NREL Expert Provides Insight Into Cellulosic Research

by Chris Torres

"Biomass technology really is in its infancy," said Tom Richard, director of the Penn State Biomass Energy Center. But its future may hold a lot of promise. At least that's what scientists who attended the CrossOver 2007 conference at Penn State [earlier this month] are hoping.

The two-day conference was an event designed to highlight research into bioenergy. This year's theme, "Bioenergy: From Fields To Wheels," focused on emerging technologies that could turn a variety of things—pond scum, grasses and plant bacteria among them—into vital sources of energy for the future.

With energy consumption projected to increase dramatically over the next few years and oil prices continuing to be high, most experts believe [renewable] energy sources will be vital in the next 10 years.

Tom Foust of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Denver, Colo., a keynote speaker, believes that alternative energy sources will make big strides in the future. But they will never replace oil and gasoline for good, he believes. At least it doesn't look that way now.

According to Foust, a study commissioned in 2005 called "the billion ton study," claimed the U.S. has enough resources to sustainably produce about 1.3 billion tons of biomass per year. Foust said the 1.3 billion tons would equal about 1.9 billion barrels of oil—or about 30 percent of the 6.4 billion barrels of oil consumed in the country today. Making it economical and sustainable will be key.

Renewable Energy Access.Com /Sept. 17, 2007