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Agenda. Introduction to Biofuels Biotechnology can help make Biofuels cheaper The next generation of biofuels and the US economy Israeli biotechnology is helping biofuels. Introduction to The World Of Biofuels. BioDiesel. BioEthanol.
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Agenda • Introduction to Biofuels • Biotechnology can help make Biofuels cheaper • The next generation of biofuels and the US economy • Israeli biotechnology is helping biofuels
Introduction to The World Of Biofuels BioDiesel BioEthanol • Starch from grains is broken to sugars, sugars are fermented to produce ethanol • Plant oils are broken to fatty acids to produce biodiesel • Ethanol (up to 10%) is blended with gasoline to be used in available gasoline engines • Biodiesel (up to 20%) is blended with diesel to be used in available diesel engines FUEL Biodiesel Ethanol Blend with Gasoline Blend with Diesel Diesel Engines Gasoline Engines
The world consumption of Biofuels is growing • Soybean and Canola Biodiesel consumption (B. Li) Biodiesel (Diesel) • Corn Ethanol consumption (US – B. of GEL*) Ethanol (Gasoline) EU Target – 5.75% of transport fuel in 2010 US – 30 % of transport fuels in 2030 * GEL – Gasoline equivalent liters
US Ethanol Fuel Consumption is Growing Pros: • Ethanol refineries are located in the “corn belt” • Can be mixed with gasoline • Higher octane than gasoline • Non toxic • In the US ethanol consumption is growing Cons: • Has 65% energy content of gasoline • Mixes with water. Could not be transported through conventional pipes • Competes with food/feed on resources US Ethanol Production
US Government Decision - Go for More Biofuels US transportation fuel demand is growing fast 2005: The 30:30 initiative by the Bush Administration • Develop a renewable and DOMESTIC source of biofuels • The aim of US government- replacing 100 Billion Gallons (BG) of motor fuel (30% of the 2004 demand) by 2030
Corn Ethanol - Major Source For Biofuels? How much corn ethanol can the US produce? Percentage of Corn used for Ethanol • Using 20% of corn production is replacing 4% of current use of gasoline for transportation • US corn production increase is slow (1% a year) The conclusion – Corn ethanol is NOT the solution for the future needs
Ethanol an be made from any biomass! All plants Cellulose Cellulose is the most abounded bio material in the world! Sucrose Starch Corn FUEL Ethanol FFV- flex fuel cars can Use gasoline or ethanol
1BT of biomass is needed to produce 20% of the US gasoline! • To meet the US government 2030 goal, a 1BT of biomass should be produced to make 71 BG of ethanol. • To make 1 BT of biomass, additional cellulose feedstock is needed • Cellulose feedstock could not compete with conventional crops on land and water Need about 1BT of biomass in 2030 Wheat Straw Cellulose Forest Residues Perennial Crops Corn Stover
Price of Biomass Ethanol Production is Expected to Decline Market size of $34B for cellulosic ethanol feedstock $156 for GEB $46 GEB $83 GEB • To become competitive, costs of cellulosic ethanol production must be sharply reduced
Cellulose Refineries Will Spread All Over The Country . IOGEN 18 MG/Y switchgrass POET 125 MG/Y Corn stover Range Fuels 9 MG/Y Waste wood Abengoa 11.4 MG/Y Corn Stover. Wheat Straw BlueFire Ethanol 19MG/Y Waste wood, Alico 13.9 MG/Y Waste wood • Total production of 200M gallons in 2009 • Locations are spread all over the US • US government funded these refineries with a total of $385M • Congress is likely to approve $750M loan guaranties for enlarging production
How can Biotechnology help? Improved Plant: Increased Yield ( ) Control Candidate 1 • 25% higher yields under normal and stress conditions • Generic function in plants: Applicable to other crops Standard Plant Improved Plant with .
Improving Existing Crops “Biodiesel Oriented” Crops • Higher Yields • Soybean - Agreement with • Canola – Improved seeds being developed • Increased oil for Biodiesel • Model plant results underway • Evogene - Ormat • 3 year project, $2M initially • Develop non edible, non arable commercial crops for Biodiesel • Output: Pre-commercial variety field trial Evogene’s Activity in Biodiesel
The next step : Breeding/GM Biomass Varieties for Marginal Land • Large areas left out from the growing cycle • Drought, a major limitation • Salt tolerance is important when using waste water