticides6%

Natural Gas4% LPG

Energy used on US farms in 2002

DOE/Miranowski 2004

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

3. Are the biofuels being grown in a sustainable fashion?

www.fao.orgwww.uga.edu

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Gasoline 4,327,000,000 gal/year 503 gal/person/year

Diesel 1,244,000,000 gal/year 145 gal/person/year

Fossil Fuel Consumption in North Carolina

4. We can only produce a limited amount of biofuels

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

NC Gasoline Displacement Scenario

Gasoline

Forest Residue

Corn Stover & Wheat Straw

Sw itchgrass on CRP Lands

Hulless Barley

Sw itchgrass on Lagoon/Sprayfields

If we used all these sources we could only displace 17.5% of our gas usage.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

NC Petroleum Diesel Displacement Scenario

Petroleum Diesel

Soybeans

Canola

Peanut, Cotton, Corn Oil

Lard (pig fat)

Poultry Fat

Used Vegetable Oil

Tallow (beef fat)

If we used all these sources we could only displace 15.4% of our diesel usage.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

This DOES NOT mean biofuels are a waste of time!

Energy costs NC $16 billion annually. Displacing a few percent of this equates to

a large amount of money!

It means we also need to save energy and use energy more efficiently

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

What biofuel options exist for Martin County?

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Immediate prospects

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Canola (Brassica napus), also called Rapeseed.

Related to turnip, rutabaga, cabbage, brussels sprouts and mustard.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Biodiesel

rapese

sunflo

werspu

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Canola produces valuable oil and meal highly suitable for livestock feed.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Canola can be produced using more-or- less existing agricultural equipment.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Crop Farmers Net Return over All Specified Costs at Various Commodity prices

Yield/Acre (bushels) Commodity Price ($/bushel)

Wheat $2.25 $2.75 $3.36* $3.75 $4.25

30 -$140 -$120 -$100 -$90 -$8035 -$130 -$110 -$90 -$70 -$6040 -$110 -$90 -$70 -$50 -$3045 -$100 -$80 -$50 -$40 -$1050 -$90 -$70 -$40 -$20 $1055 -$80 -$50 -$20 $0 $3060 -$70 -$40 $0 $20 $5065 -$60 -$30 $10 $40 $7070 -$50 -$10 $30 $60 $90

Yield/Acre (bushels) Commodity Price ($/bushel)

Canola $4.50 $5.00 $5.40* $6.00 $6.50

30 -$90 -$70 -$60 -$40 -$3035 -$70 -$50 -$30 -$10 $040 -$40 -$20 -$10 $20 $4045 -$20 $0 $20 $50 $7050 $0 $30 $50 $80 $10055 $20 $50 $70 $110 $13060 $50 $80 $100 $140 $17065 $70 $100 $130 $170 $20070 $90 $130 $150 $200 $230

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Hulless Barley

Winter crop. Produces similar ethanol yields to corn. Uses around 25% of the energy as corn, achieving a

higher energy balance.Can be grown as a winter cover crop in a

soybean/corn rotation.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Medium to long-term prospects

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Perennial grasses and forest

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Returns per Acre Above All Specified Costs

$30.00 $40.00 $50.00 $60.00 $70.00 $80.00

Crop (Price received for hay ($ / ton))

Switchgrass (biomass) $-116.47 $-66.47 $-16.47 $33.53 $83.53 $133.53

Switchgrass (hay and pasture) $-146.88 $-136.88 $-126.88 $-116.88 $-106.88 $-96.88

Bermudagrass (hay) $-271.79 $-226.79 $-181.79 $-136.79 $-91.79 $-46.79

Bermudagrass (pasture) $-187.83 $-187.83 $-187.83 $-187.83 $-187.83 $-187.83

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Local fuel production

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

On farm fuel production

Average fuel use 9 gal/acre

Average Canola oil production 110 gal/acre

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Area of farm need to “grow” fuel needs is 8%

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Using manure as fertilizer

1. Application of biosolids can result in substantial growth responses for both young seedlings as well as established stands.

2. Biosolids can provide an excellent alternative to chemical fertilizers as a means of enhancing forest production.

3. Growth response is typically greater and lasts longer when compared to chemical fertilization.

Henry et al 1993, Kelty et al 2004, Adegbidi et al 2003

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

“E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Listeria survive 3 months in slurry or 1 month in solid manure

heaps or soil surface.”

Nicholson et al 2005

NC law requires that only crops used for animal feed be grown on sludge-application sites and the permit

requires an 18-month lag between sludge application and growth of crops for human consumption.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

No biosolid Low rate High Rate

Biolsolid application on Pine

Kimberly et al 2004

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Contact:

Dr Nicholas George Biofuels Project Coordinator North Carolina Solar Center & Crop Science Department

North Carolina State University

Cell: 919-452-8894 Email: Nicholas_George@ncsu.edu

Energy Crops for NC · Wood gas truck. VIDIR BIOMASS INC ... Hydrogen. Carbon Monoxide. Carbon...

Documents