Woody Biomass for Bioenergy and Biofuels in the United States


Book Description

Woody biomass (WB) can be used for the generation of heat, electricity, and biofuels. Bioenergy production from WB has not been widely adopted because the price of WB energy has not been competitive with traditional fossil fuels. However, current projections of future energy use, renewable energy and climate change legislation suggest increased use of both WB and agr. biomass energy. This report provides a summary of the knowledge related to the production of WB from bioenergy with a focus on the econ. perspective. The most common WB feedstocks are described along with results of econ. modeling studies related to the provision of biomass from short-rotation woody crops, harvest residues, and haz.-fuel reduction efforts.




Woody Biomass for Bioenergy and Biofuels in the United States- a Briefing Paper


Book Description

Woody biomass can be used for the generation of heat, electricity, and biofuels. In many cases, the technology for converting woody biomass into energy has been established for decades, but because the price of woody biomass energy has not been competitive with traditional fossil fuels, bioenergy production from woody biomass has not been widely adopted. However, current projections of future energy use and renewable energy and climate change legislation under consideration suggest increased use of both forest and agriculture biomass energy in the coming decades. This report provides a summary of some of the existing knowledge and literature related to the production of woody biomass from bioenergy with a particular focus on the economic perspective. The most commonly discussed woody biomass feedstocks are described along with results of existing economic modeling studies related to the provision of biomass from short-rotation woody crops, harvest residues, and hazardous-fuel reduction efforts. Additionally, the existing social science literature is used to highlight some challenges to widespread production of biomass energy.




Informing Chemical Engineering Decisions with Data, Research, and Government Resources


Book Description

This book offers new engineers and engineering students appropriate and effective strategies to find data, statistics, and research to support decision making. The authors describe the utility of solid reputable sources and help readers go beyond reliance on the quick Internet search, a habit which is often both inadequate to complex tasks and a source of criticism from employers. Some sources are free; others are available through libraries, or by purchase or subscription. This title can be used as a guide in concert with the advice of professors and colleagues, and potentially as a textbook. The examples are primarily from chemical and agricultural engineering, but the strategies could be adapted to other disciplines. An array of sources are shown, ranging from scholarly or professional societies, data sources, and books, to handbooks and journal sources, and less commonly used credible government documents and Web resources, including information from the USDA, the EPA and the DOE. Two case studies show research processes and the application of the underlying strategies and some of the tools.




Energy


Book Description

"This 800-page premier book on energy focuses on energy sources, utilizations, legislations and sustainability as it relates to a state, a province, or a country, or a community within a state. This book presents various kinds of energy sources, ways to convert energy for end use, better use of energy towards conservation and energy- and environmental-sustainability. As a very proper model-state the authors chose the State of Illinois which has the largest overall fossil energy reserves, including the largest strippable bituminous coal reserves; the largest user of nuclear energy in USA and has also been investing in all kinds of renewable energies including wind energy, solar energy, biofuels, geothermal energy, and various energy storage options. In the authors' opinion, State of Illinois is a pioneer in legislations for proper development and use of all kinds of energy. Their motivation to do this project was to educate the public (including students, energy engineers and planers, as well as state- and country-wide policy makers) about all aspects of energy. In this book, the authors present various energy sources, conversions technologies, and conservation possibilities. In every case, the authors have presented various options available for a country, for a state, or for a community to achieve its goal of energy sufficiency, clean environment and as a result, sustainability. Variety of schemes related to each energy source and its related conversion technologies are presented and sustainability of renewable energy sources is discussed. All the possible energy sources including coal, natural gas, petroleum, nuclear, solar, wind, biofuels and geothermal energy are presented in this book, as well as energy storage options. The authors have also presented various ways of dealing with carbon dioxide, which is produced from fossil fuels combustion, including its collection, transportation, storage and sequestration. The energy storage systems presented in this book will facilitate reliable and full integration of renewable power to the grid."--




Mobilisation of Forest Bioenergy in the Boreal and Temperate Biomes


Book Description

Mobilisation of Forest Bioenergy in the Boreal and Temperate Biomes: Challenges, Opportunities, and Case Studies features input from key international experts who identify and analyze the main opportunities and roadblocks for the implementation of sustainable forest biomass supply chains in the boreal and temperate regions. It draws from responses to surveys that were sent to specialists from different countries, compares models of bioenergy deployment, and discusses different types of bioenergy carriers. Efficiency and profitability of the supply chain are analyzed and the scale and level of confidence of feedstock inventory estimates are highlighted. Logistics and ecological and socio-economic footprints are also covered. This book provides a synthesis of the scientific and technical literature on specific aspects of forest biomass supply chains, and quantifies future potentials in comparison to estimates provided by other sources and the targets for bioenergy production set by various organizations (IEA, IPCC, etc.). Finally, the book proposes recommendations for practitioners, policymakers, and future research. This approach makes the book especially relevant for professionals, policymakers, researchers, and graduate students in the field of bioenergy conversion and management, as well as those interested in sustainable management of natural resources. - Presents foundational theory, examples and lessons learned, drawing on scientific and technical literature, as well as surveys conducted among stakeholders from various countries of the boreal and temperate biomes - Provides best practices, insights, and recommendations through an integrative framework that encompasses various aspects of forest biomass supply chain, at different scales, and looking at a broad geographical and geopolitical range - Compares contrasting history, policy context, and level of forest bioenergy development in several countries through several case studies - Analyzes the efficiency and profitability of the supply chain, highlighting the scale and level of confidence of feedstock inventory estimates




Energy Impacts


Book Description

Society and Natural Resources Book Series, copublished with the Society and Natural Resources Press Development of various energy sources continues across North America and around the world, raising questions about social and economic consequences for the places and communities where these activities occur. Energy Impacts brings together important new research on site-level social, economic, and behavioral impacts from large-scale energy development. Featuring conceptual and empirical multidisciplinary research from leading social scientists, the volume collects a broad range of perspectives to understand North America’s current energy uses and future energy needs. Twelve chapters from respected scholars in a variety of disciplines present new ways to consider and analyze energy impact research. Focused on varied energy topics, geographies, and disciplines, each chapter includes a policy brief that summarizes the work and provides “key takeaways” to apply the findings to policy and public discourse. Meaningful public engagement is critical in limiting the negative implications of energy development, and understanding the social influences on and of energy systems is a cornerstone of addressing the climate crisis. As such, Energy Impacts is a significant work for students, scholars, and professionals working in sociology, education, geography, environmental studies, and public health. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1528422. Publication is also supported, in part, by Montana State University. Contributors: Ali Adil, Lisa Bailey-Davis, Nancy Bowen-Elizey, Morey Burnham, Weston Eaton, Heather Feldhaus, Felix Fernando, Emily Grubert, C. Clare Hinrichs, John Hintz, Richard Hirsh, Season Hoard, Tamara Laninga, Eric Larson, Achla Marathe, Natalie Martinkus, Seven Mattes, Ronald Meyers, Patrick Miller, Ethan Minier, Myra Moss, Jacob Mowery, Thomas Murphy, Sevda Ozturk Sari, John Parkins, Christopher Podeschi, Nathan Ratledge, Sanne Rijkhoff, Kelli Roemer, Todd Schenk, Anju Seth, Kate Sherren, Jisoo Sim, Marc Stern, Jessica Ulrich-Schad, Cameron Whitley, Laura Zachary




Handbook of Forest Resource Economics


Book Description

It is increasingly recognized that the economic value of forests is not merely the production of timber. Forests provide other key ecosystem services, such as being sinks for greenhouse gases, hotspots of biodiversity, tourism and recreation. They are also vitally important in preventing soil erosion and controlling water supplies, as well as providing non-timber forest products and supporting the livelihoods of many local people. This handbook provides a detailed, comprehensive and broad coverage of forest economics, including traditional forest economics of timber production, economics of environmental role of forests, and recent developments in forest economics. The chapters are grouped into six parts: fundamental topics in forest resource economics; economics of forest ecosystems; economics of forests, climate change, and bioenergy; economics of risk, uncertainty, and natural disturbances; economics of forest property rights and certification; and emerging issues and developments. Written by leading environmental, forest, and natural resource economists, the book represents a definitive reference volume for students of economics, environment, forestry and natural resource economics and management.




Area Changes in U.S. Forests and Other Major Land Uses, 1982 to 2002, with Projections to 2062


Book Description

Describes area changes among major land uses on the U.S. land base for historical trends from 1982 to 2002 and projections out to 2062. Historically, 11 million acres of forest, cropland, and open space were converted to urban and other developed uses from 1992 to 1997 on non-federal land in the contiguous U.S. The largest percentage increase was in urban use, which grew by 10% or 7.3 million acres between 1997 and 2001. Forest land was the largest source of land converted to developed uses such as urbanization. Urban and other developed areas are projected to continue to grow substantially, in line with a projected U.S. population increase of more than 120 million people over the next 50 years. Figures. This is a print on demand publication.




Agroindustrial Waste for Green Fuel Application


Book Description

The book revisit in depth scope of agroindustrial waste for enhancement in biofuels production on practical ground. It explores and discusses various cellulose rich agro-wastes along with low cost, advance technology based options for sustainable biofuels production. Lignocellulosic biomasses are potential producer of biofuels due to renewable nature and huge occurrence. Cellulose is the main polymeric component of these biomasses apart from lignin and hemicellulose. It can be converted into fermentable sugars using cellulase enzyme which can be further converted into the renewable energy sources such as biohydrogen, bioethanol, biogas and butanol. Chapters in this title provide exclusive and critical analysis of specific biofuels production process only from lignocellulosic biomass, based on their type, property, availability, cost and most important sugar or cellulose content along with the simplest process search for converting these biomasses into biofuels to make overall process more simple and economical.It is a useful guide for academician and environmentalist who are working to explore feasible advantages associated with these kinds of waste management and their effective valorization. It is also a great resource for senior undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, professionals, and other interested individuals/groups working in the field of biofuel/bioenergy.




Introduction to Forestry and Natural Resources


Book Description

Introduction to Forestry and Natural Resources presents a broad overview of the profession of forestry. The book details several key fields within forestry, including forest health, economics, policy, utilization, and forestry careers. Chapters deal specifically with forest products and harvesting, recreation, wildlife habitats, tree anatomy and physiology, and ethics. These topics are ideal for undergraduate introductory courses and include numerous examples (mainly graphical) and questions for students to ponder. Unlike other introductory forestry texts, which focus largely on forest ecology rather than practical forestry concepts, Introduction to Forestry and Natural Resources encompasses economic, ecological, and social aspects providing a uniquely balanced text. The wide range of experience of the contributing authors equips them especially well to identify missing content from other texts in the area and address topics currently covered in corresponding college courses. - 300 original illustrations including line art, graphs, tables and maps - Syllabus-planning assistance for adopting professors so that they can add the content to their course materials via the companion website's question-and-answer material for each chapter - Contributors are experienced textbook authors with diverse professional backgrounds in forestry