Earth Day Spotlight: BETO Technology Manager Focuses Work on Agricultural Sustainability, Environmental, and Equity Justice Impacts

(U.S. Department of Energy) ... BETO Technology Manager for Renewable Carbon Resources (RCR), Dr. Chenlin Li, is a DOE innovator supercharging the clean energy revolution with a commitment to stewardship of the planet’s natural resources. BETO’s RCR Program focuses on facilitating availability, reducing cost, improving quality, and maximizing environmental benefits while mobilizing renewable carbon resources to enable the production of bioenergy and bioproducts.

Dr. Li is a chemical and environmental engineer by training and demonstrates expertise at BETO by leading various renewable carbon feedstock supply chain, feedstock production, preprocessing, waste utilization technologies and collaborates with national laboratories, academic, government, and industry members to meet sustainability goals. On Earth Day, the work of Dr. Li can inspire us all to do our part to help create a better future.

Dr. Li’s Career Path

A Step into the Energy Transition: Partnering with INL for first-of-its-kind Biomass Feedstock Facility

A major project under Dr. Li’s portfolio is her leadership role in launching INL’s upgraded Biomass Feedstock National User Facility (BFNUF), a center for rapid technology development, testing and scaling up advanced biomass pre-processing toward the commercialization of biofuels and bioproducts. DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony in May 2023 for the $15 million expansion and upgrade that began in 2020 and was funded by BETO. The BFNUF will be a critical component of the Clean Fuels & Products Shot™ efforts to decarbonize the transportation and chemical industries and is essential to achieving the Biden-Harris administration’s goals to reach net zero emissions economy-wide by 2050.

Before leading the project at BETO, Dr. Li did program management at INL and oversaw INL’s bioenergy R&D portfolio including BFNUF upgrading capabilities. “I was able to continue managing the project from the BETO side one year after I left INL and joined BETO, so I feel proud of the upgrade. This past May, the BFNUF opened the doors to welcome industry collaborators, academia, and federal agencies, with new biomass characterization and preprocessing capabilities, while also announcing the Clean Fuels and Products Earthshot™. INL did an awesome job from the scientists and engineers of the bioenergy program to the overall lab leadership team. The ribbon-cutting event turned out to be a great event and I was proud. Going through the process from the ideas and schematic design of the upgrading capabilities on paper to seeing the equipment and system operating efficiently in the upgraded facility was amazing,” said Dr. Li.

The facility helps the bioenergy industry overcome challenges related to turning renewable carbon resources like purpose-grown energy crops, municipal solid waste, forestry and agricultural residues into valuable fuels and clean chemicals.

BETO Portfolio and Environmental, Equity Impacts

Dr. Li’s portfolio is extensive and focuses on climate smart agriculture with several on-going projects under her leadership with national laboratories and universities that are making an impact on the environment, equity, and workforce development. Her projects also support the recently released 2023 Billion-Ton Report, which shows that the U.S. could sustainably triple its production of biomass to more than 1 billion tons per year.

One of the collaborations in her portfolio is with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in partnership with Washington State University (WSU). This partnership is helping farmers with agricultural practices using cover crops. A cover crop is a plant that is used primarily to benefit the successful growth of other future crops, including help with soil health, soil erosion, increasing biodiversity, and other benefits to a farm.

“The cover crop project at PNNL is very unique in terms of working with farmers to utilize cover crops as feedstocks for biofuels to maximize the value. Cover crops are grown in three weather systems/locations, wetland, dryland, and irrigated land, in Washington State in at least two growing seasons to understand the seasonal variability and impact of weather systems for optimal growth. PNNL and WSU are working directly with farmers to do field day education and generating relevant field data for cover crop adoption. They’re also providing information on economic and sustainability impacts to local and regional farmers,” said Dr. Li.

Dr. Li highlighted the benefits of this project to minority groups in Washington State with the research and collaboration bringing economic, education, and workforce opportunities to the local area. She shared that this project provides cover crop productivity data, harvesting strategies, cover crop properties for biofuel conversion, and cost and environmental sustainability benefits. “It also helps in gathering data on the utilization of cover crops such as blending with waste from different locations to supply sustainable feedstocks to biorefineries for biofuels production. There are many good things coming out of this project.”

Another project under Dr. Li’s portfolio involves researchers from North Carolina State University, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the University of Puerto Rico, and the Fearless Fund who want to turn wood waste from Hurricane Maria 6 years ago and excess seaweed on Caribbean shorelines into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and graphite, an important component in electric vehicle batteries. This project has the potential to not only mitigate waste streams and harmful impact on coastal communities but create new jobs and stimulate underserved students’ interest in career pathways in the bioeconomy.

In this project, there will be efforts to recruit graduate students from HBCUs, including North Carolina Agricultural & Technical College (A&T), NC Central University, and the University of Puerto Rico. Training materials will be developed to assist students develop skills necessary to qualify for the jobs enabled by this project, and employment opportunities in the bioeconomy. The multi-institutional research team goal is to empower a region already impacted by climate change and often underrepresented in economic development.

Earth Day and Pursuing Renewable Energy Opportunities

From cover crop projects to municipal solid waste, Dr. Li is passionate about the work she’s doing at BETO and Earth Day serves as a reminder that environmental sustainability is achievable. Dr. Li encourages individuals, including the next generation, to recognize environmental, energy, and equity justice opportunities as a career path.

“I believe the most challenging part of career development is jumping out of your comfort zone and taking on challenges," said Dr. Li. "For those people that are very passionate about clean energy and climate change, I would say be willing to adapt to changes and have the courage to pursue paths that are very important. Don’t limit yourself in trying different opportunities for career development.”