Biomass Issues John Christopher Madole Associates, Inc. presentation to the Minnesota Department of Commerce September 12, 2007
Biomass Issues Feedstocks-- Harvesting, Transporation & Storage Process Technology Markets/Utilization Institutional Considerations System Economics
Minnesota Feedstocks Wood Woody Shrubs Crop Residue (Corn Stover) Prairie Grasses Reeds Algae Manures/Biosolids Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Source Separated Organics (SSO)
Earth Rise Algae Farm
Phragmites
Source Separated Organics
Feedstock Issues Mainline vs Shortline Prices & Practices Lack of Shortline Access to Minneapolis from south and north Long term contracts Feedstock storage
Process Technologies Anaerobic Digestion Gasification Pyrolysis Combustion Biohydrogen
Role of Digesters & Gasifiers in Industry Thermal Energy for Biodiesel and Ethanol Plants Fischer Tropsch for Chemicals, Fertilizer, Jet Fuel, Diesel, Gasoline, Waxes Capital Cost and Technology Access Issues 80% Biomass Gasifiers for Fischer Tropsch Nazi, Apartheid, coal to biomass Transition
Fischer Tropsch Chemical Plant in Austria
Gasification 1,500-2,000 degrees F Produces Synthetic Gas (Syn-gas) made of hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide Burns more cleanly than natural gas Heavy metals are problem coal gasification is a problem Advanced research to reform syngas into pipeline quality gas, ammonia, butanol
Significant Economic Factors with Gasification Gasification not scaleable Biomass Gasification is prime competitor of natural gas and transportation fuels Electrical generation is only economic with significant thermal (steam) market $.05 per kwh is break even cost of production Gasifiers can produce power on signal from wind machine
Ag Residue Gasifier Unit in Manitoba
MSW Gasifier in Romoland,CA
Anaerobic Digestion Technologies Mesophillic (Covered lagoons, waste water treatment, manures) Thermophillic 30-50% more BTU s, odor control
Barcelona, Spain 300,000 tpy Screened Organic Portion of MSW
Linden Hills Neighborhood, Minneapolis Mini-Digester 10 tons per day yard waste and source separated organics Digester Cost around $150,000? Combined Heat & Power System for Linden Hills Business District
Linkoping, Sweden 100,000 tpy food processing waste AD Facility
End Market/Utilization Thermal (Steam & Hot Water) Compressed Gas for Transporation Pipeline Quality Gas Electricity By-products
Twin City Natural Gas Large Thermal Markets $2 billion/year in natural gas sales to large scale thermal markets in Metro Area of 3 million population (Year 2000) Gasifiers & AD capable of displacing natural gas at 15% to 20% less in annual costs Biomass Procurement will become most important factor MSW, SSO, yardwaste, crop residues, urban tree waste, demolition wood
Linkoping, Sweden City Buses Fueled with CNG from Biogas
Uppsala, Sweden Passenger Car Fueled with CNG from Biogas
Why Biomethane for CNG Vehicles Biomethane can be produced for less than Natural Gas Minneapolis CNG filling station sells for equivalent of $1.70 per gallon CNG or Compressed Biomethane worth more than Pipeline Quality Gas 95% cleaner tail pipe emmissions (India)
CNG Vehicles Agentina 1,300,000 Brazil 550,000 Italy 380,000 Pakistan 280,000 India 137,000
CNG in the USA 1,200 Filling Stations in the USA Dozens of filling stations in Midwest 10 filling stations in Wisconsin 1 filling station in Minnesota California 50% of market US Postal Service 7,400 vehicles California over 1,000 garbage trucks
Marketable Products Soil Amendments Energy Protein Feeds
District Energy CHP Efficiency Biomass to Electricity 35%, Combined Heat & Power +90% District Heating more efficient than separate boilers Hot water systems more efficient than steam New Suburban Development & Light Rail Corridors
District Heating in Minnesota Hibbing St. Paul Willmar New Ulm New Programs & Incentives
Next Steps Skally Line, Owatonna to Faribault Line Demonstrations to get European Technologies into Minnesota to innovate Training and Standards to prevent odors from Digester Help with long term biomass contracts Create end markets Examine German, Swedish, Argentine, Indian Public Policy Invest in Bi-product Development Feedstock Demonstrations