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Ethanol Producers' Technical Workshop:
April 26, 2001
8:30 am to 4:00 pm Comfort Inn Airport
Bloomington, Minnesota Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy(DOE)/Western Regional Biomass Energy Program (WRBEP) sponsored two Ethanol Producers’ Technical Workshops. The first was held on March 22nd in Omaha, Nebraska and the second on April 24th in Bloomington, Minnesota.
The Minnesota meeting offered perspectives from ethanol producers, production technology providers, and government researchers. Those in attendance were given the task of exploring the challenges and opportunities presented by combining cellulosic ethanol streams with existing grain streams.
Researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Oakridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) presented an overview of their ongoing programs to develop cellulosic-based ethanol production.
Breakout sessions were held to identify specific opportunities and barriers related to the incorporation of cellulosic feedstocks into existing grain-to-ethanol plants.
Like the Omaha group, those in Minnesota agreed that in order for the cellulose-to-ethanol and corn-to-ethanol to come together some basic assumptions would have to be acknowledged.
1. To meet future demand, additional feedstocks will be needed.
2. Private industry is not likely to move forward without government funding.
3. The rewards would have to justify the risks.
4. A "24-7" demonstration plant is needed to improve the technology and guarantee profitability comparable to grain.
5. A facility would need to be co-located with a standard facility.
The group felt that the workshop was very useful and productive, but agreed there is a need to continue discussions. “These meetings accomplished what they were meant to do,” said Jeff Graef, WRBEP Program Manager. “Bring those who have a stake in the ethanol industry together to guide it’s technological future.”
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Renewable Diesel Workshops:
NREL
Goals: ..."to educate key public officials and the general public
about biodiesel as a transportation fuel" and ..."to build state and
local coalitions that would form the nuclei of a support group that
would promote and eventually lead to local biodiesel production and
use."
Ethanol Producers'
Technical Workshops:
Perspectives from ethanol producers, production technology
providers, and government researchers. Those in attendance were
given the task of exploring the challenges and opportunities
presented by combining cellulosic ethanol streams with existing
grain streams.
US DOE Ethanol Workshop Series:
A series of one-day, state-level workshops to educate key public
officials and the general public about ethanol as a transportation
fuel.
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