Comparative Regional Economic Advantages for Cellulosic Feedstocks for Bioenergy Production.

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Comparative Regional Economic Advantages for
Cellulosic Feedstocks for Bioenergy Production.

• Burton C. English

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Use this time to address some questions

• Bioenergy Potential Feedstocks
• Residues or Dedicated Energy Crops?
• What is the UT Switchgrass Project?

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Renewable Energy Feedstocks From Agriculture
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Geographical Competitiveness

• Biomass conversion to energy utilizes a number of
  different feedstocks including agricultural and
  forest residues, mill and urban wastes, and
  dedicated crops. Information on the quantity of
  feedstock supply available at the county level
  exists for prices ranging from 12.50 to 100 per
  dry ton (excluding transportation costs) for
  agricultural and residues, mill and urban wood
  wastes, and switchgrass.

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Geographical Competitiveness

• Agricultural Residues complementary products in
  the production of grain and oilseed crops and
  consists of corn stover and wheat straw derived
  from data supplied by Nelson (2002),
• Forest Residues consist of logging residues and
  other removals,
• Mill Waste by-product resulting from operations
  at primary mills that convert round wood products
  into other wood products generally consisting of
  bark, fine wood residues, and coarse wood
  residues,
• Urban Wood Waste wood contained in municipal
  solid waste streams including such items as
  containers, crates, pallets, furniture yard
  trimmings residential and non-residential
  construction wastes residential and
  non-residential demolition wastes and renovation
  and remodeling wastes, and
• Dedicated energy crops

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Residue composite at 30/dry ton
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Residue composite at 50/dry ton
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25x25 Vision
By the year 2025, Americas farms, ranches and
forests will provide 25 percent of the total
energy consumed in the U.S. while continuing to
produce safe, abundant and affordable food, feed
and fiber.
25x25
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Land Use by Major Use Category, 2002.
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Feedstock for Energy Converted to Energy
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Land Use 2007, 2010, 2015, 2020, and 2025
(million acres)
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Distribution of the Production of Cellulosic
Materials, 2010
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Distribution of the Production of Cellulosic
Materials, 2015
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Distribution of the Production of Cellulosic
Materials, 2020
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Distribution of the Production of Cellulosic
Materials, 2025
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Distribution of the Production of Dedicated
Energy Crop, 2015
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Distribution of the Production of Dedicated
Energy Crop, 2020
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Distribution of the Production of Dedicated
Energy Crop, 2025
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Changes in Farm Income and Government Payments
(million )
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Change in Net Returns -- 2010
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Change in Net Returns -- 2015
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Change in Net Returns -- 2020
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Change in Net Returns -- 2025
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What is switchgrass?

• Native to the United States
• Warm Season Grass
• Managed using common agricultural practices
• High yielding, drought tolerant, and requires
  lower fertilizer and herbicide quantities than
  traditional crops
• Planting-May to early June and can use no-till
  practices
• As a perennial, needs to be planted only once
  every 10 years or more
• Harvested annually, either in a two harvest
  system or a one harvest system after the first
  frost, using conventional hay equipment

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What is the UT Switchgrass Project?

• The switchgrass project has three questions to
  address.
• What incentives are required to induce producers
  to convert commercial cropland to switchgrass?
• What impact would a mature switchgrass feedstock
  industry have on Tennessees economy and the
  Nations agricultural sector?
• What is the potential of converting switchgrass
  to bio-oil for use as light-off fuel in a coal
  fired burner or some other conversion process?

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What incentives are required to induce producers
to convert commercial cropland to switchgrass?

• Several Steps
• Plant 32.5 acres on Experiment Station land
• Develop recommendations from literature and from
  experience
• Contract with producers to grow switchgrass
• Analyze the experiences of the producers and
  those of the experiment station
• Feed information learned into the Second Question
• Use switchgrass grown to develop potential
  bio-energy market

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Experiment

• Video
• Two experiments
• Variety yields
• Seeding Rate X Fertilization Level X Landscape
• Seeding Rate 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 12 pounds per acre
• Fertilization Rates 0, 60, 120, and 180 pounds of
  N
• 4 Different Landscapes

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Switchgrass Yields, 2004-2006
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Switchgrass Yields, 2004-2006
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What incentives are required to induce producers
to convert commercial cropland to switchgrass?

• We also conducted a survey of Tennessee
  producers.
• Found that Currently (pre Bush January 2005
  speech) 29 of producers willing to grow
  switchgrass, 25 would not. The other 45 would
  need additional information before deciding.
• Of the 45, An estimated probit model indicated
  that 75 would likely say yes.

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Questions?