Bioenergy, already an important energy resource, is poised
for additional growth in the United States (USA) over the next decade. Biomass resources provide about 3.5% of the
total energy consumed annually in the USA in the form of electric power,
transportation fuels, and heat for industrial processing. Bioenergy offers environmental and energy
security benefits to the nation and provides the opportunity for rural economic
development to help agriculture. These
benefits are expected to be the main driving forces helping with the expansion
of bioenergy. The US Department of
Energy (DOE) is conducting research and development activities to assist with
the implementation of bioenergy.
Biopower, the use of biomass to produce electricity, is
expected to increase significantly. The
United States currently has about 7,000 megawatts (MW) of biomass-based
electric generation capability, and this figure is expected to increase to over
11,000 MW by the end of the decade.
Energy crops such as switchgrass are being co-fired to test their
behavior in existing coal-burning facilities.
Co-firing provides the opportunity to rapidly increase the use of
biomass and establish effective supply infrastructures. Biomass gasification technologies are being
developed to provide clean fuel gases for power generation systems. The gasifier at Burlington Vermont, for
example, is providing fuel for the McNeil Power Generation Station. In the near future, gasification will fuel
higher efficiency power generation systems such as gas turbines. Small, modular systems are also being
developed to provide electricity where distributed generation opportunities
exist.
The use of biofuels is expanding in the United States. It is estimated that approximately 7.5
billion litres of ethanol will be used in motor fuels in 2002, about 2% of the
total motor gasoline. While most
ethanol is currently produced from grain, the use of lignocellulosic feedstocks
provides the potential for lower costs and ensures availability of biomass
feedstocks. DOE is conducting research
on conversion process for lignocellulosic feedstocks and operates a test
facility at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Biodiesel has also increased rapidly in the United States from
near-zero levels in 1996 to an estimated 25 million litres in 2002.
DOE is also conducting research and development activities
on the production of chemicals and other products from biomass. These products offer the potential for high
economic returns and may be part of “biorefineries” in the future. Biorefineries will produce a variety of
products including power, fuels, and other biobased products from energy
feedstocks.
The present Administration, in partnership with industry,
continues to be enthusiastic about bioenergy because it supports national
environmental, energy security, and economic development goals. More information about the DOE bioenergy
programs can be found at www.eren.doe.gov.