(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technology Office's (BETO) 2023 Billion-Ton Report (BT23) is the 4th in a series of assessments of potential biomass resources available in the United States. BT23 explores these resources in terms of quantity, price, geographical density and distribution, and market maturity. Resource quantities in this report are limited by specified economic and environmental sustainability constraints. Good practices are needed to ensure biomass production has positive environmental outcomes.
BT23 supports BETO's mission, particularly the 2023 Multi-Year Program Plan.
Key Findings and Data
The United States can produce from 1.1 to 1.5 billion tons of biomass annually in a future mature market—with potential to provide renewable liquid fuels for hard-to-electrify sectors while meeting demands for food and environmental services.
Today, bioenergy provides about 5% of U.S. energy in the form of liquid fuels, power, and heat. Bioenergy resources are largely concentrated in the corn belt, Southeast timberlands, and metropolitan areas.
Key outcomes:
1.1–1.5 billion tons of annual biomass production potential in a mature market
Tripling bioenergy production to cover ~15% of future U.S. energy needs
Equivalent to more than 60 billion gallons of renewable-carbon liquid fuels
...
Key metrics include:
- Corn to ethanol: ~150 million tons per year
- Wood to power: ~140 million tons per year
- Landfill gas and other wastes: ~40 million tons per year
...
Growing Today's Underused Biomass Supply
Currently available but unused biomass can add around 350 million more tons per year, nearly doubling bioenergy resources currently used today. Underused biomass resources include unused wastes, residues from logging operations, and agricultural residues like corn stover.
...
Reaching ~1 Billion Tons with Purpose-Grown Energy Crops
Under mature-market conditions, the United States has the potential to add over 400 million tons of biomass resources per year, bringing the total available biomass to more than 1 billion tons annually. The largest source of biomass in the future is purpose-grown energy crops with a potential to provide 300–600 million tons of biomass per year. These energy crops can be produced outside prime cropland while meeting projected demands for food, feed, and fiber.
Purpose-grown energy crops are typically perennial plants grown for their large yields of biomass. Integrated landscape management is a strategy to grow energy crops in areas where they provide the greatest economic and environmental advantages, which include:
- Resiliency compared to annual crops
- Ability to thrive on land less advantageous for annual crops
- Potential to improve water quality and reduce soil erosion if integrated strategically on the agricultural landscape within conventional crops.
A market for purpose-grown biomass crops would contribute to the economic stability of farming while meeting demands for conventional food, feed, and fiber products.
How BT23 Estimates Compare to Larger U.S. Biomass Supplies
BT23 estimates do not represent all available biomass in the United States nor equal the total U.S. supply. Rather, they represent a fraction that might be collected sustainably—often alongside the existing uses of biomass.
...
FOOD, LAND USE CHANGE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS FROM BIOMASS
BT23 illustrates how the United States can sustainably increase biomass supplies while continuing to support food production, thriving ecosystems, and beneficial uses for land. Its biomass estimates are constrained to ensure environmental sustainability and that future demands are met for food, feed, and fiber. Nevertheless, consistent monitoring, assessment, and adaptive management are essential to realize these sustainable supply opportunities. Good practices are needed to ensure biomass production has positive environmental outcomes.
...
Food Demands
Potential impacts to food production and land-use change have been raised as concerns of biomass production. To ensure future demands are met for food, feed, and fiber, BT23 constrains its biomass estimates in conjunction with these critical products.
Land Use Change
BT23's mature-market simulations include establishing energy crops on less than 10% of U.S. agricultural lands and increasing timber production by about 15%, with no decrease in forestlands. This production is modeled to have a less than 1% increase in food prices and a more than 25% increase in farm revenue.
Environmental Sustainability
BT23's biomass estimates are constrained to promote net carbon sequestration, water regulation, and other ecosystem services. If land management practices deviate from the sustainability constraints assumed in this report, more biomass could be produced but with possible unintended consequences. For example, more agricultural residues could be available at risk of increasing soil erosion.
EMERGING BIOMASS RESOURCES: MICROALGAE, MACROALGAE, AND POINT-SOURCE WASTE CARBON DIOXIDE
Beyond the terrestrial biomass estimates in BT23, the following resources could potentially expand that supply:
- Microalgae—single-celled algae cultivated in freshwater or partially saline water
- Macroalgae—multicellular algae cultivated on suspended farm systems in the ocean
- Point-source waste carbon dioxide (CO2) from power plants, cement plants, and other point-source industries.
Available biomass by county (in dry short tons per square mile) in BT23's emerging resource scenario (excludes macroalgae and CO2). Visit the BT23 data portal for complete data.
The nation has a portfolio of biomass resources. Some are used today. Some are available now but underutilized. Some could be available in the future—with different levels of economic accessibility. Together, U.S. biomass resources represent an opportunity to provide renewable energy for hard-to-electrify sectors such as aviation, marine, and rail—key components of a decarbonized transportation sector.
...
2023 Billion-Ton Report: An Assessment of U.S. Renewable Carbon Resources
READ MORE; includes VIDEO
Related articles
- DOE Releases Report Outlining How America Can Sustainably Produce More Than One Billion Tons of Biomass Per Year (U.S. Department of Energy)
- DOE outlines path to 100% aviation biofuels: The department road map says biomass production to make clean fuels could be increased without taking away from food or forestry supplies. (E&E News)
- DOE releases Billion Ton Study (Biofuels Digest)
- The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Feedstock Supply Scenario Analysis (Biofuels Digest)
- Women’s History Month—2023 Billion-Ton Report: Trailblazing Foresters Contributing to the Future of Forestry Land-Based Biomass Resources (U.S. Department of Energy)
- Burning trees for energy really does heat the climate, scientists argue (The Hill)
Excerpt from Biofuels Digest: Building on previous biomass supply analysis to provide robust feedstock supply information, the US Department of Energy has a project to update the Billion Ton Study and add a Best Use of Biomass Report. Billion Ton is End-use agnostic; the Best USe of Biomass is end-use explicit. Using economic and logistics simulation models and data visualization, both reports will provide data for national reports, federal programs, Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Matthew Langholtz presented these slides at DOE Project Peer Review on the progress to date. READ MORE
Excerpt from U.S. Department of Energy: On March 15, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the 2023 Billion-Ton Report (BT23), which shows that the United States could sustainably triple its production of biomass to more than 1 billion tons per year. The report—the fourth in a series of assessments of potential biomass resources in the U.S. since 2005—finds that 1 billion tons of biomass could satisfy over 100% of the projected demand for airplane fuel in the country, allowing the U.S. to fully decarbonize the aviation industry with sustainable aviation fuel.
The BT23 Report analyzes the biomass production capacity of approximately sixty resources, several of which have never before been analyzed for a DOE Billion-Ton assessment. These resources include trees and brush harvested from forests to prevent wildfires, winter oilseed crops, macroalgae such as seaweed cultivated in ocean farms, and carbon dioxide from industrial plants. The report finds that the wide dispersion and variety of these resources can ensure that the benefits of expanded biomass production extend to both rural and urban areas.
Four trailblazing scientists provided input to the BT23 forestry analysis, and their contributions are shaping the sustainable future of forestry land-based biomass resources. In observance of Women’s History Month, DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office is highlighting contributions from Dr. Lixia Lambert, Dr. Consuelo Brandeis, Maggie Davis, and Betsy Lesnikoski to the development of the BT23 Report. These scientists are raising awareness how forestry plays a critical role in meeting the nation’s clean energy goals, an important skillset needed to continue preparing the next generation workforce, and how women are pivotal to the success of expanding biomass production.
Dr. Lixia Lambert—Modeling the Future of Biomass Resources
As an Assistant Professor in agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University, Dr. Lambert spearheaded the modeling efforts crucial to the BT23 Report's analysis of biomass resources in the contiguous United States. Her expertise in computational modeling has enabled a nuanced understanding of biomass availability, distribution, and potential impacts on ecosystems. Lambert's input provides invaluable insights into the sustainable management of biomass resources.
Dr. Consuelo Brandeis—Supplying Data for Informed Decisions
Dr. Consuelo Brandeis, a research scientist specializing in timber product output data at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USDA-FS), has been instrumental in supplying essential data for waste resource analyses incorporated into the BT23 Report. Brandeis's meticulous research provided a comprehensive view of timber utilization and waste streams, informing strategies for optimizing resource efficiency and minimizing environmental impact. Her work underscores the importance of data-driven decision-making in forestry management, paving the way for more sustainable practices across the industry.
Maggie Davis—Leading Forestry Analysis and Data Curation
At the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Maggie Davis, a research scientist in sustainable management of forested and agricultural lands, has played a multifaceted role in shaping the BT23 Report. Overseeing the combination of three model outputs to the forestry analysis and leading the forest waste analysis with the USDA-FS, Davis, as BT23 chapter lead, brings her expertise to bear in synthesizing complex data into actionable insights. Moreover, her contributions extend to data curation under the bioenergy Knowledge Discovery Framework data portal (bioenergyKDF), facilitating researchers’ and stakeholders’ access to vital information. Davis's dedication to transparency and accessibility empowers collaboration and innovation in the pursuit of sustainable bioenergy solutions, guiding policymakers and stakeholders toward evidence-based decisions.
Betsy Lesnikoski—Championing Biomass Energy Use
Betsy Lesnikoski's expertise as Burlington Electric’s Chief Forester in Vermont enriched the BT23 Report with her insights into the current utilization of biomass for energy production. Through her contributions, Lesnikoski shed light on practical applications of biomass resources, drawing from her firsthand experience in the field. Her expertise in understanding the challenges and opportunities of biomass energy use at the local level informs broader strategies for scaling up renewable energy adoption. Lesnikoski's advocacy for sustainable forestry practices serves as a beacon for communities seeking to embrace clean, renewable sources of power.
The BT23 report stands as a testament to the collective expertise and dedication of women in the forestry profession like Dr. Lixia Lambert, Dr. Consuelo Brandeis, Maggie Davis, and Betsy Lesnikoski. Their contributions not only deepen our understanding of biomass resources but also inspire us to chart a course toward a more sustainable future. As we navigate the complexities of forestry analysis, let us continue to heed the insights of these women, forging a path toward resilience, innovation, and environmental stewardship.
Each woman is shaping the landscape of biomass analysis and sustainable resource management. Their extraordinary efforts and expertise in forestry science serve as an example to the indelible impact of women in driving progress and innovation across the bioenergy and forestry industry. Watch this BT23 forestry case study video to discover more about these dynamic women foresters and their contributions to the BT23 Report.
To learn more about DOE’s efforts to build a strong, low-carbon bioeconomy, visit the BT23 Report webpage. Visit bioenergyKDF, the bioenergy data portal that supports the data-driven bioeconomy, to further explore BT23 and bioenergy data-driven analyses, interactive maps, and graphics.
Excerpt from The Hill: The report from Princeton researcher Timothy Searchinger and Yale economist Steve Berry cuts against the idea at the core of the growing wood pellet industry: that burning trees for fuel actually drives emissions down.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is looking into the accuracy of that idea as it considers whether the wood-burning industry should get access to clean energy tax credits — which, if granted, would help fuel the industry’s expansion.
Such expansion, Searchinger and others argued in a Nature article last fall, would lead to the equivalent of about three times the emissions of the aviation industry.
But other scientists have challenged those claims, arguing that the numbers put forward in the Nature article are wrong because the bigger the market for forest products, the more forests themselves will be encouraged to grow. One paper argued that the increased profits from burning a lot more trees for energy would lead to an amount of land four times the area of India being converted to forest.
As a basis for this claim, the paper’s authors cited a 2002 study they argued had found that doubling U.S. wood energy use would lead to a 30 percent increase in forest extent.
...
They conceded that forests are expanding globally, but argued this expansion was despite increased wood harvests, rather than because of them. READ MORE
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