A presentation from POET-DSM on the feedstock logistics considerations of Project Liberty. Presented on December 8, 2014 at the Minnesota Bioenergy Feedstock Development meeting and forum.

1. FEEDING A CELLULOSIC
ETHANOL PLANT:
THE FEEDSTOCK LOGISTICS OF
POET-DSM’S PROJECT LIBERTY
Adam Wirt – POET Biomass
MN Biomass Sustainability Forum – December ‘14

2. DISCUSSION TOPICS
▪ What is Project LIBERTY
▪ Supply Chain Development Parameters
▪ Project LIBERTY Biomass Program Overview
▪ Major Takeaways

3. ▪ 20 million gallon Cellulosic Ethanol
Plant, rising to 25 million
▪ Co-located with an existing grain-
based ethanol plant
▪ Utilizes existing infrastructure
▪ EZ Bales™ are the feedstock
▪ Byproduct of cellulosic process (lignin)
is used to generate steam that will
power both plants, reducing energy
costs
▪ Operated by the POET-DSM Advanced
Biofuels Joint-Venture
Confidential

6. ▪ 20 million gallon Cellulosic Ethanol
Plant, rising to 25 million
▪ Co-located with an existing grain-
based ethanol plant
▪ Utilizes existing infrastructure
▪ EZ Bales™ are the feedstock
▪ Byproduct of cellulosic process (lignin)
is used to generate biogas that will
power both plants, reducing energy
costs
Confidential

7. PAGE 7
STACKYARD
Confidential

8. GROWTH PLATFORM – WHY CORN STOVER
▪ POET has 27 biorefineries across the corn belt where we can
co-locate
+ 4-plants in Minnesota
▪ Our partner (DSM) wants to help us license this technology,
both domestically and internationally.
Confidential

9. POET’S BIOMASS HISTORY
‐ POET researched
how to collect and
store cobs
‐ Single‐Pass Baling
was trialed, along
with cobs
‐ First Commercial
Harvest of Biomass
Ever for Cellulosic
Ethanol with EZ
Bale™ being the
new feedstock
‐ The Stackyard at
Project Liberty was
built
‐ Second & Third
Biomass Harvest
with Expanded
Acres
‐ Roll‐out of the
Custom Model
‐ Fourth Commercial
Harvest Material
from the Fourth
harvest will be used
to make cellulosic
ethanol
‐ 200,000 BDT of
Material Collected
‐ 300+ Growers
involved
‐ 10 Custom Baling
Crews
2006,2007
& 2008
2009 2010
2011 &
2012
2013 2014
ISU – UDSA: Biomass Removal Soil Research (7 Years)

10. SUPPLY CHAIN DEVELOPMENT
The questions that needed to be answered:
▪ Agronomics of Removal
▪ Take-rates/Collection Rates
▪ Economics - Grower & Biorefinery
▪ Plant Needs/Specs
▪ Equipment Needed
▪ Grower/Community Education

11. USDA-ISU REPORT:
CORN STOVER NUTRIENT REMOVAL
ESTIMATES FOR CENTRAL IOWA
Macronutrient Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium
Lbs./Ton Removal 14 1.4 16
Observed Macronutrient Removal Rates
One Ton/Acre Harvest
- Based on 6 years of Study
▪ No change in Organic Matter seen with EZ Bale™ removal
▪ Main drivers of Organic Matter change due to tillage
intensity

12. NUTRIENT REMOVAL LEVELS ASSOCIATED
WITH RESIDUE REMOVAL
ISU/USDA Recommendations:
▪ 10-15 lbs of Potassium/acre (based on 1BDT/ac removal rate)
▪ No additional Nitrogen or Phosphorus needed
▪ No change in OM seen with EZ Bale™ removal
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
Nitrogen Phosphorous Potassium
Removal Rate (lbs. /ton stover)
Soil Nutrient
Nutrient Removal by Harvest Scenario (Average)
Cob harvest
MOG Bulk harvest
MOG Direct Bale harvest
High‐Cut, below ear stover harvest
Multiple‐pass round bale harvest
Low‐Cut, 4 inch stubble harvest
EZ Bale™

13. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FIELD TREATMENTS
● Use current grain-based Nitrogen and Phosphorus
fertilizer application rates
● Soil test to verify that grain-based fertilizer rate for
Potassium meets sustainability needs
● Incorporate effects of cover crops, manure, diverse crop
rotations in future biomass feedstock studies
GOOD CANDIDATES FOR BIOMASS HARVESTING
● Slopes of less than 3 percent
● Consistent grain yields of >165 bu/acre
● Good nutrient-management plans with soil-test records
of at least pH, P and K levels

14. BOOST YOUR CORN YIELDS ON
CORN ON CORN
 Work done by USDA - ISU
Residue removal allows for:
 Darker, faster warming soils
 Better seed to soil contact
 Improved germination
 Better potential = Better yield
163.8
165.0
164.4
163.2
163.4
163.6
163.8
164.0
164.2
164.4
164.6
164.8
165.0
165.2
Conventional EZ Bale Rake & Bale
Bu/Ac
Grain Yield by Biomass Treatment
(Avg 2008‐2012)
Grain Yield by Biomass Treatment

16. EZ BALES™ = THE NEW “EAR CORN”

Ear corn has been picked for decades sustainably,
EZ Bales™ are just a new way of performing the same task.
Confidential

17. WHICH BALE IS BETTER?
EZ BALE™ VS. STOVER BALE
▪ EZ Bale™
+ 33% cob
+ 43% husk/leaf
+ 16% stalk
+ 8% ash
▪ Stover Bale
+ 9% cob
+ 42% husk/leaf
+ 35% stalk
+ 14% ash
EZ Bale™
• 24% more cob, 19% less stalk, 6% less ash per bale
• 288 lbs. more cob, 228 lbs. less stalk, 72 lbs. less ash
in every 1200# bale
 Less nutrients removed per ton of biomass
removed

18. HISTORY OF CORN PRODUCTION

19. BIOMASS COLLECTION IS THE NEXT
STEP IN THE EVOLUTION OF FARMING.

20. LIBERTY FEEDSTOCK PROGRAM
OVERVIEW
▪ At full production, LIBERTY will
consume ~285k bone dry tons of
biomass annually.
▪ EZ Bales™ is the feedstock.
+ Will collect 1-ton from 285-300k
acres.
▪ Target collection range is 35 miles from
plant or ~30% of the total acres.
▪ We estimate 450 – 500 farmers will
participate in the delivery of biomass.
Confidential

21. PROJECT LIBERTY BIOMASS PROGRAM
▪ Offer grower choice of participation
+ Grower Model
+ Custom Model
▪ Bale type – We take them all!
+ PBM can manage the benefits of both
▪ Quality
+ Stover can be too dirty, take rate can be too
aggressive
+ EZ Bales™ - Cleaner, grower acceptance
▪ Local Development of Business
+ Equipment Dealers
+ Custom Contractors

23. COLLECTION BEST PRACTICES
• SOP for sustainable collection
• Minimize dirt and stalk
• Ensure biomass integrity & value
• Drive consistency
This
Not
This
Confidential

24. BALER SET UP IS CRITICAL, BUT
MANAGEABLE

25. BIOMASS COLLECTION = OPPORTUNITY
FOR IMPROVED FARMING PRACTICES
▪ Biomass Removal is an enabler of improved farming
practices.
▪ Soil Carbon levels are the most impacted by tillage
intensity.
+ By removing some fractional amount of stover, tillage
intensity &/or number of tillage passes should be
reduced.
▪ Below ground biomass is the key to increasing soil health
by improving soil organic carbon and organic matter levels.
▪ Biomass Removal is a residue management tool.
+ When aligned with the right practices, soil
health and productive can be enhanced.

26. SUSTAINABLE
▪ The term “Sustainable” carries multiple personal
definitions.
+ Many times these do not match.
▪ Lets focus on metrics such as:
+ Soil Erosion
+ Soil Organic Matter
+ Soil Carbon
These factors all associate to “Soil Health”

27. LANDSCAPE DESIGN
▪ Not every site will be as much of a monoculture as the
that of LIBERTY
▪ Landscape design has been discussed with future
locations
▪ Dedicated energy crops offer great opportunity:
+ Risk mitigation
+ Extended harvest scenarios or multiple harvest
periods
+ Offer biomass source while also protecting erodible
soils and buffer strips.
▪ The key is to create the bio-economy market.
+ Without a bio-energy plant, a grower will not consider
changing their cropping patterns.

28. MAJOR TAKEAWAYS
1. Education is Key.
2. Biomass Harvesting is an
important Farm Management
Tool.
3. Biomass removal is not the major
variable affecting erosion and
organic matter change.
4. Continued work is needed to do
prescribed biomass removal
across fields.
5. Get the growers and community
involved.

29. IN CONCLUSION
▪ Who Wins
+ The Growers
+ The Bio-refiner
+ The Vendors
+ The Community
+ The Land
+ The Consumer

30. Confidential
Thank You
Check out: www.poetdsm.com