SCAN technology used to address biomass collection and impacts

SCAN technology is helping to address new questions relative to large scale biomass collection efforts and the impact on soil and water resources. On July 16th, 2004, the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Announce the FY2004 Joint Solicitation Awards for $25 million in research funding to 22 biomass projects.

Over 400 pre-applications were received in response to this solicitation. Following the pre-application review, 93 applicants were invited to submit full applications, representing a collective request of more than 108 million federal dollars. The proposal selections comprise a diverse portfolio of research that attempt to cover each of the targeted technical topic areas.

One project selected was submitted by the Imperial Nebraska Young Farmers and Ranchers Titled: Biomass Opportunity for Imperial, Nebraska Region: What is the Value? This $2 million award with over $1 million in matching funds is addressing the value of sustainable removal of the “excess” feedstock to the farmers and potential processors across the supply chain using innovative methods for corn grain and stover collection, wet storage of stover, and rail transport from collection sites to supply a large biorefinery for the production of fuels and chemicals.

Potential processors have made great strides in improving the conversion process, but there remains a large amount of uncertainty in the feedstock supply, its cost, reliability and environmental impact of removal. Benefits for changing existing farming practices must be demonstrated to the farmer and the potential farmer with stable pricing and a suitable life cycle analysis.