Bioenergy Technologies

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class="content-section" > <div class="page-title" id="block-ornl-page-title"> <h1 class="page-title"><span>Bioenergy Technologies</span> </h1> </div> <div id="block-ornl-content"> <article class="node node--type-landing-page node--view-mode-full"> <div class="node__content"> <div class="landing-page-paragraphs-container"> <div class="paragraph-container"> <div class="text-paragraph paragraph paragraph--type--text-body paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="text-only-container"> <div class="field-wrapper text-left-indent"> <div class="field-container" > <div class="field-element" ><h2>Growing the Nation's Bioeconomy</h2><p>Scientists and engineers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are applying a range of expertise and big science tools to assess the nation鈥檚 biomass resources, develop biobased chemicals, create new plastics that are recyclable on demand, and advance energy security for transportation sectors such as aviation, marine, and rail.</p><p>ORNL鈥檚 bioenergy technologies research brings together experts in agricultural economics and engineering, computational science, environmental science, fuels and engines technology, materials science, and synthetic biology. Researchers work closely with partners in industry, other federal agencies, and academia to ensure analyses and technologies are relevant and scalable to support the nation鈥檚 growing bioeconomy.</p><p>This ORNL research is funded primarily by the <a href="http://www.energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/bioenergy-technologies-office">DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office</a> with additional support from Laboratory Directed Research Funds, <a href="http://www.usda.gov/">US Department of Agriculture</a>, and industry partners. Researchers with ORNL鈥檚 Bioenergy Technologies Program also collaborate frequently with the <a href="https://cbi.ornl.gov/">Center for Bioenergy Innovation</a>, which is funded by the <a href="http://science.energy.gov/">DOE Office of Science</a>.</p><p> </p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph-container"> <div class="image-paragraph paragraph paragraph--type--image paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="image-landscape"> <div class="field-wrapper"> <div class="field-container" > <div class="field-element" > <article aria-label="pyran_adkins.jpg"> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-08/pyran_adkins.jpg?itok=sBYpU25j" width="1024" height="768" alt="Researchers pose " /> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> <span class="image-caption"> <div class="field-wrapper"> <div class="field-container" > <div class="field-element" >ORNL scientists used computational modeling and simulation capabilities to assist industrial partner in scaling its reactor technology by 1,000 times in a single step.</div> </div> </div> </span> </div> <div class="image-description"> <p> </p><h2>Scaling technologies and enabling commercial viability</h2><p>ORNL scientists apply advanced materials science capabilities to understand causes of wear in production equipment and to evaluate the compatibility of new and existing materials. Our researchers collaborate closely with industry, providing computational modeling across scales from the atomic to full-size reactors to optimize processes and boost commercial production.</p><h3>Recent Impacts</h3><p><strong>Upgrading ethanol for use in transportation sectors</strong>鈥擲upported scaling of ORNL-developed technology licensed to Vertimass LLC that converts ethanol into higher-grade hydrocarbons for use in aviation, marine shipping, and diesel fuels. <a href="https://www.ornl.gov/news/epa-approves-renewable-gasoline-blendstock-derived-ornl-invention">The EPA recently approved the registration and use of this low-cost, biomass-derived gasoline blendstock</a></p><p><strong>Addressing industry needs</strong>鈥擫eading the DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office鈥檚 Consortium for Computational Physics and Chemistry, which leverages modeling and simulation capabilities to help industry optimize processes and resolve technical barriers to deployment</p><p><strong>Scaling industrial processes</strong>鈥擯rovided computational modeling and simulation capabilities, enabling industrial partner Pyran to scale its reactor technology by 1,000 times in a single step</p><p><strong>Improving materials</strong>鈥擡valuated biomass processing equipment and developed affordable solutions that decreased equipment wear and provided more consistent feedstock processing</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph-container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--lp-button-group paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="lp-button-group-wrapper"> <div class="field-wrapper"> <div class="field-container" > <div class="field-elements" > <a class="button button--primary" href="https://www.ornl.gov/file/bioenergy-technologies-fact-sheet/display"> Bioenergy Technologies Fact Sheet </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph-container"> <div class="image-paragraph paragraph paragraph--type--image paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="image-right"> <div class="field-wrapper"> <div class="field-container" > <div class="field-element" > <article aria-label="carinata_sparc.png"> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/carinata_sparc.png?itok=1kwDCXly" width="1024" height="680" alt="blue sky with a field of yellow carinata flowers" /> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> <span class="image-caption"> <div class="field-wrapper"> <div class="field-container" > <div class="field-element" >Carinata is a winter cover crop of interest as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel. Credit: SPARC</div> </div> </div> </span> </div> <div class="image-description"> <h2>Quantifying biomass resources</h2><p>ORNL researchers lead comprehensive resource assessments known as the <a href="https://www.energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/2023-billion-ton-report-assessment-us-renewable-carbon-resources">Billion Ton studies</a> to inform decision makers about opportunities to advance energy security by leveraging biomass resources locally, regionally, and nationally. We apply expertise in biomass engineering and logistics to develop national-scale energy crop production strategies that advance best practices, build rural economies, and strengthen domestic supply chains.</p><h3>Recent Impacts</h3><p><strong>Assessing biomass resources</strong>鈥擳he U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technology Office's (BETO) <a href="https://www.energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/2023-billion-ton-report-assessment-us-renewable-carbon-resources">2023 Billion-Ton Report (BT23)</a> is now available. This report is the fourth in a series of comprehensive national reports led by ORNL, assessing potential biomass production capability in the United States</p><p><strong>Best use of biomass</strong>鈥擠eveloped a new tool to evaluate the best use of national biomass resources to maximize carbon reductions at minimal cost</p><p><strong>Biomass benefits</strong>鈥擲howed that using less-profitable farmland to grow bioenergy crops such as switchgrass promotes energy security and boosts biodiversity. Quantified and confirmed the significant economic benefits of a thriving bioeconomy on disadvantaged counties in the nation </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph-container"> <div class="blockquote-paragraph-wrapper"> <div class="blockquote paragraph paragraph--type--block-quote paragraph--view-mode--default"> <p>We are studying ways to more economically and reliably produce, deliver, and use forest, agricultural, and waste resources to expand the US bioeconomy while preserving ecosystem services.</p> <div class="quote-author">- Bioresource Science and Engineering Group Leader Erin Webb</div> </div> </div></div> <div class="paragraph-container"> <div class="image-paragraph paragraph paragraph--type--image paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="image-right"> <div class="field-wrapper"> <div class="field-container" > <div class="field-element" > <article aria-label="lanzatech_microbefactory_lrg.jpg"> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/lanzatech_microbefactory_lrg.jpg?itok=VAvA6KPU" width="1024" height="539" alt="animation of microbes" /> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> <span class="image-caption"> <div class="field-wrapper"> <div class="field-container" > <div class="field-element" >ORNL researchers helped to optimize carbon capture technology that harnesses emissions from industrial processes to produce acetone and isopropanol, widely used chemicals that form the basis of thousands of consumer products.</div> </div> </div> </span> </div> <div class="image-description"> <h2>Converting biomass to fuels and products</h2><p>ORNL researchers develop new catalysts and conversion technologies that increase the efficiency and enhance the economics of producing biofuels and biochemicals. We work with microbes to convert waste carbon sources from biorefineries and other industries into valuable chemicals for use in plastics and a wide variety of consumer products.</p><h3>Recent Impacts</h3><p><strong>Biobased options for marine shipping</strong>鈥擫eading a multi-lab effort to evaluate the use of bio-intermediates as a suitable maritime fuel. Achieved good blend stability of marine fuels when using mixes that contained up to 50% very low sulfur bio-oil</p><p><strong>Converting carbon into chemicals</strong>鈥擡ngineered microbes to turn industrial emissions into widely used chemicals that are the basis of thousands of products, from fuels and solvents to acrylic glass and fabrics</p><p><strong>3D printing with biomaterials</strong>鈥擟reated biocomposites that have 75% of the strength at 50% of the cost of typical carbon fiber鈥搑einforced plastics used for large-scale additive manufacturing</p><p><strong>Upcycling plastics</strong>鈥擠eveloped new chemical and biological methods to break down and upcycle mixed plastics into valuable bioproducts</p><p> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field-wrapper"> <div class="field-container" > <div class="field-element" > <section class="staff-profile-card node contact card node--type-staff-profile node--view-mode-staff-profile-card"> <div class="staff-profile-card-wrapper"> <div class="staff-profile-card-details-wrapper"> <div class="staff-profile-card-photo"> <div class="field-wrapper"> <div class="field-container" > <div class="field-element" > <article aria-label="Erin Webb"> <div> <div class="field-wrapper"> <div class="field-container" > <div class="field-element" > <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/staff_profile_image_style/public/Erin%20Webb%20portrait%202018%202.jpg?itok=uLA7GtGG" width="260" height="325" alt="Erin Webb" title="Erin Webb" /> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="staff-profile-card-details"> <div class="staff-profile-card-header"> <div class="section-heading">Contact</div> </div> <div class="staff-profile-card-details-name"> <a href="/staff-profile/erin-g-webb"> Erin G Webb </a> </div> <div class="staff-profile-card-details-title"> Group Leader, Bioresource Science & Engineering and Laboratory Relationship Manager, DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office </div> <div class="staff-profile-card-details-email"> <a href="mailto:webbeg@ornl.gov">webbeg@ornl.gov</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div > <div id="block-entityviewcontent-6"> </div> </div> <div class="bottom-section-content" > <div id="block-entityviewcontent-3"> <article class="node node--type-landing-page node--view-mode-bottom-section-content"> </article> </div> </div> </main> </div> <footer role="contentinfo"> <div class="container-new footer-top"> <div class="address"> <img src="/themes/custom/ornl/images/ornl-logo.svg" class="ornl-logo" alt="Oak Ridge National Lab logo"> <p>Oak Ridge National Laboratory<br/> 1 Bethel Valley Road<br/> Oak Ridge, TN 37830</p> <p>(+1) 865.576.7658</p> </div> <div class="menu"> <h4>Connect With Us</h4> <ul> <li> <a href="/partnerships" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/56502">Partnerships</a> </li> <li> <a href="/content/come-see-us" 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