biofuel projects in the northwest an overview
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Biofuel Projects in the Northwest An Overview. Nikola Davidson October 2, 2008. Who We Represent NW biodiesel and ethanol businesses Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington What We Do Promote the growth of NW biofuels Serve as the voice of the industry. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Biofuel Projects in the Northwest An Overview
Nikola Davidson
October 2, 2008
Who We Represent
NW biodiesel and ethanol businesses
Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington
What We Do
Promote the growth of NW biofuels
Serve as the voice of the industry
Building Successful Biofuel Projects in the Northwest
Biodiesel and Ethanol
• What’s unique about the Northwest• Models that work• Challenges• Opportunities• What’s needed• Future trends
Northwest Biofuels
BiodieselVegetable or fruit oilAnimal fat
EthanolStarch/sugarCellulosic
What’s Unique About the NorthwestSupport for NW Biofuels
– Uniting political and geographical divides– Research
• Labs (PNNL, Batelle, BESL)• Universities (UofI, WSU, Sun Grant, MSU)
– Strong investment in green/clean industry– History of innovation– Consumer use– Policy/tax incentives
• City and state
Successful NW Biofuel Models• Small, distributed biorefineries – scaled to
feedstock
• Multiple feedstocks using flexible technology
• Vertical integration (control of feedstocks)
• Feedstocks with co-products
• Rotation crops that use marginal land, low inputs
• Flexible technology
• Maximize waste streams
• Strategic co-locations
• Valuable processor co-products
What’s Unique About the Northwest
FeedstocksWhat we don’t haveWhat we do haveCompeting with high value crops
BiorefineriesScaleTechnology
Challenges• Feedstock
– Availability– Price– Collection
• Sustainability Concerns– Public support– Policy implications
• Policy Mixed Messages
Cellulosic Ethanol
• Challenges– Technology– Cost– Expensive, volatile
biomass– Distributed feedstock– Transportation costs– Economy of scale
Cellulosic Ethanol
Biofuel Project OpportunitiesBiodiesel
FeedstocksOilseeds (camelina)Algae
Maximize waste streamsUsed cooking oilIndustrial oilTrap greaseTallowGlycerin
Alternative land – airports, highways
Strategic co-locations
Biofuel Project OpportunitiesEthanol
Feedstocks– Other starch-based
• New feedstocks - Russian dandelion, sweet sorghum
• Waste streams – culled potatoes, distressed wheat, blueberry water
– Cellulosic• Switchgrass, hybrid poplars• Forest thinnings• Municipal solid waste• Building on current plants• Pulp and paper mills• Improvements in
harvesting/collecting
Strategic co-locations
Alternative lands
Cellulosic Ethanol
Cellulosic Ethanol
Opportunities - Carbon and Biofuels
• Low Carbon Fuel Standard– Technology neutral– Rewards fuels with
lowest carbon footprint– Metrics to get there –
“brutal”– Watch California
• Carbon credit market
What’s Needed For a Robust Local Industry
• Coordinated state policy– Renewable fuel standard/mandate– Tax credits– Funding for infrastructure (including retail)– Expedited permitting– Incentives for local feedstock production– Mandatory fleet use
• Research in coordination with industry
• Partnership between agricultural community and industry
• Capitalize on capturing carbon credits
Future Trends
• Next generation feedstocks
• Competing technologies
