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Bioenergy Crops: the Good, the Bad & the Ugly

Bioenergy Crops: the Good, the Bad & the Ugly. Alternative Agricultural Enterprises for the Treasure Coast October 19, 2011 Tim Gaver , Extension Agent – Citrus IFAS/St. Lucie Extension. Why Grow Bioenergy Crops?.

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Bioenergy Crops: the Good, the Bad & the Ugly

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  1. Bioenergy Crops: the Good, the Bad & the Ugly Alternative Agricultural Enterprises for the Treasure Coast October 19, 2011 Tim Gaver , Extension Agent – Citrus IFAS/St. Lucie Extension

  2. Why Grow Bioenergy Crops? • Biomass: A renewable biological energy source used to produce heat, ethanol or biodiesel • South Florida would seem to be ideal for biomass production because of available acreage, long growing season and rainfall • U.S. is dependent upon imported petroleum for over 60% of its transportation fuels

  3. Demand for BioFuels • U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (May, 2009) • Mandates use in US of 36 billion gallons of renewable transportation fuel by 2022 - 16 billion gallons cellulosic biofuels - 15 billion gallons corn-based ethanol - 1 billion gallons biodiesel - 4 billion gallons advanced biodiesel • - Mandates by the U.S. Navy and Air Force to significantly reduce their dependence on petroleum jet fuel

  4. Ethanol Production • Corn or “sugar” ethanol - 200+ plants in US producing >14 billion gallons • Cost of production about $1.40 per gallon using Midwest corn • Cost estimated at $2.00 per gallon using Florida –grown corn • Sugarcane generates more $ from sugar than from ethanol • US will export 900 million gallons in 2011 • Food vs Fuel controversy • Cellulosic ethanol • US production this year estimated at 6.6 million gallons • Only about 33% as efficient as corn ethanol

  5. Cellulosic Ethanol • Estimated 94 million tons of biomass annually could be produced in Florida • Potential for 8 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol • BP/Verenium is building a new plant in Highlands County ($250 million+) • Potential feedstocks: - Energy cane - Sweet sorghum - Giant reedgrass - Elephantgrass - Switchgrass - Miscanthus - Yard waste

  6. “Energy” cane • Sugarcane varieties that have high stalk contents of sugar and fiber • Scientists working on varieties with increased cold tolerance • Grown the same as conventional sugarcane • 1200 gallons ethanol per acre?

  7. Sweet Sorghum • Silage types for ethanol • 2 crops from one planting in early spring • Must be grown as a rotational crop • Needs less water & fertilizer than sugarcane • Yields of 15+ dry tons • 160 – 400 gallons ethanol per acre • New variety research for higher yields and pest resistance continues

  8. Giant Reedgrass • Arundo donax • Considered invasive in some states • Grown from rhizome or stem pieces • Can grow in wet soils • 20+ tons per acre • Requires 60 lbs N per year on mineral soils • Harvest every 7-12 months (once /yr optimum) • More research needed

  9. Elephantgrass • Pennisetumpurpureum • Many varieties • Established with stem pieces • 20 tons per acre • Needs 150-300 lbs N per year • “Do not plant” list in South Florida

  10. Miscanthus & Switchgrass • Miscanthus (Miscanthusx giganteus (Sterile hybrid) • Switchgrass (Panicumvirgatum) • Research showed both of these plants grow too slowly in Florida

  11. Kenaf • 6 month crop • Grows 15+ feet high • Dried and pelletized for burning in electrical power plants • High cellulose content • 6-10 tons/acre

  12. Biodiesel and *Advanced Biofuel Crops • Seeds or nuts are crushed to remove the oil • Canola • Camelina • Sunflower • Jatropha • Soybean • Peanut • *Algae

  13. Canola • Brassica napus • Normally grown in the upper Midwest • USDA trials in Ft. Pierce showed problems with downy mildew & aphids

  14. Camelina • Camelina sativa • Oilseed crop normally grown in the Midwest • 85-100 day crop • 38-40% oil • Stops growth at 85° • Up to 2000 lbs/acre • 2000 x $0.12 = $240 • Cost of production $400+ - Land Preparation - Seed - Fertilizer

  15. Sunflower • 70 day crop from seed • Susceptible to excess rainfall, insects, nematodes, fungus disease and a plant virus • Low inputs, accept fertilizer • Research needed for varieties adapted to Florida

  16. Jatropha • JatrophaCurcas L. • Normally grown in tropical areas • High oil content (45%) • Production increases with inputs • Must be harvested 3X per year • Not cold tolerant!

  17. Land Preparation • Necessary for successful production in South Florida • Shallow beds provide drainage following heavy rainfall • Drilling preferable to broadcast seeding • Harvest efficiency increased in level fields

  18. A Short Summary • No sustainable bioenergy crop opportunities for small farmers at this time • Biofuel crops need variety research and a local crushing facility • As cellulosic ethanol technology improves, funding for new plants will become available • Opportunities for production of biomass will increase as a result

  19. Thanks! Questions? Thanks to: Dr. Dan Chellemi, USDA, ARS, Ft. Pierce Dr. John Alleyne, IFAS/Sarasota Extension Dr. David Wright, IFAS/NFREC

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