Biomass & BioenergyPotential and Technology

Claus Felby, Forest & Landscape, University of Copenhagen

Forestry and agriculture converts solar energy, water and CO2 to biomass

Bioenergy

Energy consumption and reserves 2005 –Gton oil Equivalent

Consumpt.per year

Reserves Years left

Natural gas 2.5 162 65

Oil 3.8 156 41

Coal 2.9 454 155

Σ Fossil 9.2 772 84

Biomass 0.96 56/year 10E9?

Terrestial biomass potential 2.5-11

Full speed ahead on bioenergy industry and technology!

•Biogas has been running for more than 20 years

•Biodiesel is an established industry

•1st generation bioethanol is an established industry

•2nd generation bioethanol in commercial scale within 5 years

•New technologies for 3 gen. on the shelf

But without biomass no bioenergy!

’Green’ Reaction to biofuels

Biofuels 'crime against humanity‘UN report

For environmental groups like Friends of the Earth, it's a ‘no brainer’.

BUT, -there are many ways of making biofuels!

The basic limitation is the available land area

Forest; 4

Forest lands; 1,4P asture; 4,6

Crops; 1,5

Waste land; 0,5Bioenergy; 0,01

Forest; 4

Forest lands; 1,4Pasture; 4,5

Crops; 1,45

Waste land; 0,5

Bioenergy; 0,15

Humans

Energy Livestock

Ecosystem

2008

2020

Area in Gha

Bioenergy carriers: Solid, liquid and gas

Solid fuels for heat & power

Liquid fuels for transportation

Gaseous fuels for transportation andheat & power

The biosphere is made from sugarThe biosphere is made from sugar

•Plants store solar energy as sugar

•75% of plants are sugar

•The sugars in plants are mainly found as polymers. To convert sugar we need monomers

•Two types of sugars:

•Nutritional sugars –starch and succrose

•Constructional sugars –cellulose and hemicellulose

The use of bioenergy

1 ton of biomass

Solid fuels Overall efficiency 65%

Net area use 1

BioethanolOverall efficiency 60-65%

Net area use 0.2-0.7

BTL Overall efficiency 45-65%

Net area use 1

• Heat & power

• CO2

• Ethanol• Feed• Heat &

power

• CO2

• Diesel• Heat &

power

• CO2

BiogasOverall efficiency 50-75%

Net area use 1

• Methane• Heat &

power

• CO2

What about plant oils for What about plant oils for biodiesel?biodiesel?

•Easy to make (pressing)•100% compatible with existing engines•Can be used in existing infrastructures•Less harmfull particles compared to fossil diesel•But only 900 l/ha and 4 year rotation•Poor land use!

Integration of conversion technologies

BiogasConverts 40-80% of the biomass

Solid biofuelConverts 100% of the biomass

BioethanolConverts 70-80% of the biomass

Feed

Bioenergy technology development

Land area needed to supply the danish transport sector(figures not corrected for feed production)

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Biodiesel 1 G wheat 2 G wheat 2 G grass 3 G algea

Technology

Mill

ha

Danish agricultural area

CO2 ranking

- +No reductionof greenhouse gases

Large reductionof greenhouse gases

Palmoilbiodiesel

Rape seedbiodiesel

Cornbioethanol

Wheatbioethanol

Straw bioethanol

Biomass for heat & power

Bioenergy from algea

New Energy carriers

Animal fatbiodiesel

2 G sugarcanebioethanol

1 G Sugarcanebioethanol

Biogas

Why biofuels? Is it more efficient to produce heat and power?

•Difference between technical or economical efficency.

•Need for a balance between energy and food –we can’t just burn it all

•1 billion cars! A 747 on steam and batteries?

•Alternatives to biomass for heat & power: Wind, waves, nuclear, hydro etc.

•We need the technology behind liquid fuels

•The optimal situation is a mix of solid and liquid biofuels

6 to do’s in order to reach the land of milk, honey and bioenergy

1. High yield agricultural systems2. Efficient conversion

technologies3. Technologies should conserve

protein4. Sustainable production by

perennial crops5. Mantain or increase soil carbon

levels 6. Find the balance between

humans, energy and livestock

There is no silver bullet technology

We need:Wind mills, fuel cells, bio-hydrogen, wave power, liguid biofuels, hydro power, geothermal power, nuclear fussion and fission, solar photovoltaic cells, solar heat collectors, biomass from forests & fields, algae farms etc.....

The food and energy fields of the future: KU´s experimental farm in Tåstrup

In 2050; 50% more people and 100% more cars

=?

Your harvest depends on your seed!

Some plants are better solar collectors!

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Sugar cane Sugar beet Potatoes Wheat Corn

% s

ola

r co

nve

rsio

n

C4

C3

The energy field 2015 -Ethanol, heat, electricity and feed

Reduced leaching higher biodiversity!

Willow for heat andpower on 10% of the area

Balanced feed production both energy- and protein feed

Perennial grass for silage6-7000 t ethanol pr. ha

To supply the danish transport sector we need 0,9 mill ha

Sugar technology for bioethanol

Two roads to bioethanol: 1st og 2nd generation

1 generation : Just kernels and sugar

2 generation: The whole plant

2 gen.

1 gen.

Basic Ethanol ProcesBasic Ethanol Proces

Pretreatment (release of sugars)

Hydrolysis(breakdown to fermentable sugars)

Fermentation

Destillation

Ethanol

CO2

Feed (VinasseDistillers grain)

Enzymer

Feed molasses

The IBUS Concept ––Energy systems integrationEnergy systems integration

High quality solid biofuel

Surplus steam

StrawGrainWholecropMolasseBagasseSugar caneHousehold waste

CO2 reduction in the transport sector 170%

Bioethanol: What do you get from 1 ha?Multiple use

2. Generation1 ha landbrugsjord med

foderhvede kan producere

3500 Feeed units

1,9 tons of ”coal”

3600 kg Ethanol

To supply the danish transport sector we need 1,6 mill ha

1. Generation1 ha landbrugsjord med

foderhvede kan producere

7,5 tons of ”coal”

Bioethanol: What do you get from 1 ha?Single use

Biodiesel from vegetable oils

Biodiesel: What do you get from 1 ha?

Biodiesel1 ha landbrugsjord med raps

kan producere

2800 Feed units

2,4 tons of ”coal”

900 kg Diesel

To supply the danish transport sector we need 13 mill ha

Possibilities?

How far can agriculture and technology lead us?

Year 2032:•40-50% of out transport fuels from

biomass•Balanced production of food, feed and

energy•Improved energy efficiency in all

sectors

Bioenergy yes or no?

Sustainability: Intensive or extensive agriculture for energy production?

•Should we reduce the use of nitrogen fertilizers?

•The largest amount of energy is used for conversion, not agriculture

•The technologies are under contineous development

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Fertilizers Energy in Energy out

2 gen. bioethanol output energi, sammen-holdt med energiforbrug til gødning (hvede)

Do we have enough space for bioenergy?

Energy ratios – animals or energy?

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1 gen. ethanol

CHP wheat

2 gen. ethanol

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70% of our agriculture is used to feed animals

CHP wood

Food of the Western world

Conclusions

•We need biomass for energy, materials and chemicals

•Delicate balance between humans, animals and energy

•20% or more of our energy supply will come from biomass

•Avoid oil crops for biodiesel

•Large advantages for environment, climate, biodiversity and economy if we choose the right technology

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Rape Wheat Grass

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