2013 Pacific Rim Biofuels and Biotechnology Summit Report: the Golden Age of Advanced Biofuels Is Coming

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February 13, 2014

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by Danilo Gusmão de Quadros* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Good news for mankind worried about getting a more sustainable world: it is expected that the next few years will be decisive for the future of advanced biofuels and bioenergy with the establishment of a growing industry.
For many years, scientists have studied renewable sources of bioenergy and the best way to obtain drop-in biofuels from non-food feedstocks. However, what we have seen is a timid biofuel utilization (E10, 10 % of ethanol based on corn included in gasoline), misunderstanding by consumers about ethanol utilization and damages to small engines, a small percentage of flexfuels cars, few gas stations with E85 (85% ethanol), international conflicts and disputes about oil, political controversies (strong oil sector lobby against the fragile group representing renewable biofuel, pork and poultry industries against corn conversion), and mainly uncompetitive costs of logistics and conversion technologies.
During four days, from the 8^th to 11^th of December 2013, at the Westin Hotel located in the charming Glaslam Quarter of an unexpectedly chilly San Diego, CA, the 8th Pacific Rim Biofuels and Biotechnology Summit took place. There we could see an integrated industry taking the real first solid steps into the future, bringing with them the total advantages of biofuel production and utilization such as: less emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), more jobs, local economy development, less international conflicts, and the guarantee of having energy strategically necessary to this country.
The event was well organized by Biotechnology Industry Organization (www.bio.org) with a very dynamic program about biofuels and biotechnology. More than 400 attendees had everything they needed for obtaining the latest information about the theme through many plenaries, sessions, tracks (feedstock production and utilization; renewable chemical platforms; advanced biofuels and biorefinery platforms; synthetic biology, algae, and marine biotechnology), workshops, and poster sessions. Also, this amazing event was very rich in space and moments to exchange experiences and to develop networks during the breaks and lunch.
Innovation permeated all discussions, bringing cutting-edge science to industrial biotechnology. The speakers, mainly comprised of biofuel industry people, had high grades of specialization and experience, inserting the talks inside a marketing vision.
Often less discussed in other biomass events, biogas had a good space and was presented as a local energy solution in rural areas, mainly using wastes from livestock production.
Biochemical co-products resulting from the conversion of feedstocks to advanced biofuels have a big market in this new age of world development. On the other hand, we rarely see the same enthusiasm in the vision of consumers when the subject is biofuels. With fuel, price talks louder to consumers.
New feedstock options were discussed in the world context, because they can be produced in other places, more favorable to growing crops (soil and climate conditions) and following good agricultural practices. They can then be converted using American technology. Some experiences and projects, although incipient, were shown. The amount of alternative sources of biofuels is expected to increase over the next few years, especially biodiesel.
The massive presence of industry and companies was remarkable, making the event the right place and time to exchange experiences about a diversity of advanced biofuels and biochemical products (feedstocks, conversion process, technology, costs, and marketing) beyond just networking and, of course, conducting business. People were so engaged in their business activities that often the noise of typing, sending and responding to e-mails, writing reports, annoyed me during the presentations.
Most of companies sell the know-how of converting feedstocks for advanced biofuels, however few of them have commercial scale and guaranty.
The announcement of the Navy and USDA’s “Farm-to-Fleet” biofuels program by the Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus would have been made during the conference, however, the bad weather conditions in Washington provoked the shut-down that day and the announcement had to be postponed.
This program, which allows biofuels to be purchased as part of the regular procurement process, will really launch the race for better process and research development in public-private consortiums or partnerships between universities and companies, making feedstock production and conversion more efficient and cheap. Attending to the primary interest in strategic biofuel for the Navy, in the end will result in benefits for all this system, providing knowledge subsidies to scale production, conversion, and marketing solidification.

Danilo Gusmao at the BIO Pacific Rim Biofuels and Biotechnology Summit

We have great expectations for the next years about technology dominium. The projects in pilot phase need to get financing to reach commercial phase (lab – pilot – demonstration – commercial). That seems to be okay. However, there are some controversies about regulations and markets. Regulations are a concern because political contradictions and disputes have overshadowed the focus on American sustainable development. Despite a few prognostications indicating marketing limitation, personally, I do not believe they are true when considering world-wide market tendencies.
Ethanol production will be one of the options, made from sugar, starch and cellulosic sources using biochemical processes. Oil seeds produced around the world will be the base of biodiesel production. In addition, we will have thermochemical pathways to ethanol, gasoline, and jetfuel from lingno-cellulosic feedstocks. With algae we can obtain a crude oil to go to refineries to produce biofuels and bioproducts.
Yes, the time is coming. We have the perspective to believe that the next three years will bring the beginning of the golden age of the biofuels industry. Plenty of projects will be finished, many plants with a variety of conversion technologies utilizing a bunch of options of feedstocks will be open, and the technology will be more and more profitable.
^*Dan Quadros is a Research Scholar at University of Florida and a volunteer at Advanced Biofuels USA; E-mail: daniloquadros@hotmail.com

Interviews:
Do not miss the opportunity to get hot information about corn-based ethanol, the utilization of corn stover to produce biofuel, and much more, by listening to the exclusive interviews of Steve Hartig, General Manager, Licensing, POET-DSM, and Joost Dubois, Director Branding and Communication, DSM, conducted by Advanced Biofuels USA’s Dan Quadros.
Ethanol is an essential component of the 138-billion-gallon U.S. gasoline market, contained in over 90% of this fuel sold. It is by far the most widely produced renewable fuel in the U.S., with approximately 14 billion gallons. The majority is made from corn, but it also can be produced from other feedstocks such as agricultural residue, grain sorghum, wheat, barley and potatoes. Ethanol that is made from non-starch or non-sugar sources is called cellulosic ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol's potential is enormous. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates have identified 1.3 billion tons of harvestable cellulosic biomass in the U.S. alone, which could theoretically be used to meet more than one-third of domestic transportation fuel demand. The Renewable Fuels Standard sets an annual goal of 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel by 2022, with 16 billion gallons coming from cellulosic ethanol.

POET (http://www.poet.com) is the largest U.S. ethanol producer (1.7 billion gallons per year) and one of the world’s largest producers of ethanol and other biorefined products, operating 27 plants spread across the country (IN, IA, MI, MO, OH, MN, and SD). It produces corn-based ethanol and will start to produce cellulosic ethanol soon (“Project Liberty”). “Project Liberty” (ProjectLIBERTY.com) is scheduled to begin operations in Emmetsburg, Iowa in 2014. Beyond that, POET intends to build additional cellulosic ethanol plants co-located with its existing biorefineries, representing up to a one billion gallon per year opportunity. Its joint venture also intends to license its integrated technology package and offer a turnkey design, engineering and construction package to third parties. READ MORE (Ethanol Producer Magazine)

DSM (http://www.dsm.com/corporate/home.html) is a Dutch-based multinational life sciences and materials sciences company. DSM's global end markets include food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. It produces enzymes and yeasts, considered the technological heart of the biomass conversion within the biorefinery.
To learn more about the POET-DSM partnership, visit POETDSM.com.
1 – Could you briefly introduce the work of DSM-POET for us?
Joost Dubois

2 – Could you tell us the current situation of corn production in the US? How much of it is converted into ethanol?
Steve Hartig

3 – And about the corn stover, do you know the amount we have to convert into biofuel?
Steve Hartig

4 – Corn is the base of ethanol production in the US today. However, it is also used to feed animals and this sector has been complaining about the corn price. How do you evaluate this conjuncture?
Steve Hartig

5 – Could the utilization of corn stover to biofuel production stop corn kernel conversion in the US?
Steve Hartig

6 – How to solve the logistic issues related to using corn stover as feedstock?
Steve Hartig

7 – Could you detail the expected cost model for cellulosic-based biofuel that you have been working with?
Steve Hartig

8 – How does DSM-POET intend to replicate the cellulosic-based biofuel conversion technology?
Joost Dubois

9 – What is your opinion about US renewable fuels policy?
Steve Hartig

Cool Planet

Interested in knowing more about the biofuels industry, market, policy, conversion technologies and carbon negative fuel cycle? Listen to the exclusive interview of Wes Bolsen, director of Cool Planet Energy Systems, by Advanced Biofuels USA’s Dan Quadros.
Cool Planet (http://www.coolplanet.com) has developed a patented process that converts non-food biomass into gasoline through mechanical and chemical processes. Its process, known as the carbon negative fuel cycle creates drop-in gasoline that could be used in any vehicle on the road today.
1 – Which is the main idea of Cool Planet initiative?

2 – Could you describe the history of Cool Planet briefly?

3 – What are the advantages and limitations of having small scale facilities for biofuels production?

4 – Considering smaller facilities, from the one side we have the logistic issue solved, on the other hand I am concerned about the possibility of increasing costs per gallon. What do you think about it?