BIOMASS PROGRAM 

Sustainably Reducing U.S. Reliance on Fossil Fuels: 

THE BIOMASS PROGRAM 

The emerging U.S. bioindustry is using a range 

of biomass resources to provide a secure and 

growing supply of transportation fuels and 

electric power. Displacing an increasing portion 

of our imported oil with renewable, domestic 

bioenergy will provide clear benefits: 

� Reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 

� A cleaner, more secure energy future 

� Sustainable transportation fuels 

� Opportunities for economic growth 

Meeting National Energy Goals 

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Biomass 

Program and its partners are developing the 

technologies and infrastructure to sustainably 

meet the advanced biofuel production targets set 

by the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) 

mandated by Congress. Advanced biofuels result 

in significantly lower GHG emissions than fossil 

fuels and are made from renewable resources 

such as cellulosic plant material or algae. 

RFS Targets for Cellulosic biofuels 

Advanced Biofuels Other advanced biofuels 

2012 

2017 

2022 

5 10 15 20 25 

Billions of gallons per year 

Creating Green Jobs 

Turning biomass into fuel has the potential to stimulate economic 

and infrastructure development across the country. For example: 

�	 An industry report estimates that the ethanol industry supported creation of about 

400,000 jobs in diverse sectors, adding $53.3 billion to the national GDP in 2009. 1 

�	 As the industry expands, millions of jobs could be added to the economy 

within the next 15 to 20 years.2 

MISSION 

Transform our renewable and 

abundant, non-food biomass 

resources into cost-competitive, 

high-performance fuels, products, 

and power via: 

Targeted research, development, 

and demonstration 

Public and private partnerships 

Develop sustainable, costcompetitive technologies to 

enable the production of biofuels, 

bioproducts, and biopower that 

lower carbon emissions and reduce 

dependence on oil. 

Coordinate the multi-disciplinary, 

scientific, and engineering 

expertise of DOE's National 

Laboratories, universities, and 

industry to build a strong 

technology foundation. 

Forge new partnerships and 

strategic alliances to leverage 

resources for meeting 

technological and economic 

challenges. 

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Integrated biorefineries 

STRATEGIC GOAL 

STRATEGIC APPROACH 

1	 Outlook 2009, Renewable Fuels Association, based on input developed by J. Urbanchuk, Director, LECG LLC, February 2010. 

2	 Economic Impact of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 , J. Urbanchuk, Director, LECG LLC, January 2008. 

Also, Green Jobs in the U.S. Metro Areas , U.S. Metro Economies, October 2008. 
Assuring Sustainability 

The Biomass Program works 

with diverse partners to ensure 

that the U.S. bioenergy industry 

has a substantially smaller 

environmental footprint than 

conventional fuels. In support of 

this effort, multi-disciplinary 

teams combine in-field research 

with advanced analysis to explore 

potential economic, environmental, and societal impacts over the entire 

life cycle of biofuels—from seed to end use in vehicles. 

Enabling Science and Discovery 

The Biomass Program works with industry, 

the National Laboratories, and university partners 

to achieve transformational scientific breakthroughs 

in biomass conversion processes. This work is 

helping to enhance the sustainability and lower the 

cost of diverse biofuels from non-food resources 

through: 

Advances in enzymes and catalysis 

Discovery of new microorganisms 

Conversion process innovations 

Sustainability indicators 

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Exploration of new feedstocks 

Non-Food Biomass 

Feedstocks 

The program focuses on biofuels 

from feedstocks that do not 

compete with food crops. Potential 

biofuel feedstocks include any 

organic material. Examples include: 

Perennial grasses 

Agricultural and forestry residues 

Short-rotation woody energy crops 

Algae 

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Investing in Bioenergy to 

In recent years, the U.S. Department 

industry. The goal is to sustainably pr 

biopower, and bioproducts in integrat 

Sustainability 

Conversion 

Technology R&D 

Integrated 

Biorefineries 

Biomass Feedstock 

Production and 

Logistics 

Priority Research Area 

Infrastructure 
o Enhance Our Environment, Economy, and Energy Future 

of Energy has strategically invested in the science, technology, and infrastructure to support the emerging U.S. bioenergy 

roduce domestic biofuels and biopower to help meet America’s energy needs. Simultaneous production of biofuels, 

ted biorefineries is a promising route to lower costs. 

Barriers Sample Activities 

Cost of feedstocks � Conduct feedstock analyses 

�	 Coordinate cellulosic feedstock yield and 

sustainability trials 

Availability of resources 

Lack of cost-competitive 

� Improve engineering and efficiency of feedstock supply system feedstock supply systems 

�	 Stimulate formation of consortia to develop 

the supply of algae, cellulosic biomass, and 

other feedstocks 

Lack of adequate data and � Develop a web-enabled GIS framework 

(Bioenergy Knowledge Discovery Framework) 

environmental impacts 

analytical tools to assess 

to promote interactive data exchange 

Protection of soil, water, air, climate � Conduct field studies to assess optimal 

locations for dedicated energy crops Conservation of critical ecological � Identify land to be preserved or utilized, and systems implement standards for biomass production 

Processing costs and � R&D to improve biochemical conversion 

efficiencies — Identify improved fermentation 

microorganisms Productivity and yields 

— Improve enzymes to break down cellulose Integration of independent unit 

operations � R&D to improve thermochemical conversion 

— Develop stabilization processes for Application of scientific discovery pyrolysis oil 

— Characterize improved catalysts 

� Engineer integrated processing routes 

�	 Collaborate with Bioenergy Research Centers 

to accelerate transitions from basic research 

to applied R&D of feedstocks, biofuels, and 

bioproducts 

Deploying new technologies � Invest in pilot-scale testing to integrate and 

Attracting financing optimize technologies 

Expanding existing markets � Invest in demonstration-scale integrated 

biorefineries to determine technical and 

financial risks and readiness for scale-up 

� Invest in commercial-scale integrated 

biorefineries to reduce financial risk for 

first-of-a-kind facilities 

Importance 

Improve feedstocks supply and 

yields 

Identify best biomass resources 

by region 

Maximize energy efficiency of 

overall feedstock supply system 

Stimulate rural economies 

Analyze complex impacts of 

feedstock, biorefinery, and 

infrastructure development 

options 

Ensure environmental protection 

while utilizing diverse feedstocks 

Build knowledge to ensure 

sustainable bioenergy production 

Maximize efficiency of process 

designs to lower cost and increase 

productivity 

Improve productivity of conversion 

mechanisms (i.e., catalysts, 

enzymes, and fermentation 

organisms) 

Bridge basic and applied science 

to lower costs and reduce 

life-cycle greenhouse gases 

Systematically validate and deploy 

technology 

Expand portfolio of feedstocks, 

biofuels, biopower, and 

bioproducts 

Prove economic viability 

Improve sustainability 

Reduce fossil fuel consumption 

System compatibility and � Study intermediate ethanol blends in vehicles Evaluate emissions, compatibility, 

availability and small engines and performance 

� Expand infrastructure Increase market uptake 
1-877-EERE-INF (1-877 337 3463) - -

www.eere.energy.gov 

Accelerating Biofuels Deployment 

For more information contact: 

EERE Information Center 

For additional information visit: www.biomass.energy.gov 

The U.S. biofuels industry must grow rapidly to meet the 

legislated production targets. To spur investment, the Biomass 

Program is providing cost-shared support for biorefineries at the 

pilot, demonstration, and commercial scales. Existing projects 

will use various conversion technologies and feedstocks to 

produce advanced biofuels. 

Use of E10 (a blend of 10% ethanol and 90% 

gasoline) has nearly saturated the vehicle 

market. To increase near-term market uptake of 

biofuels, the program is testing E15 and E20 

blends. Working with DOE's National 

Laboratories and the Environmental Protection 

Agency, the program is conducting blends 

testing on a variety of vehicles and 

small engines. 

Coordinating with Our Partners 

The Biomass Program taps the expertise of top 

scientists at DOE's National Laboratories to tackle 

some of the toughest technological challenges in the 

economic scale-up of affordable biofuels and biopower. 

We similarly engage our university partners in many 

research activities to advance the science and foster 

development of new talent. 

DOE and the U.S. Department of Agriculture jointly 

co-chair the Biomass Research and Development 

(R&D) Board, which conducts strategic planning and 

coordinates research across Federal agencies to promote 

the production and use of biofuels and bioproducts. In 2008, the 

Biomass R&D Board issued a National Biofuels Action Plan to 

outline areas in which interagency cooperation will help to 

transform bio-based fuel production technologies from promising 

ideas into competitive solutions. 

The Biomass R&D Board receives guidance from the Biomass 

R&D Technical Advisory Committee . Approximately 30 

representatives of industry, academia, and relevant organizations 

serve on the committee.