The Biorefinery Project of the Future: A 10-Part Series

September 22, 2010

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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...We have spoken to farmers, local business owners, environmentalists, community development officials, engine developers, scientists, policy makers, producers, investors, lenders, blenders, wholesalers, retailers, and end users. We have visited development projects on four continents. We have given it our all.

What works? Our question to you has been: what works? Our quest: to assemble your collective view into a path from start-up to success. READ MORE

Part 1: The Challenges of Advanced Biofuels

Some principles of development
- 1. First do no harm.
- 2. Less is more.
- 3. Add ingredients slowly and mix thoroughly.
Step one – the first generation biofuel plant
The first problem of demonstrations: deciding what needs to be demonstrated
Ethanol is the means to a sustainable end
Your bug may be magic, but how are your grower relations?
Biomass aggregation is not as easy as falling off a log
The biomass opportunity in a sustainable community
Corn not your local crop? Barley, sugarcane welcome too
Why first generation biofuels are a component of advanced biofuels projects

Part II – Collecting Cellulosic Biomass

Talking to growers about biomass
Commit to the community, and they will commit back
Creating a positive farmer-to-farmer vibe for cellulosic biomass
Replacing natural gas or other fossil fuels in our process
Focus for R&D – take all the biomass off the field, not just cobs
Impacting the tangibles creates ambassadors for the intangibles
Whoa- we’re far from done – where we want value streams, we have emission streams

Part III: Adding Renewable Chemicals Production

Making renewable chemicals – the why and who and how
Building our community of upstream growers and downstream partners
The renewable chemicals partner as strategic investor
The practicalities of raising affordable capital for commercial-scale deployments
Feedstock choices
Acquiring must-have skills in risk management
Adding direct and indirect value to the communities we serve

Part IV: Adding Advanced Biofuels

How much capacity?
What production technology, and what feedstocks, will we use?

Part V: Add Algal Fuels

The CO2 wellspring
How much algae?
The land footprint?
Can algae grow economically in the ethanol belt?
The economics
The market for our algal fuels
The value proposition for our community of growers

Part VI: Add BioAmmonia

The why and the how
How much cost and carbon are avoided?
Impacting our community of growers in 4 ways
Adding bioammonia can add to profitability as well as sustainability

Part VII: Adding Cellulosic Diesel

Why clean diesel?
Building our sustainable community
Magic bugs or bioforming: two paths for bioprocessing
The economics and impact
Where does money flow from fossil fuel purchasing?
Opportunities in the Low Carbon Fuel Standards

Part VIII: Adding Lowest Cost Feedstocks

Trap grease and other hard-to-handle feedstocks
Fats, oils and greases from wastewater
Municipal solid waste
Industrial waste streams
Adding coal as a low-cost feedstock and CO2 source

Part IX: Adding Solar, Wind, Other Renewables

Opportunities in solar
Opportunities in wind energy
Opportunities in geothermal energy
Opportunities in blue energy – tidal, wave or riverflow
Energy, and the community it serves

Part X: Bringing it all Together: How do I get it done, make it happen?

T’aint What You Do – It’s the Way That You Do it
Fuels of the community, by the community, for the community
Howdy, pardner
A catalyst for good things far beyond fuel

Editor's Note: This series is one of the most valuable quick reads you will ever find for any price--and it's free. Valuable for potential investors, financiers, growers, political leaders, community advocates, teachers and students of sciences and social sciences, and for those with a general interest in biofuels and advanced biofuels.

The strategic path, philosophy of development and insights about the biofuels and renewable fuels industry are well-organized, succinct and applicable to any place on the globe. This is a must-read for beginners and industry professionals alike. ---Joanne Ivancic