Bioenergy: A Versatile and Sustainable Energy Solution for the United States
The U.S. Department of Energy, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other federal government agencies, has developed a comprehensive strategy for scaling up new technologies to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on a commercial scale.
Bioenergy is a form of renewable energy that is derived from biomass, which can be used to produce transportation fuels, heat, electricity, and products. Biomass is a renewable resource that includes plant- and algae-based materials, such as crop wastes, forest residues, purpose-grown grasses, woody energy crops, microalgae, urban wood waste, and food waste.
Bioenergy can contribute to a more secure, sustainable, and economically sound future by reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil, generating U.S. jobs, revitalizing rural economies, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
The U.S. Bioenergy Statistics, updated on October 26, 2023, are based on supply and demand estimates from the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report of September 2023. These statistics highlight the significant role of renewable energy from agricultural and forestlands in the U.S. energy market. A key aspect of this renewable energy is biofuels, which are crucial for the U.S. transport sector. The primary biofuels are ethanol, predominantly made from corn, and biodiesel/renewable diesel, produced from vegetable oils, animal fats, waste oils, and greases. In 2022, the U.S. produced around 15.4 billion gallons of ethanol and approximately 3.1 billion gallons of biodiesel/renewable diesel. Additionally, a machine-readable .csv file of these statistics was released on July 19, 2023.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is committed to using biotechnology and biomanufacturing to improve the lives of Americans and is taking key steps to advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative. The initiative aims to leverage the power of biology to address national challenges in health, energy, food security, and environmental protection. DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) supports research and development of bioenergy technologies that can produce affordable biofuels and bioproducts from biomass and waste streams.
According to DOE’s 2016 Billion-Ton Report: Advancing Domestic Resources for a Thriving Bioeconomy, the United States has the potential to produce 1 billion dry tons of non-food biomass resources annually by 2040 and still meet demands for food, feed, and fiber.
One billion tons of biomass could produce up to 50 billion gallons of biofuels, yield 50 billion pounds of bio-based chemicals and bioproducts, generate 85 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to power 7 million households, contribute 1.1 million jobs to the U.S. economy, and keep $260 billion in the United States.
Biomass can be converted into liquid fuels—known as biofuels—for transportation. Biofuels include cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel, and renewable hydrocarbon “drop-in” fuels. The two most common types of biofuels in use today are ethanol and biodiesel. Biofuels can be used in airplanes and most vehicles that are on the road. Renewable transportation fuels that are functionally equivalent to petroleum fuels lower the carbon intensity of our vehicles and airplanes.
Biomass can also be converted into heat and electricity using processes like those used with fossil fuels. There are three ways to harvest the energy stored in biomass to produce biopower: burning, bacterial decay, and conversion to a gas or liquid fuel. Biopower can offset the need for carbon fuels burned in power plants, thus lowering the carbon intensity of electricity generation. Unlike some forms of intermittent renewable energy, biopower can increase the flexibility of electricity generation and enhance the reliability of the electric grid.
DOE’s BETO recently awarded $18.6 million in funding to eight university and industry projects to develop biomass feedstocks to produce low-carbon biofuels and bioproducts that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The projects will focus on improving the sustainability and resilience of biomass production systems, enhancing biomass quality and yield, reducing production costs, and expanding the types of biomasses that can be used for bioenergy.
The bioenergy initiative in the United States is an important part of the nation’s strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and create a clean energy economy that benefits all Americans. By harnessing the power of biology and biotechnology, bioenergy can help transform our energy system, protect our environment, and enhance our quality of life.