Bioenergy FAQs
What is biomass?
Biomass is any organic material made from plants or animals. Domestic biomass resources include agricultural and forestry residues, municipal solid wastes, industrial wastes, and terrestrial and aquatic crops grown solely for energy purposes.
Biomass can be converted to other usable forms of energy and is an attractive petroleum alternative for a number of reasons. First, it is a renewable resource that is more evenly distributed over the Earth's surface than are finite energy sources, and may be exploited using more environmentally friendly technologies.
Agriculture and forestry residues, and in particular residues from paper mills, are the most common biomass resources used for generating electricity and power, including industrial process heat and steam, as well as for a variety of biobased products. Use of liquid transportation fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, however, currently derived primarily from agricultural crops, is increasing dramatically.
What are biofuels?
Biofuels are any fuel derived from biomass. Agricultural products specifically grown for conversion to biofuels include corn and soybeans. R&D is currently being conducted to improve the conversion of non-grain crops, such as switchgrass and a variety of woody crops, to biofuels.
The energy in biomass can be accessed by turning the raw materials of the feedstock, such as starch and cellulose, into a usable form. Transportation fuels are made from biomass through biochemical or thermochemical processes. Known as biofuels, these include ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, biocrude, and methane.
What is ethanol? What is the difference between E10 and E85?
Ethanol is the most widely used biofuel today. Also known as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol, it can be used either as an alternative fuel or as an octane-boosting, pollution-reducing additive to gasoline. It is an alcohol fuel made from sugars and starch found in plants. In the U.S., ethanol is primarily produced from the starch contained in grains such as corn, grain sorghum, and wheat through a fermentation and distillation process that converts starch to sugar and then to alcohol.
Currently, a majority of ethanol is made from corn, but new technologies are being developed to make ethanol from other agricultural and forestry resources such as:
- corn stover (stalks and residues left over after harvest);
- grain straw;
- switchgrass;
- quick growing tree varieties, such as poplar or willow; and
- municipal wastes.
Ethanol can be blended with gasoline in varying quantities to reduce the consumption of petroleum fuels, as well as to reduce air pollution. It is increasingly used as an oxygenate additive for standard gasoline, as a replacement for methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE), which is responsible for groundwater and soil contamination.
Most of today's commercially available vehicles can run on blends of E10, a blend of 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline, or lower. E10 is the most common low concentration blend. Many areas of the country mandate its use as a replacement for MTBE.
Ethanol can be blended with gasoline to create E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Due to the corrosive affects of E85, because of its high alcohol content, traditional vehicles cannot use E85. Flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) have engines modified to accept higher concentrations of ethanol. Such flexible-fuel engines are designed to run on any mixture of gasoline or ethanol with up to 85 percent ethanol by volume.
What is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel produced from domestic, renewable resources such as new and used vegetable oils and animal fats. Biodiesel is primarily produced through base catalyzed transesterification. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics. Biodiesel can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel.
What are biobased products?
Today, petroleum is refined to make chemical feedstocks used in thousands of products. Many of these petroleum-based feedstocks could be replaced with value-added chemicals produced from biomass to then manufacture clothing, plastics, lubricants, and other products.
Biobased chemicals and materials are commercial or industrial products, other than food and feed, derived from biomass feedstocks. Biobased products include green chemicals, renewable plastics, natural fibers and natural structural materials. Many of these products can replace products and materials traditionally derived from petrochemicals, but new and improved processing technologies will be required.
What is biopower?
Biopower, or biomass power, is the use of biomass to generate electricity, or heat and steam required for the operation of a refinery. Biopower system technologies include direct-firing, cofiring, gasification, pyrolysis, and anaerobic digestion.
Most biopower plants use direct-fired systems. They burn biomass feedstocks directly to produce steam. This steam drives a turbine, which turns a generator that converts the power into electricity. In some biomass industries, the spent steam from the power plant is also used for manufacturing processes or to heat buildings. Such combined heat and power systems greatly increase overall energy efficiency. Paper mills, the largest current producers of biomass power, generate electricity or process heat as part of the process for recovering pulping chemicals.
How much biofuels are produced in the U.S. today?
According to the Renewable Fuels Association, the U.S. produced 5.4 billion gallons of ethanol in 2007. As of March 2008, U.S. ethanol production capacity was at 7.2 billion gallons, with an additional 6.2 billion gallons of capacity under construction.
As of January 2008, annual U.S. biodiesel production capacity was 2.24 billion gallons according to the National Biodiesel Board.
Use and Availability of Biofuels
Where can I buy biofuels?
Ethanol blends of E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline) can be and are sold at gasoline fueling stations across the U.S. Ethanol in higher blends, such as E85, is also sold at gasoline fueling stations across the U.S., but requires modified fueling equipment.
Similarly, some diesel fueling stations across the U.S. also supply biodiesel in various blends.
Are biofuels more expensive than their petroleum-based counterparts?
Because the cost of any type of fuel - gasoline, diesel, ethanol, biodiesel - varies over time due to a variety of market, political, and production factors, it is difficult to say at any one time whether or not biofuels are sold for more or less than traditional petroleum-based fuels in the marketplace. On average, biofuels are generally comparable to traditional fuels in sales price, although they may be higher or lower at times, depending on gasoline and diesel prices. The non-monetary benefits of biofuels - such as environmental, national security, and local economy benefits - may also be taken into consideration by the consumer, even if they are not reflected in the cost of biofuels versus traditional fuels.
Will I get lower gas mileage with ethanol-blended fuels than with traditional gasoline?
The ethanol blends used today have little impact on fuel economy or vehicle performance:
- Ethanol has the highest octane rating of any fuel
- On a gallon-for-gallon basis, ethanol delivers less energy than gasoline. However, today's vehicles are designed to run on gasoline blended with ethanol in small amounts (up to 10%) with no perceptible effect on fuel economy
- Flex-fuel vehicles designed to run on higher ethanol blends experience reduced miles per gallon, but these engines can be tuned to minimize detrimental effects on fuel economy
Can ethanol be transported, stored, and dispensed within existing petroleum infrastructure?
Lower ethanol blends, such as E10, are currently mixed with gasoline and transported, stored, and dispensed in existing infrastructure. Higher ethanol blends, such as E85, however, require separate infrastructure because E85 cannot be used in all vehicles, and because E85 can corrode some materials. In many cases, existing petroleum fuel infrastructure can be used to transport and store E85, as long as they are properly cleaned and the fuels are not mixed. Special E85-compatible pump dispensers are available, and can be incorporated into existing fueling stations. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, and National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition jointly published the Handbook for Handling, Storing, and Dispensing E85, which contains more detail on this issue.
Production and Technology
How are biofuels created from plant material?
How a fuel is produced from plant materials can depend on a variety of factors, including the feedstock (or biomass plant material) being used and the fuel one desires to produce. For more information on the types of biomass feedstock available and the types of fuels that can be produced from them see the Office of the Biomass Program Biomass Feedstocks website.
Ethanol and biodiesel are the two most common types of biofuels. There are two primary types of conversion methods used to produce ethanol from biomass resources:biochemical conversion and thermochemical conversion . Biochemical conversion refers to the process where biomass is separated into its component parts, starch and cellulose. In water, both starch and cellulose can be broken down further to multiple sugars, which can than be fermented to produce ethanol. Thermochemical conversion heats the feedstock with no oxygen to produce synthesis gas (syngas). The syngas can be fermented to produce ethanol.
In the U.S., biodiesel is produced from the oil in soy beans, canola, and other agricultural products. The oils from the plant material are reacted with methanol to produce methyl esters (commonly known as biodiesel) and glycerin. For every 100 lbs of biodiesel produced approximately 10 lbs of glycerin is produced; glycerin is an ingredient in hand lotions and soaps.
Does the U.S. have enough biomass resources to displace petroleum with biofuels without negative impacts to the food supply?
A joint study conducted by the Departments of Energy and Agriculture, the Billion Ton Study (PDF 5.5 MB), estimates that 1.3 billion tons of biomass feedstock is potentially available in the U.S. for the production of biofuels. This is enough biomass feedstock to displace approximately 30 percent of current gasoline consumption on a sustainable basis.
Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Chief Economist (PDF 53 KB), as well as the National Corn Growers Association, have recently testified to Congress that they do not foresee proposed increases in ethanol production having a negative impact on the availability of corn and other grains for food purposes.
The development of technologies to convert cellulosic feedstocks (or non-grain based resources that are not used for food purposes, such as switchgrass, agricultural residues, and wood resources) will make it possible to produce biofuels at levels that will meet the various goals described above from feedstocks that are not competing with other uses.
What other materials can be produced from biomass?
Biomass can be used to produce any number of common products based on the feedstock (or biomass plant material) chosen. Specific products include but are not limited to plastics, polymers, carpets, fabrics, detergents, fabrics, and lubricants.
The Office of the Biomass Program "Top Value Added Chemicals from Biomass (Volume 1)" study (PDF 1.4 MB) provides an extensive list of potential products and intermediate chemicals that can be commercially produced from biomass.
Does ethanol require more energy to produce than it delivers as a fuel?
Each gallon of corn ethanol produced today delivers as much as 67 percent more energy than is used to produce the ethanol. The amount of energy used to produce corn ethanol has decreased significantly over the last two decades due to improved farming techniques, more efficient use of fertilizers & pesticides, higher-yielding crops, and advances in conversion technologies.
The focus of the Biomass Program is on the development of cellulosic biofuels. Cellulosic ethanol has an even higher energy balance than corn ethanol, delivering four to six times as much energy as is necessary to produce it.
Does ethanol result in more or less greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline?
Ethanol results in fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than gasoline. The higher the amount of ethanol blended with gasoline the lower the resulting GHG emissions. Cellulosic ethanol has the potential to reduce GHG emissions by up to 86 percent. Click here for more information on the environmental benefits of biofuels.
Use of ethanol can, however, increase the emissions of some air pollutants due to the fossil energy inputs used for farming and biofuels production. Such emissions can be reduced by using improved farming methods and renewable power in the production process.
Programmatic
What is the R&D focus of the Office of the Biomass Program?
The R&D focus of the Biomass Program is on the development of the integrated biorefinery, which includes both biological and thermochemical conversion processes. Currently, the Program is organized to address the technological R&D needs of each stage in the biorefinery: sustainable feedstock production & logistics, biochemical conversion, thermochemical conversion, and integrated biorefinery development.
Feedstock R&D is focused on ensuring a sustainable biomass supply and on the reduction of biomass harvesting and storage costs. Biochemical conversion R&D is currently the highest priority for the program; it is focused on reducing the cost of producing mixed sugars by overcoming the difficulty of separating biomass into its components (cellulose and lignin). The thermochemical conversion R&D focus is developing technologies that convert the residues from the biochemical conversion process into fuels, heat and chemicals. The focus of integrated biorefinery R&D is the development of cost-effective cellulosic biorefineries.
Additional information on the Office of the Biomass Program R&D focus can be found at the Office of the Biomass Program.
With the President's announcement of the Advanced Energy Initiative (AEI) (PDF 2.6 MB) in the 2006 State of the Union address, and the Twenty in Ten (PDF 50 KB) initiative in the 2007 State of the Union Address, the primary focus of the Program has shifted to achieving the goals of the these initiatives as they relate to alternative fuels.
What is the President's Advanced Energy Initiative?
During the 2006 State of the Union Address, the President announced the Advanced Energy Initiative (AEI). The AEI aims to reduce the nation's reliance on foreign sources of energy by addressing two areas: 1) Changing the way we fuel our vehicles, and 2) Changing the way we power our homes and businesses.
AEI Goals for the way we fuel our vehicles are:
- Develop advanced battery technologies that allow a plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle to have a 40-mile range operating solely on battery charge.
- Foster the breakthrough technologies needed to make cellulosic ethanol cost-competitive with corn-based ethanol by 2012.
- Accelerate progress towards the President's goal of enabling large numbers of Americans to choose hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by 2020.
AEI Goals for the way we power our homes and businesses are:
- Complete the President's commitment to $2 billion in clean coal technology research funding, and move the resulting innovations into the marketplace.
- Develop a new Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) to address spent nuclear fuel, eliminate proliferation risks, and expand the promise of clean, reliable, and affordable nuclear energy.
- Reduce the cost of solar photovoltaic technologies so that they become cost-competitive by 2015, and expand access to wind energy through technology.
What is the President's Twenty in Ten Initiative?
During the 2007 State of the Union Address, the President announced the "Twenty in Ten", an effort to reduce U.S. gasoline usage by 20 percent in the next ten years. America will reach the President's goal by:
- Increasing The Supply Of Renewable And Alternative Fuels By Setting A Mandatory Fuels Standard To Require 35 Billion Gallons Of Renewable And Alternative Fuels In 2017 – Nearly Five Times The 2012 Target Now In Law. In 2017, this will displace 15 percent of projected annual gasoline use.
- 2. Reforming and Modernizing Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards for Cars and Extending the Current Light Truck Rule. In 2017, this will reduce projected annual gasoline use by up to 8.5 billion gallons, a further 5 percent reduction that, in combination with increasing the supply of renewable and alternative fuels, will bring the total reduction in projected annual gasoline use to 20 percent.
Investment and Incentives
What resources or incentives are available to support biofuels development?
There are a number of Federal tax credits and refunds available for the production, blending, sale, or use of biofuels. See the IRS Fuel Tax Credits and Refunds page for specifics on the incentives available and how to apply.
The Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center tracks both Federal and State incentives for transportation-related topics, such as alternative fuels and vehicles, air quality, and fuel efficiency.
There are also a variety of state incentives available for renewable energy in general, many of which are biomass-related. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency has information by state.
The Department of Energy makes funding for research and development related to biofuels available via competitive solicitations. All opportunities are publicly available through Grants.gov or the DOE E-Center.
The National Biomass Initiative tracks both State and Federal biomass-related funding opportunities.
What companies are involved in biomass energy/biofuel production?
The best resource for information on both biodiesel and ethanol producers are their respective industry associations:
- The National Biodiesel Board
- The Renewable Fuels Association
- The Biobased Manufacturers' Association
- Other biomass energy trade associations are linked on the OBP website.
The Biomass Program at DOE and the USDA - DOE Biomass Initiative do conduct some projects with industry research partners, awarded via independently assessed competitive solicitations.
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