1. Biomass Feedstock Sustainability,
Quantity, and Supply Competition
Issues
Marcia Patton-Mallory, PhD
Bioenergy and Climate Change Specialist
US Forest Service/Western Forestry
Leadership Coalition
2010 International Conference on Thermal Treatment
Technologies and Hazardous Waste Combustion
San Francisco, CA
May 18, 2010 1
2. Major Topics:
• Forestry- biomass and forest
management- a model system
• Sustainability- general concepts and
examples
• Bioenergy Feedstock Supply
2
5. Forest Management and
Biomass
• Large volumes of biomass
• Fire risks
• Declining forest health
• Declining infrastructure
• Industry decline
• Offshore investments and
imports
• Worker (capacity) shortage
• Reduced investments
• Markets and barriers
• Cyclic booms and busts
• No markets
• Higher costs
• Very distributed 5
6. Public vs. Private Forests
Land Ownership Matters…
East
West 9% federal
58% federal
6
11. Dimensions of Sustainability
• Economic
– New linkages in markets – energy – food - wood products
– Direct effects (supply, demand, and cost and price)
– International trade
– Jobs in rural areas
• Environmental
– Direct and Indirect land use effects
– Soil health, water quantity and quality, air quality, biodiversity
and habitat, GHG emissions, GMO and invasive species
– Ecosystem services- co-production on a landscape
• Social
– Regional, National, and International
– New Energy Economy- renewable and advanced technology
– Labor rights, land rights and participation
– Energy Security and Food Security
– Cultural and Spiritual Values
11
12. Not all biomass feedstocks are
the same!
• Grain-based (food, feed)
• Sugar-based (food)
• Oil plant (food, oilseeds)
• Cellulosic (herbacious energy crops)
• Cellulosic (woody energy crops)
• Waste recycling (tallow, grease)
• Residues (crop, forest, urban wood
diversion from landfills, C&D waste)
12
13. Key challenges for sustainable
biomass energy production
• Farmer and forest landowner engagement and interest
in sustainability for new industry
• Developing the value proposition for converting to
sustainable biomass production
• Help ensure that sustainability is part of the platform
on which this industry is built
13
Ref: Discussion during DOE Biomass 2009 meeting-http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/biomass_2009_track_1.html
14. Challenges to Sustainability
Production Feedstock
Type
Feedstock Feedstock
Management Location
Address
All
Dimensions
Feedstock
Original
Extent on
Conditions
Landscape
Environmental
Attributes
14
Ref: Dale and Kline, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
15. Challenges to Sustainability
Conversion
Transport of
Feedstock
Transport to Net
Market Energy
Address
All
Dimensions
Location of
Water Use
Refinery
GHG
Emissions
15
Ref: Dale and Kline, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
17. Sustainability Frameworks- examples
• International Dialog
– Global Bioenergy Partnership
– Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels
– EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED)
• National Dialog
– Interagency working group on sustainability
– EISA 2007 Renewable Fuels Standard: Biofuels mandate-
renewable biomass definition
– National Renewable Electricity Standard - dialog in progress
• States
– Best Management Practices (water quality)
– Biomass Harvesting Guidelines
• Certification- Forestry
– Council on Sustainable Biomass Production (bioenergy from non-
food feedstocks)
– SFI and FSC (sustainable forestry certification) 17
18. Example Sustainability Criteria
The Council on Sustainable Biomass Production (CSBP)
• Voluntary sustainability principles and standards for the
production of feedstocks for second generation
biorefineries
• Focus on dedicated fuel crops, crop residues, purpose-
grown wood, and forestry residues in North America
• Full complement of sustainability issues through
principles, criteria, and indicators applicable to both
agriculture and silviculture.
18
Ref: www.csbp.org
19. Example Sustainability Criteria
The Council on Sustainable Biomass Production (CSBP)
Components include:
1. Climate Change
2. Biological Diversity and Productivity
3. Water Quality and Quantity
4. Soil Quality
5. Socio-Economic Well-being
6. Integrated Resource Management Planning
19
Ref: www.csbp.org
20. Example Sustainability Criteria
World Wildlife Foundation
Environmental Social
• Conserve Carbon • Worker’s rights
• Conserve Biodiversity • Land rights
• Sustainable water • Food security and
• Soil Conservation availability
• Air Quality • Share benefit locally
“the right crops and trees in the right place with the right techniques”
20
21. 25x ‘25 Coalition - Sustainability
Principles
• Access • Opportunities
• Air Quality • Public Lands
• Biodiversity • Soil Erosion
• Community Economic • Soil Quality
Benefits • Special Areas
• Efficiency and • Technology
Conservation • Water Quality
• Greenhouse Gas • Water Quantity
Emissions
• Wildlife
• Invasive and Non-
Native Species
http://www.25x25.org/storage/25x25/documents/SustainabilityPrinciples/sustainability_principles3-7-08.pdf 21
22. Other Approaches
• Specify/limit feedstock and land that qualify for
incentives
– EISA 2007- RFS renewable biomass definition
• Specify Net GHG or Net Energy
– EISA 2007- RFS “advanced biofuel” LCA
– Low carbon fuels standard
– Potential efficiency standards in national Renewable
Electricity Standard
– Carbon Neutrality monitoring through National GHG
emission inventory by sector (Forestry and Land use
accounts for bioenergy implicitly through change in
carbon stocks, so “carbon neutral” in energy sector)
22
25. Biomass supply curves- Dry Tons/Year
Totals 2 quads/year at
$50/dry ton States:
AZ
CA
CO
HI
ID
KS
MT
ND
NM
NV
OK
OR
SD
TX
UT
WA
WY
25
Western Governor’s Association- Strategic Assessment of Bioenergy in the West (2008)
26. Forest Biomass- Supply Curve
Western Governor’s Association- Strategic Assessment of Bioenergy in the West (2008) 26
27. Ag Residue - supply curve
27
Western Governor’s Association- Strategic Assessment of Bioenergy in the West (2008)
28. Biorefinery Potential - Generation/Plant Location
Cellulosic feedstock
Biodiesel feedstock
28
Western Governor’s Association- Strategic Assessment of Bioenergy in the West (2008)
29. Target Price Results
Biofuels Produced at the Target Price
11.3 Billion
Gallons Total
Feedstocks Consumed at
the Target Price
Target Prices (wholesale) –
Gasoline Substitutes: $2.40/gge
Diesel Substitutes: $2.36/gge
(gge: gallon of gasoline equivalent)
Western Governor’s Association- Strategic
Assessment of Bioenergy in the West (2008) 29
30. Switchgrass Supply
Farm Gate price does not
include storage or delivery,
which can be high for
herbaceous energy crops.
Others estimate with
storage and delivery
costs range from
$75-100/MT
Ref: The Economics of Biomass Production in the United States, R.Graham et al, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1995 30
Ref: Switchgrass Production in Iowa: Economic Analysis, soil suitability, and varietal performance, Oak Ridge National Lab 2002
31. Relative Cost for Feedstock- power sector
Varies with location
31
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/analysispaper/biomass/
32. Biomass Crop Assistance
Program (BCAP)
• Rules released February 8, 2010
• Assists agriculture and forest landowners
with establishment and production of
eligible crops including woody biomass for
conversion to bioenergy
• Assistance for collection, harvest, storage
and transportation of eligible material for
use in eligible biomass conversion
facilities
Ref: BCAP web site: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=ener&topic=bcap 32
33. Feedstock Competition
Southeastern Wood-Using
Bioenergy Projects
Data source:
Wood Bioenergy South,
October 2009.
Wood Bioenergy South
tracks announced and
operating wood-
consuming energy
projects across the US
South. Updated monthly.
www.foriskstore.com
36. Biofuels that make sense…
• Use material that would otherwise have negative
environmental consequences
– Reduces wildfire, improves forest health, protects
watersheds, and provides habitat
• Produced on marginal lands with minimal inputs
– Water, fertilizer, and low impact harvesting
• Production is scaled to match feedstock
availability and provide value to help maintain
working landscapes
• Have favorable net energy and net GHG profiles
36
37. Natural Resource Management
Energy
Environment
• Renewable
• Climate Change
• Secure
• Stand Function
Biomass • Sustainable
• Sustainability
Management
and Use
Water Infrastructure
Working
Land Lands
Economy
• Costs
Conservation
Air • Rural Development & Utilization
• Global Competition 37
38. Western Forestry Leadership Coalition
We work as a Coalition to address critical resources issues across
ownerships and jurisdictions. We assist family forest owners, rural and
state fire organizations, and community forestry groups; improving
forest health, encouraging land conservation, and stimulating
community economic recovery.
http://www.wflccenter.org/
US Forest Service Web sites:
Biomass www.fs.fed.us/woodybiomass/
Climate Change www.fs.fed.us/ccrc/
Interagency Woody Biomass information:
www.forestsandrangelands.gov/woody_biomass
mpattonmallory@fs.fed.us
(970) 295-5947
38
