[Bioconversion] Usefulness R&D

[Roger Samson]

Gerald/Lewis

 

Of course all of us working in the bioenergy field would be pleased to see
the development of a green economy based on biomass energy products. I find
it disconcerting the lack of progress that has been made. In particular, it
is regrettable to see the US economy headed for collapse with a record trade
deficit of 720 billion dollars.  Energy imports and the high cost of energy
in the US are major factors influencing the decline. A successful biomass
energy program in the US could make a significant difference in improving
both the economic and environmental performance of the US economy. 

 

Lets face it folks the current directions of the US bioenergy programs and
policies are not working. Farmers will be left in penury trying to sell
biomass to the power industry for co-firing with coal at 30% conversion
efficiency. The corn ethanol industry is set for collapse once the US
government runs out of money to subsidize the corn farmers and the ethanol.
The US taxes the entry of low cost ethanol from the tropics to protect the
sugar lobby but allows oil to flow in without tax. The Republicans closed
down the switchgrass energy R and D program which was one of the best
programs in the world on biomass energy development. 

 

The US doesn't have the land resources to grow enough biomass for
electricity, liquid fuels, and heat plus refining liquid fuels into further
co-products. The shot-gun approach using big energy conversion facilities as
a model for the US is a failure. The energetics of these plants in the US
are so bad that they cannot adequately compensate farmers for their biomass.
To make bigger plants work you need to go into areas of the world that have
low opportunity costs for land and have high production potential from
sustainable feedstocks that can be locally accessed.  The best direction for
energy independence in the US and to adequately compensate farmers for their
biomass is through heat and combined heat and power applications. It has the
best fuel cycles and economics and can best pay the farmers a living wage
for the biomass they produce. The US should no longer let the sugar lobby
run over the countries energy policy and allow imports of cellulosic and
cane based ethanol from the tropics where perennial biomass crops (cane and
grasses) and sugars produced from that biomass can be produced at the lowest
cost. 

 

So in sum, the most useful direction for the US would be to focus on a heat
and CHP applications from biomass to replace high grade energy sources in
heat related energy applications. This is the focus in Europe and Canada.
Biogas for transport and other applications could also be emphasized. It can
reduce the trade war with other countries for farm products by opening its
markets to imported liquid fuels. This will create genuine demand
enhancement for the entire agricultural sector. These ideas, along with
redesign and energy efficiency strategies, are the best way the US can
reduce its dependency on increasing oil and LNG gas imports and the
instability it brings.  

 

Roger Samson