Why Biofuels? Why Now?

Why Biofuels? Why Now? Joel West Keck Graduate Institute blog.SolarProf.com Nov 3, 2011

Why are biofuels in demand? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

What’s holding them back? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Key issues of energy economics ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

US 20 th century energy use ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

US Electricity Sources Source: US Energy Information Administration 2008 data

Energy impact on US economy ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Demand for renewable energy ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

What drives RE usage ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

What drives RE relative costs ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Volatile oil costs Source: “Crude Oil Price History 1950-2008,” oilism.com

What are biofuels? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Greenhouse gases & biomass ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],See also “How Green are Biofuels?” http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.115310

How to make biofuels? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

What do you do with it? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Fuel chemistry Source: “Properties of Fuels,” www.afdc.energy.gov ~0 n/a 100% ~0 ~0 Water solubility 16k 20k 12k 19k 19k Heat content (BTU/lb) 77% 75% 52% 87% 85-88% Carbon % C 12 to C 22 CH 4 C 2 H 5 OH C 4 to C 12 C 4 to C 12 Formula Biodiesel CNG Ethanol Diesel Gasoline

Feedstock considerations ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Biofuel feedstocks ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Success of ethanol ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Problems with ethanol ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Biofuel technology issues ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Industry is policy driven ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Source: “…10 hottest topics,” Biofuels Digest, Nov 2

Policy Landscape ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Politics of Biofuels Policy ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Main policy levers ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

News ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Department of Energy ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Why Biofuels? Why Now?

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