Growing the Bioeconomy

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Growing the Bioeconomy

• Michael Ott
• BIOWA

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Overview

• Iowa is the renewable fuels leader
• BIOWA
• BIOWA Capital
• Challenges and opportunities in biofuels
• Biorefineries
• Why do you care?

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Why are biofuels important?

• We are consuming more fuel than we can
  sustainably produce
• Corn based ethanol is not THE answer, it is AN
  answer
• We will see a shift from carbon to hydrogen based
  energy
• Biomass is the bridge

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Motivations for biofuels

• National security
• Environmental benefits
• Increased use of agricultural resources
• Local, permanent jobs
• The main motivator?
• PROFIT

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Ethanol and Biodiesel

• Iowa is the leading producer of corn, soybeans,
  ethanol, biodiesel, pork and biomass
• Syzygy of efficient technology, cheap feedstock
  and high oil prices leads to very profitable
  biofuel production
• BIOWA examines future problems and generates
  solutions

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Why do we need biorefineries?

• In 2005 the US produced 4 billion gallons of
  ethanol
• However, we consumed 140 billion gallons of
  gasoline
• If we produce more than 15-20 billion gallons
  from grain, the demand for corn will dramatically
  rise and adversely affect the farm economy
• Much larger volumes can be made from cellulosic
  feedstocks

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Research Institutions
Commodity Manufacturers
Entrepreneurs
Producers
BIOWA
BIOWA Capital
Economic Developers
Biotechnology Companies
Environmental Groups
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What does BIOWA do?

• Facilitate projects
• Biorefinery
• Input/Output database
• Increase awareness of biobased products
• Public speaking
• Legislative input

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What does BIOWA do?

• Consulting
• Technology
• Finding best technology for individual situations
• Establishing win-wins
• Capital
• Links to appropriate investors
• Advice on capital formation

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New Thing

• BIOWA Capital is looking to make investments in
  the bioeconomy
• Ethanol or Biodiesel plants
• New technologies
• Infrastructure

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Fun Facts

• Compared to petroleum, per unit of energy,
  biofuels production creates 100X jobs
• If you harnessed all the waste from a city of one
  million people, you could make enough ethanol
  for
• 56,000 Americans
• 360,000 French
• 2,600,000 Chinese

World Bank Study
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Map of Ethanol Plants
http//tinyurl.com/25q99t
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Ethanol Plant
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Map of Biodiesel Plants
http//tinyurl.com/2bljcf
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Ethanol Process
Corn Kernels
Milling
Cook with Enzymes
Fermentation
Distillation
Ethanol
Dried Distillers Grains
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Biodiesel Process
Vegetable Oil
Methanol
Biodiesel
Glycerin


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Oil Refinery

• http//tinyurl.com/zhj9g

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Ethanol Process
Corn Kernels
Milling
Cook with Enzymes
Fermentation
Distillation
Ethanol
Dried Distillers Grains
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Process Improvements
Corn Kernels
Milling
Cook with Enzymes
Fermentation
Distillation
Burn or Gasify
Ethanol
Dried Distillers Grains
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Ethanol Process
Corn Kernels
Milling
Cook with Enzymes
Fermentation
Distillation
Ethanol
Dried Distillers Grains
Higher Value Dried Distillers Grains
Corn Oil
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Gasification Process
Carbon Based Waste
Gasification
Dissolve into Solution
Fermentation/ Catalysis
Distillation
Ethanol
Create Electricity
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Biodiesel Process
Vegetable Oil
Methanol
Biodiesel
Glycerin


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Biodiesel Process Improvements
Vegetable Oil
Methanol
Biodiesel
Glycerin


Methanol Recovery
Burn/Gasify for heat
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Gasification Process
Carbon Based Waste
Gasification
Dissolve into Solution
Fermentation/ Catalysis
Distillation
Ethanol
Create Electricity
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Ethanol Process
Corn Kernels
Milling
Cook with Enzymes
Fermentation
Distillation
Ethanol
Dried Distillers Grains
Higher Value Dried Distillers Grains
Corn Oil
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Biodiesel Process Improvements
Vegetable Oil
Methanol
Biodiesel
Glycerin


Methanol Recovery
Burn/Gasify for heat
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Oil Refinery

• http//tinyurl.com/zhj9g

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Cellulosic Ethanol Challenges
Harvest, Transport and Store Cellulosic
Feedstock
Convert to ethanol and high value co-products
Transport ethanol and co-products to end users
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Cellulosic transfer solved?
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A much bigger scale
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But seriously, folks

• A global view of the cellulosic conversion
  process is necessary because variables are
  interdependent
• Various feedstocks require different pretreatment
  methods, enzymes and organisms
• Co-optimization is key

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Cellulosic Ethanol Challenges
Harvest, Transport and Store Cellulosic
Feedstock
Convert to ethanol and high value co-products
Transport ethanol and co-products to end users
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Second Bucket

• Industry is capable and willing to solve the 2nd
  problem, with some help from the government.
• Iogen, Celunol, Mascoma, Bluefire, BRI, Verasun,
  ADM, Broin, Dupont, SunOpta, Kergy, Coskata,
  Abengoa, Xethanol,.. .
• Many other supporting companies

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Biorefinery Schematic
R. Brown, Iowa State University
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Cellulosic Ethanol Challenges
Harvest, Transport and Store Cellulosic
Feedstock
Convert to ethanol and high value co-products
Transport ethanol and co-products to end users
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Ethanol Transport solved?
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Final Product Transport

• Our rail system is nearly overburdened
  transporting current amounts of ethanol and DDGs.
• Expansion of 3-15X will clearly outstrip the
  capacity of rail
• Pipelines have to be the answer

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Pipelines

• Currently pipelines are not used for ethanol
  transport for a number of reasons
• A feasibility study is needed to address issues
  and present solutions
• Private industry is not motivated to do this and
  it needs to be done, so public funds are
  necessary.

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Why do students care?

• Biofuels create new employment opportunities
• Environmental issues will have an impact during
  your lifetime
• Disruptive changes can benefit those who are
  prepared
• You get to choose where to work

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Conclusion

• Biofuels are the bridge to future energy supplies
• Local feedstocks require local solutions
• BIOWA looks to solve future problems, and so
  should you.

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Websites to visit

• www.biowa.us
• www.biowacapital.com
• (coming soon)
• www.bioeconomyconference.org
• Feel free to contact me with any questions at
• biowa.us_at_gmail.com