Despite Setbacks, Biofuels Industry Hopeful at 2014 DOE Biomass Conference

At the Department of Energy’s two-day conference Biomass 2014: Growing the Future Bioeconomy, technologies, feedstocks, and innovation in the bioenergy sector were on display.  Attendees celebrated three U.S. advanced cellulosic biofuel refineries that are close to commercial production, several public-private partnerships that have spurred research and development of biofuels, and young scientists who are the future of renewable fuels breakthroughs.  Despite a lot of talk about the proposed cuts to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), as well as a backlog of pending pathways for feedstocks to qualify as renewable fuels, attendees seemed confident that the bioeconomy would lower greenhouse gas emissions, provide local jobs, boost rural economies and lessen U.S. dependence on petroleum.

During a discussion of federal policy, speakers urged the industry to take the long view.  Despite a recent uptick in domestic oil and gas production, renewable fuels are still the way of the future.  According to Tara Billingsley, Senior Energy Advisor to Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and one of the architects of the RFS, businesses and biofuels advocates must remind Congress that biofuels are not just a one state, or one region issue, but rather that regionally appropriate biofuels are our nation’s best chance for reducing our dependence on oil. While there was some concession from speakers that the early successes of the ethanol market led to bullish forecasts for advanced cellulosics, they noted that the RFS sends an important market signal to investors, which is critical in creating a strong marketplace for advanced fuels.

Senior staff from multiple federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, and the Federal Aviation Agency, showcased the work that is bringing biofuels for a variety of applications closer to fruition.  Federal programs highlighted include the Farm to Fly initiative, a multi-agency program that seeks to ramp-up renewable aviation fuels, as well as the Department of Navy’s Farm to Fleet initiative, which has a goal of providing the Navy with 50 percent of its energy from alternatives.      

While the conference had a U.S. focus, the potential for the expanded use of biofuels in the developing world was discussed.  According to the joint United Nations and World Bank program, Sustainable Energy For All, 1.2 billion people worldwide lack access to modern energy services, and 2.7 billion people lack sufficient energy to cook with anything but charcoal or biomass.  According to speaker Gerard Ostheimer of Novozymes, in the U.S. we take for granted the success of electrification, even though many rural areas of the country weren’t electrified until 1967.  Without electricity, he noted, economic development is simply impossible.  He urged the U.S. biomass industry to take its skills to the developing world, to help with ending energy poverty through the deployment of sustainable biomass and biofuels.  Ostheimer noted that the International Renewable Energy Association (IRENA) has calculated that sustainable biomass could contribute up to 60 percent of the renewable energy supply needed to double the use of renewables in the developing world. According to U.N. General Secretary Ban Ki Moon, “energy is the golden thread that connects economic growth, increased social equity and an environment that allows the world to thrive.”  The 2014 conference showed that biomass can be part of the global solution to our energy crisis.

For more information see: 

Biomass 2014: Growing the Future Bioeconomy, U.S. Department of Energy, Bioenergy Technology Office