Update on Alternative Energy for Rural Producers

1. Update on Alternative Energy for Rural Producers Robert Scott Frazier, Ph.D., CEM. Assistant Professor, Renewable Energy Extension Engineer Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering 212 Ag Hall Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK  74078 (405) 744-5289

3. Imagine Energy in 100 years • Sustainable/Renewable • Low Net Carbon How will we get there? Two possible routes… • Mad Scramble – Manage by Emergency – competition for dwindling resources and hope for “breakthrough” • Design – Define Goal, Some false starts but eventually find solution(s) – Inclusive planning for future

4. How Does “Design” Approach Start? • Find Fossil Fuel Substitutes • Become More Efficient

5. Renewable Energy – Fossil Fuel Substitutes Energy generated from natural resources—Which are renewable (naturally replenished). Examples of renewable energy include: • Ethanol • Biodiesel • Wind Energy • Solar Energy • Anaerobic Digesters • Gasification • Hydrogen (in various forms)

6. Ethanol • Almost a drop-in gasoline replacement • “Food versus Fuel” debate • Can use some of the existing gasoline distribution infrastructure • Some storage and distribution issues however • Domestically produced • Agricultural product (sugar or cellulous based) • This is not the same as biodiesel

7. Cellulosic versus Starch Ethanol Production

8. Biofuel Research at OSU: Gasification-Fermentation Conversion Technology. • In this thermochemical process, carbon materials such as grasses or wood chips are converted to synthetic gas using gasification technologies. • The resulting “syngas” is then converted into ethanol using OSU Biofuel Team patented microorganisms. • This process uses readily available organic materials, instead of grains, to produce ethanol fuel. • The conversion process is approximately twice as productive as corn-based ethanol production. [Drs. Huhnke, Atiyah, Wilkins, Bellmer]

9. Biomass Gasifier Bioreactor Grow, harvest, and transport biomass Convert biomass to producer gas “syngas” (CO, CO2, H2) Ferment producer gas to ethanol (and other useful products) OSU Ethanol Strategy

10. 0- operational0- under construction Current Cellulosic Ethanol Production Facilities in the U.S.

11. Biofuel Research at OSU: Sweet Sorghum • OSU researchers are examining the viability of production of ethanol on the farmer’s own farm using sweet sorghum. The OSU Biofuels team is working to determine the maximum possible harvest window for producing sweet sorghum in Oklahoma. [Drs. Bellmer, Huhnke]

12. Benefits of Using Sweet Sorghum for Ethanol Production • Yields juice with 15-20% directly fermentable sugar (i.e. no starch to convert) • Can be grown in temperate climates such as Oklahoma • ‘More Crop Per Drop’ – Low irrigation needs • Low fertilizer needs Potential Ethanol Production Based on Current Information: • In Oklahoma, we could plant sweet sorghum about mid-April, and stagger plantings for 2-3 months, which would give a harvest window of August through November. Assuming an average yield of 25 wet tons/acre, a juice expression ratio of 0.55 lb juice/lb biomass, and an average sugar content of 15%, the ethanol production would be more than 300 gallons of ethanol per acre.

13. Other Energy Research at OSU: Thermo Tolerant Yeast [Dr. Wilkins] Biodiesel [Dr. Dunford] Small Scale Wind and Solar Energy Systems [Dr. Frazier] Hydrogen, Anaerobic Digestion [Drs. Welker, Bowser, Hamilton, Frazier, Others]

14. Anarobic Digestion Economics Installed Costs: $3,700 - $7,000 per kWh Operating Costs: $0.02 per kWh Avoided Utility Cost: $0.12 per kWh Cow Example with 1,000 Head: Installed cost = $900,000, $15,600 per year operating cost, energy savings per year = $93,600 Simple Payback = 9.8 years ** Payback may be better due to avoided environmental costs, etc.

15. Biodiesel • A true “drop-in” fuel substitute for petroleum diesel • Requires large quantities of some type of bio-oil • Fairly simple to make (Oil, Methanol, lye)… • Lower emissions when combusted • Completely domestic product • Problems • You need lots of vegetable oil (food product) to start • Finished fuel, in general, more sensitive to cold (gels) than petro-diesel • Cannot store for long periods of time (may phase separate) • Probably not price competitive with current (temporarily lower) fuel prices

16. Energy Efficiency Pro - • Fastest way to save energy (most paybacks in less than 5 years – some immediate) • Potential may be vast (33-40%)* • Great stop-gap until research and long-term energy projects come on line Con – • Often not “sexy” or super high tech • Usually requires user effort and change (possible show-stopper here) * http://www.aceee.org/energy/eemra/eeassess.htm#natl

17. What about Energy Efficiency & Economics?

18. How Important is Efficiency versus Finding More Energy? Consider: Between 1949 and 2006 the per capita energy use increased 1.6 times however the GDP increased 3.1 times. We used energy more efficiently and effectively to be more productive.

19. Agriculture and Energy • Energy Use in Agricultural Production (Supplier and End User) • 44% Direct Fuel Use (Diesel, Gasoline, Gases) • 29% Fertilizer • 7% Irrigation • 20% Other (Grain drying, pesticides, operations…)

20. Direct Fuel Use • On-farm production of bio-diesel – possible, but time consuming and expensive (need vegetable or waste animal oil to be viable) – storage issues • Small-scale ethanol production – some potential, but some drawbacks (basically have to build a still and maintain it with US Treasury and state approval) • Gasification possible for some operations (this has some potential but is fundamentally different than liquid fuel)

21. Direct Fuel Use • Efficiency of Operations • Fuel Storage Practices: Fuel tanks can loose up to 35% volume per year due to evaporation (paint tank white, shade, proper caps…) • Thermostatic Electric Block Heaters (cheaper than running to warm up) • Check Thermostat (stuck open can increase fuel consumption up to 25% @ 100F coolant temp) • Minimize Idling (15-20% of fuel usage typically) • Equipment State of Tune • Field Practices (Tillage, Tire slippage, …)

22. Fertilizer Production and Use • Mostly “Indirect” energy consumption • Natural gas connection • Some application energy use (Efficiency of Operations) • Organic fertilizers use less energy for production (cheaper) but probably use more for handling and application • collection of organic waste • loading and transportation of waste to a processing plant • unloading and putting waste into windrows • turning and irrigation of windrows to expedite composting • collection, loading, and transportation of composted waste from processing plant to field • unloading waste for storage • loading and applying waste to field by farm equipment http://www.eolss.net/ebooks/Sample%20Chapters/C08/E3-18-04-03.pdf

23. Irrigation Energy Efficiency • Most efficiency improvements are in application and/or pump and impeller (involves trimming and system flow analysis) • Possible use of drip irrigation systems • Lower pressure requirements (for different zones?, 70-80 psi down to 20-25 psi - possibly) • Reduce line friction (larger diameter, smooth transitions) • Don’t design for the end-gun pressures, use a booster for end guns • Change nozzle sizes to allow lower pressures (reduce flow but not volume) • Use variable speed drives where applicable

24. Carbon – The Potential New “Crop” • Tillage Methods can return carbon into the soil – could get “credit” for amount trapped, or Efficiency Improvements • OK Conservation Commission would (probably) be Verification Agency • At least one pilot program (W. Farmers Coop) • Voluntary trading on Chicago Carbon Exchange (CCX) – “Feel Good”, “Green”, no Federal legislative teeth yet • Next administration (Dem or Rep) has said it will address Carbon • OSU is tracking (S. Farrell, D. Adams) • If U.S. carbon mitigation does become law…

25. http://aceee.org/conf/08ag/presentations/RConant.pdf

26. Electrical and Natural Gas Efficiency in Oklahoma • Working to Build State Rural Producer Energy Audit Program • Probably Producer “Type” Specific (Crops, Poultry, etc.) • Partners will probably be: • Electric and Gas Utilities (Possible Auditors) • State Extension Service (Link Customers/Services) • USDA (Farm Bill – Possible Funding) • State of Oklahoma Energy Office (Visibility) • Oklahoma State University (Auditor Training and Program Design)

27. What About Extension Services? • Vision for OSU BAE and District Relationships • Be able to have district personnel provide useful energy answers without requiring extensive training in specific areas • Personnel will have resources to either find answers or direct customer inquiries to self-help • Provide a line of communication to disseminate research and legislative topics important to the customers through district

28. Extension Efficiency Services • OSU BAE will provide district training and access to materials for applications/questions on: • Building and Home General Energy Efficiency Topics • Equipment Energy Topics (Electric Motors, Process Heating, etc.)

29. Small Scale Renewable Energy Systems Research • Will provide district training and access to materials for applications/questions on: • Small Scale Wind Turbines • Small Scale Solar Electrical • Solar Heating • Gasification systems • Other

30. Other Programs • Building Energy Monitor Lending Program • Various Research Areas: • Hydrogen Production • Fuel Cells • On-site electricity production (micro-turbine) • Other

31. Lots to Do… Questions? Thanks!