December Feature

December 2005

Newly Redesigned Bioenergy Feedstock Information Network (BFIN) Now Online

December 5, 2005
Adam McCann - BCS, Incorporated

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) recently redesigned its Bioenergy Feedstock Information Network (BFIN), dramatically increasing ease of access to feedstock related data and analysis. The U.S. Department of Energy's Bioenergy Information Network (BIN), housed at ORNL, had become a central location for information related to biomass and in particular feedstocks. Information available at the site includes:

Reports
Fact sheets
Databases
Presentations
Images
Links
News
Events
Contacts

While the site received a significant amount of visitors, the information had become dated and difficult to find. Recently, however, the site was redesigned to improve ease of use, improved functionality, and was updated with a variety of new information. Biomass feedstock types with information featured on the site includes:

Agricultural residue
Forestry residue
Herbaceous crops
Municipal/Urban residues
Oil crops
Short-rotation woody crops

The new website, renamed Bioenergy Feedstock Information Network (BFIN), is now available publicly at http://bioenergy.ornl.gov (see Figure 1).

The U.S. Department of Energy developed the original BIN website with the intention of documenting the activities of the Biomass Feedstock Development Program (BFDP) and highlight ongoing work at ORNL. The site served to disseminate information regarding the various R&D activities related to biomass feedstocks to the public.

The new BFIN site (see homepage image below) includes several new features including:

New dual-menu structure
Unique search capability
Integrated Biomass Supply Analysis & Logistics (IBSAL) model
Interactive Supply System Search tool
R&D project information

The site's overall design and structure is predicated on primarily two publications: The 2003 Roadmap for Agricultural Biomass Feedstock Supply in the United States and the 2005 Biomass as Feedstock for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry: The Technical Feasibility of a Billion-Ton Annual Supply. The industry segments, outlined in the Roadmap, help to partially structure the site's content into five distinct supply system processes; harvesting, storage, preprocessing, transportation and system integration. The Billion-Ton study provided the structure by which feedstock types were categorized. The study also drives many of the numbers and projections that form the basis for information on the site.

Figure 1: New BFIN Home Page

The BFIN home page prominently features the new Interactive BFIN Supply System Search tool (see Figure 1). This tool allows users to tailor unique searches to quickly gain access to a multitude of information. Users simply select their desired biomass feedstock type and a specific process stage and what is returned is information including fact sheets, reports, links, and presentations. So, for example, if a farmer is interested in R&D fact sheets about the harvesting of short-rotation woody crops, 3 simple clicks would quickly return a multitude of relevant results.

The most conspicuous improvement to the site is the new menu structure (see Figure 2). The menu structure categorizes every file into either a top-menu technical category or left-menu file-type category. Most files appear in both menus and are intuitively organized for quick access. Drop-down/sub menus allow users to further refine their search as seen in the screen shot below. Most of the top menu-items are completely new. The Biomass Basic, Environment and Economic menus are geared to the layperson and first time visitors to the site. The Biomass Resources and Supply System (see Figure 2) menus appeal to researchers and scientists looking for the latest R&D on biomass Feedstocks. Using these menus users can create refined search results for R&D information, links and images based on specific feedstock types or stages in the supply chain. The R&D Portfolio menu communicates work being conducting by ORNL pertaining specifically to biomass feedstocks.

Figure 2: Dual Menu Structure

Another new addition is the IBSAL Model developed at ORNL (see Figure 3). The IBSAL Model is an on-line application comprised of a network of operational modules and connectors which allows users to input biomass feedstock types to compute energy costs. Each module represents a process or event. For example grain combining, swathing grasses, baling, grinding and sizing, storing, transporting are each a module. Modules may also be processes such as drying, wetting, and chemical reactions such as breakdown of carbohydrates. The biomass feedstock flows from one module to the next through a connector and costing and energy calculations are gathered. Other factors include time, weather, crop cycles and rainfall levels. Once all input parameters are identified, the model calculates costs per ton of biomass, energy input and emissions (CO2) from equipment. The IBSAL Model is a valuable addition to the new BFIN site.

Figure 3: IBSAL Model
Dual Menu Structure

The new BFIN site is a great resource for any visitor looking to obtain information regarding biomass and feedstocks. The site appeals to both experts and amateurs and contains a vast amount of R&D information. With the site's new design and structure it should be even easier for users to locate, access and, share this wealth of information.

BFIN Site Now Available at:http://bioenergy.ornl.gov

For more information please contact Adam McCann at amccann@bcs-hq.com or Bob Perlack perlackrd@ornl.gov.

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State Spotlight: West Virginia

In 2001, the state of West Virginia consumed 1,254.8 trillion Btu of energy. The vast majority of the energy, or 69.5 percent, was produced from coal. Petroleum and natural gas accounted for 17 percent and 12 percent respectively, while hydroelectric contributed one percent. The state did not use any nuclear power in 2001, and about half a percent of energy was produced from biomass.¹
West Virginia has the potential to produce 5.4 billion kWh of electricity from biomass. That would be enough power to supply power to 543,000 average homes, or 61 percent of the state's residential needs. Forest residues would be the greatest source of biomass, available at a rate of 1,353,000 dry tons per year. 1,190,000 dry tons of energy crops, which are fast growing trees, shrubs, and grasses, could be used for energy production annually, and mill residues have the potential to contribute 967,000 dry tons per year.
Urban and agricultural residues are an annual resource of 175,000 and 51,000 dry tons respectively.² Biomass projects in West Virginia are administered through the West Virginia Energy Efficiency Program. Plans for a 15 million gallon per year ethanol facility in Harrison County were announced in March of 2003, the result of local efforts by farmers and the county.³
The state is currently sponsoring extensive research into the conversion of chicken wastes to liquid fuel. The Department of Energy is also contributing by funding work on co-firing coal with sawdust at the Albright Power Station⁴, a facility that already uses timber residue to produce electricity at a capacity of 42 kW.⁵ The state of West Virginia does not yet offer any incentives or tax breaks to biomass electricity users or producers.⁶ There are, however, incentives available for alternative fuel vehicles, effective until June 2006.⁷
Data Sources: EIA and EERE Calculations for biomass Btus are estimated to be 12,000 Btu/kWh ¹Energy Information Administration. Table 7: Energy Consumption Estimates by Source, 1960-2001, West Virginia. Available:http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/states/sep_use/total/use_tot_wv.html ²West Virginia Bioenergy Resources. Available:http://www.eere.energy.gov/state_energy/tech_biomass.cfm?state=WV ³BBI International. West Virginia: Ethanol Plant to Open Near Cadiz. Available:http://www.bbiethanol.com/news/view.cgi?article=732 ⁴West Virginia State Fact Sheet. Available:http://www.biomass.govtools.us/publications.asp ⁵Current Renewable Energy Projects in West Virginia. Available:http://www.eere.energy.gov/state_energy/opfacbytech.cfm?state=WV ⁶Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy. Available:http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/map.cfm?State=WV&CurrentPageId=1 ⁷West Virginia Alternative Fuels Data Center. Available:http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/progs/search_state.cgi?afdc/WV

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On the Hill

Bill #	Sponsor	Description	Last Action

S. 2025	Sen Bayh, Evan [IN]	Vehicle and Fuel Choices for American Security Act: A bill to promote the national security and stability of the United States economy by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology, and for other purposes.	11/16/2005: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
H.R. 4409	Rep Kingston, Jack [GA-1]	Fuel Choices for American Security Act of 2005: To promote the national security and stability of the United States economy by reducing the dependence of the United States on foreign oil through the use of alternative fuels and new vehicle technologies, and for other purposes.	11/18/2005: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Ways and Means, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Grassroots

Cows make fuel for biogas train
New technologies combine biogas and biofuel options to run Swedish trains, buses, and automobiles. With an eye on European Commission direction and Kyoto targets for greenhouse gas emissions, industry in the Scandinavian nation has come up with a wide range of bioenergy options for the individual.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4373440.stm

Ag commissioner sees ethanol as next big farm product
New York Agriculture Commissioner Nathan Rudgers is promoting bioenergy-related growth for the state's farming future. A dearth of gas stations offering ethanol-based E-85 fuel, or other biofuel options, has prompted Rudgers to advocate using former farmland for bioenergy crops.
http://www.wstm.com/Global/story.asp?S=4113116&nav=2aKD

Chadron State's woodchip fuels system attracting attention
A Nebraska college has been heating its buildings with woodchips for 15 years. Recent price increases in alternative power sources, in addition to their success using wood waste from the forestry industry, has lead to renewed interest in their system, as it simultaneously expands. A local school and hospital, and a school as far away as South Dakota, have researched similar possibilities.
http://www.southernblackhillsweeklygroup.com/articles/2005/11/15/chadron/headlines/news723.txt

BuildingGreen Announces Top-10 Green Building Products
Three of the top ten products selected by Environmental Building News are made from recycled or biobased materials. Including a replacement for carcinogenic formaldehyde in plywood binding material, the products are the best of 160 included in the 2005 GreenSpec directory for builders. Many of these products have multiple environmental attributes, and replacing non-renewable components with biobased materials has been considered throughout. The 6th edition of the GreenSpec directory will be available early in 2006.
http://www.interiordesign.net/id_newsarticle/CA6283451.html

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Marketplace

The Grain Prices graph shows the cost of soybeans, the main biodiesel feedstock, and corn, the main ethanol feedstock. The tables show actual grain prices, indicators which may affect gasoline prices, and the production of ethanol. Fuel Prices come from OPIS Ethanol and Biodiesel Report. Ethanol and RBOB Unl New York spot prices and Biodiesel Rack, Chicago, September 2005.

Grain Prices	November 2004	November 2005	% Change
Corn	2.05	1.79	-13%
Soybean	5.36	5.68	6%

Fuel Supply	November 2004	November 2005	% Change
Percent Refinery Utilization	93.6	88.6	-5.40%
Production by Product - Finished Motor Gasoline (Million Barrels)	8,833.5	8,888.5	0.62%
Stocks - Finished Motor Gasoline (Million Barrels)	136.9	134.3	-1.90%
Imports - Total Motor Gasoline (Million Barrels)	867.5	939.8	8.33%

Oxygenate Production	September 2004	September 2005	% Change
Ethanol Production (Million Barrels)	226	261	13.41%
MTBE Production (Million Barrels)	144	103	-39.81%

Data Sources:
U.S. DOE-Energy Information Administration, "Weekly Petroleum Status Report", "Monthly Oxygenate Report"
USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service, "Agricultural Prices," "Grain Stocks"

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R&D Awards

No R&D Awards were granted for this month.

Solicitations

Title:	Continuing Solicitation for the Office of Science
Description:	Seeking grant applications for support of basic energy science fundamental research in the natural sciences and engineering leading to new and improved energy technologies and to understanding and mitigating the environmental impacts of energy technologies.
Government Agency:	Department of Energy's Office of Science
Schedule:	Applications may be submitted at any time.
URL:	http://www.science.doe.gov/grants/FAPN05-01.html

Title:	SARE
Description:	The program sponsors grants in research/education, professional development for agricultural educators and producer projects in sustainable agriculture
Government Agency:	USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
Schedule:	Grant programs, funding amounts and funding cycles vary by region.
URL:	http://www.sare.org/htdocs/sare/cfp.html

Title:	TIFIA
Description:	Provides credit assistance in the form of secured (direct) loans, lines of credit, and loan guarantees to public and private sponsors of eligible surface transportation projects. Highway, passenger rail, transit, and intermodal projects (including intelligent transportation systems) may receive credit assistance
Government Agency:	U.S. Department of Transportation's Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) Joint Program Office
Schedule:	Letters of interest are required and are accepted at any time.
URL:	http://tifia.fhwa.dot.gov

Title:	Energy Innovations Small Grant (EISG) Program
Description:	The EISG provides funding to small businesses, small non-profits, individuals and academic institutions for establishing the feasibility of new energy concepts. Qualifying entities outside of California are eligible. Projects must develop innovative and original energy concepts that address a clear market need, provide benefit for California electricity ratepayers and target one or more areas of interest: Industrial/agriculture/water end-use efficiency; building end-use efficiency; advanced generation; renewable generation; energy-related environmental research; strategic energy research.
Government Agency:	California Energy Commission
Schedule:	EISG has up to 4 cycles of grants a year
URL:	http://www.energy.ca.gov/research/innovations/index.html

Title:	Energy Performance Contracting in State-Owned Facilities
Description:	Funded by a System Benefits Charge (SBC) on electric transmission, this program offers energy efficiency, research and development, low-income and environmental disclosure funding and education to assist electric consumers as the regulated electricity market moves to more open competition.
Government Agency:	New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
Schedule:	Grant programs, funding amounts, and funding cycles vary
URL:	http://www.nyserda.org/Funding/funding.asp?i=2

Title:	USDA SBIR
Description:	The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests applications for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The purpose of the USDA SBIR program is to provide an opportunity for U.S. owned, for profit small business firms to submit innovative, applied, R&D projects that address important problems facing American agriculture, and have the potential to lead to significant public benefit if the research is successful. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, Animal Waste Management, Rural and Community Development, Aquaculture, and Wildlife. Up to $19.4 million expected to be available, award range $80K to $300K.
Government Agency:	USDA
Schedule:	Responses for Phase I due September 1, 2005, responses for Phase 2 due February 2, 2006.
URL:	http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1220

Title:	National Research Initiative
Description:	The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests applications for the National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (NRI). NRI supports research, extension, and education projects that address key problems of national, regional, and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of agriculture. In FY 2006, the NRI Program will accept applications for fundamental research, mission-linked research, and integrated research, extension, and education projects, including Biobased Products and Bioenergy Production.
Government Agency:	USDA
Schedule:	Applications in the Biobased Products and Bioenergy Production area must be received by January 12, 2006.
URL:	http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/USDA/CSREES/OEP/USDA-GRANTS-101705-001/Grant.html

Title:	Tribal Agricultural Research
Description:	The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests applications for the Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program (TCRGP). TCRGP funds investigative and analytical studies and experimentation in the food and agricultural sciences in areas including but not limited to sustainable agriculture, sustainable forestry, biotechnology, and aquaculture.
Government Agency:	USDA
Schedule:	Reponses due December 12, 2005.
URL:	http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/rfas/tribal_research.html

Title:	National Research Initiative
Description:	The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests applications for the National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (NRI). NRI supports research, extension, and education projects that address key problems of national, regional, and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of agriculture. 29 program areas identified including Biobased Products and Bioenergy Production; Water and Watersheds; and Rural Development.
Government Agency:	USDA
Schedule:	Due dates range from November 30, 2005 go October 31, 2006
URL:	http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/USDA/CSREES/OEP/USDA-GRANTS-101705-001/Grant.html

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Events

December 11-13, 2005 Melbourne, Australia	Bioenergy Australia 2005 Conference Organizer: Bioenergy Australia Contact: Stephen Schuck Email: sschuck@bigpond.net.au Tel: +61 2 9416 9246 Website: http://www.bioenergyaustralia.org/
January 12 - 13, 2006 Honolulu, HI	Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology Organizer: 2005 Biotechnology Industry Organization Contact: Email: pacrim@bio.org Tel: 202-962-9200 Website: http://www.bio.org/pacrim/
January 18 - 19, 2006 Berlin, Germany	Clean Energy Power 2006: Conference and Exposition for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in New and Old Buildings Organizer: erneuerbare energien Kommunikations- und Informationsservice GmbH Contact: Email: redaktion@energie-server.de Tel: +49 7121 30 16 - 0 Website: http://www.energie-server.de
January 19-20, 2006 Baltimore, Maryland	LMOP 9th Annual Conference and Project Expo Organizer: Environmental Protection Agency Contact: Brian Guzzone Email: guzzone.brian@epa.gov Tel: (202) 343-9248 Website: http://www.epa.gov/lmop/conf/index.htm
January 23-26, 2006 Washington, DC	NCSE's Energy for a Sustainable and Secure Future Organizer: National Council for Science and the Environment Contact: Claire Christian Email: conference2006@ncseonline.org Tel: 202-530-5810 Website: http://www.epa.gov/lmop/conf/index.htm
January 26-27, 2006 Rancho Matastal, Costa Rica	Renewable Energy for the Developing World Workshop Organizer: Solar Energy International Contact: Email: sei@solarenergy.org Tel: 970-963-8855 Website: http://www.solarenergy.org/workshops/workshop.php?id=21
February 5-8, 2006 Las Vegas, NV	2006 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo Organizer: National Biodiesel Board Contact: Anne Wester Email: awester@bbibiofuels.com Tel: 1-800-841-5849 Website: http://www.biodieselconference.org/2006/expo/schedule.asp
February 7-9, 2006 Manchester, United Kingdom	ENVIRO 2006 Organizer: SJS International Contact: Email: enquiries@enviro2006.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 8700 433 874 Website: http://www.environmental-expert.com/events/enviro2006/enviro2006.htm
February 9-12, 2006 Verona Italy	Bioenergy World 2006 Organizer: BioEnergy Events and Services Contact: Paul Stuart Email: paulstuart@bees.biz Tel: +33 384 86 89 30 Website: www.bioenergy-world.com
February 16-17, 2006 Brussels, Belgium	Biofuels Markets Organizer: Green Power Conferences Contact: Sarah Ellis Email: sarah.ellis@greenpowerconferences.com Tel: Website: www.biofuelsmarkets.com
February 20-22, 2006 Las Vegas, Nevada	11th Annual RFA National Ethanol Conference Organizer: Renewable Fuels Association Contact: N/A Email: info@ethanolrfa.org Tel: (202)289-3835 Website: http://www.ethanolrfa.org/industry/conference/
March 5-10, 2006 Tomar, Portugal	Bioenergy-I: From Concept to Commercial Processes Organizer: Engineering Conferences International Contact: Dr. Muthanna Al-Dahhan Email: info@eci.poly.edu Tel: 1-718-260-3743 Website: http://www.engconfintl.org/6ae.html
March 8-10, 2006 Phoenix, AZ	Renewable Energy Finance and Investment Summit Organizer: Financial Research Associates Contact: Janet Email: janet@frallc.com Tel: 1-800-280-8440 Website: http://www.frallc.com/project.asp#b319
March 21-23, 2006 Panama City, Panama	Central Biofuels Conference & Expo II Organizer: Central Biofuels Contact: Wendy Vincent Email: wendy@biofuelsconferences.com Tel: +01.605.338.6829, ext. 20 Website: http://www.centralbiofuels.com
March 27-28, 2006 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	Biofuels Markets Latin America Organizer: Green Power Conferences Contact: Sarah Ellis Email: sarah.ellis@greenpowerconferences.com Tel: (202)289-3835 Website: http://www.biofuelsmarkets.com
April 9-12, 2006 Chicago, IL	BIO 2006 Organizer: Biotechnology Industry Organization Contact: N/A Email: bio2006@bio.org Tel: (202) 962-6655 Website: http://www.bio.org/events/2006/
April 10-12, 2006 Las Vegas, NV	Power-Gen Renewable Energy: Phase II in the Mainstream Organizer: PennWell and ACORE Contact: Dick Rauner Email: pgreexhibit@penwell.com Tel: 918-832-9249 Website: http://www.power-gengreen.com
April 16-18, 2006 Shanghai, China	New Energy 2006 Organizer: Coastal International Exhibition Co., Ltd. Contact: N/A Email: general@coastal.com.hk Tel: (852) 2827 6766 Website: http://www.coastal.com.hk
April 30-May 3, 2006 Nashville, TN	28th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals Organizer: Society for Industrial Microbiology Contact: Christine Lowe Email: Chris@simhq.org Tel: 865-576-8522 Website: http://www.simhq.org/html/meetings/BioFuels06/BioBrochure.pdf or http://www.simhq.org/html/meetings.html
May 5-7, 2006 Kassel, Germany	ENBio 2006: International Conference for Energy from Biomass Organizer: erneuerbare energien Kommunikations- und Informationsservice GmbH Contact: Miriam Hegner Email: redaktion@energie-server.de Tel: +49 7121 30 16 - 0 Website: http://www.enbio.de/index.htm?/enbio.htm
May 30-June 1, 2006 Jönköping, Sweden	World Bioenergy 2006 Organizer: Svenska Bioenergiföreningen SVEBIO Contact: N/A Email: info@svebio.se Tel: +46 8 441 70 80 Website: http://www.svebio.se
June 5-6, 2006 Bangkok, Thailand	Biofuels Markets Asia Organizer: Green Power Conferences Contact: Sarah Ellis Email: sarah.ellis@greenpowerconferences.com Tel: N/A Website: http://www.biofuelsmarkets.com

Click here for additional bio-related events.

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The Biomass Initiative, formed as part of the Biomass R&D Act of 2000, is a multi-agency effort to coordinate and accelerate all Federal biobased products, biofuels, and bioenergy research and development. The Biomass Initiative distributes an online monthly newsletter to inform government institutions and the public, including private companies, about the Biomass Initiative and biomass-related activities. The newsletter’s contents include a feature article highlighting important biomass-related stories of the month, as well as grassroots information and a state spotlight recognizing important local activities. In addition, the newsletter includes biomass-related information on recent legislation, R&D awards, solicitations, and market trends.

If you have any questions or comments about the Biomass Initiative Newsletter, please contact mmanella@bcs-hq.com.