Sludge Watch ==> U of Tennessee looks at ethanol from sludge and other biomass

[Maureen Reilly]

>From field to buyers - but how?
UT scientists propose model of pilot biorefinery to make, supply biofuels

By DARREN DUNLAP, dunlapd at knews.com
December 6, 2006


>From the farm to the refinery and then to the fuel tank: It's a trek 
University of Tennessee researchers hope they can make on a large scale with 
ethanol derived from biomass.
UT researchers rolled out a research and business model called the Tennessee 
Biofuels Initiative on Monday. The initiative calls for construction and 
operation of a pilot biorefinery to demonstrate and refine biofuels 
production technology.


"The real struggle is how do you put that together on a larger scale?" said 
Joe DiPietro, UT vice president for agriculture.

UT officials hope to get answers to some of the questions about running a 
large refinery for ethanol fuels made from biomass.

DiPietro presented the initiative Monday at the Tennessee Farm Bureau 
Federation's annual conference in Franklin.

The goal is to develop an alternative fuel source and other bio-based 
products, boosting economic development and energy independence in Tennessee 
and the Southeast. Environmental sustainability is also part of that goal.

The initiative also could mean as much as $400 million a year more in tax 
revenue statewide, according to UT.

Dr. David Millhorn, UT vice president for research, said the proposed 
biorefinery would need to be near researchers at UT and Oak Ridge National 
Laboratory and near crops and good transportation.

He did not name a specific location.

"We're not ruling anything out," he said. "We're going to look at several 
sites."

One of the sources for the biomass used in the process is switchgrass.

Biomass comes from such sources as trees, agricultural wastes, fuel crops, 
sewage sludge and manure. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 
biomass has been the largest renewable energy source every year since 2000.

Millhorn estimated costs of $25 million to $30 million to build the 
biorefinery. That figure did not include operating costs or the expenditure 
for purchase of crops. UT economists are at work on those figures, he said.

It initially would produce about 5 million gallons of ethanol, and then 
production would be increased to about 100 million gallons a year.

"What we want to do is show proof of concept," said Millhorn, "and use it as 
a tool to stimulate investment from the private sector."

It would also give confidence to farmers that it would work, he said.

UT researchers also point to the state's climate and the availability of 
switchgrass as a plus for the initiative.

"Switchgrass is ideal for a lot of your marginal land in flood plain and 
rolling hilly areas," said Lacy Upchurch, president of the Tennessee Farm 
Bureau Federation.

In West Tennessee, lands flood quite often, he said. Switchgrass can 
withstand flooding better than most row crops, he said.

Upchurch said farmers liked the idea of the biofuel initiative.

According to the UT Agricultural Policy Analysis Center, some potential 
benefits of the Tennessee Biofuels Initiative include $400 million in 
additional local and state taxes and $100 million in new farm revenue to 
about 20,000 of Tennessee's farmers annually.

DiPietro pointed out that the state's farmers could be looking at a new 
commodity in switchgrass.

"It's not often you get to think about a new commodity," he said.

UT also projects displacement of 30 percent of the state's present 
petroleum-based consumption.

That projection is based on production annually of 1 billion gallons of the 
ethanol product - which UT scientists have trademarked Grassoline - once 
additional plants come online.

UT has worked on the initiative for about a year. Researchers at UT and ORNL 
have been studying conversion of switchgrass and woody biomass to fuel for 
years.

"We have some people in our department who have 20 or more years invested in 
this," said Dr. Kelly Tiller, an economist with UT's Agricultural Institute, 
who also presented the biofuels initiative Monday with DiPietro.

Millhorn was upbeat about the initiative.

"This is an opportunity for the state to invest in itself," he said. "We're 
well situated to do this."

Darren Dunlap may be reached at 865-342-6334.

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,KNS_347_5193249,00.html