The focus of the Biomass Energy Center is to coordinate and facilitate research and outreach across the university, building teams to address the complete value chain of biomass energy systems.
This value chain can be classified into four categories:
- Improved production of biomass feedstocks;
- Integration of biomass production into sustainable agrosystems;
- Conversion of biomass into energy; and
- Technology transfer to companies, state agencies, NGOs, and citizens throughout the Commonwealth and beyond.
Penn State has significant strengths in each these four focal areas— each have a significant number of faculty involved, with a critical mass of researchers emerging in many different areas.
Biomass Feedstock Production
Large-scale production of bioenergy will
require development of new crops and appropriate production and harvest, and storage strategies.
Penn State has active research programs in annual and perennial including woody biomass crops,
feedstock management technologies, basic plant biotechnology, and biomass characterization.
Sustainable Bioenergy Systems
Managed agroecosystems offer enhanced
opportunities for a more sustainable bio-based economy, but will require appropriate technology,
environmental assessment, and social, economic, and policy incentives. Penn State has active research
programs in agroecosystem modeling, carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, soil dynamics and soil
ecology, water quality, policy issues including emissions and carbon trading, and social and economic
impacts.
Biomass Conversion to Energy
Governor Rendell has endorsed and Congress
is considering a 25 x 25 pledge, with a goal to derive 25% of our total energy from biomass by the
year 2025. This goal is credible, as the DOE and USDA estimate that there are over 1 billion tons
of biomass available annually in the USA. Penn State has strong research programs on the conversion
of biomass to electricity, transportation fuels and co-product chemicals, stationary power, and heat,
through thermal, chemical, and biological mechanisms.
Technology Transfer
Large, medium, and small scale biomass energy systems
and corrollary business models need to be developed and demonstrated with Pennsylvania agricultural
producers and industry. Local agencies, industry and our agricultural producers have shown a high
interest in bringing this technology to farm, business, and industrial scales. Penn State Cooperative
Extension is playing a major role in the planning and implementation of these projects, and is poised
to offer even greater assistance with additional coordination.