Research, development, and commercialization activities on biomass energy in the United States

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5199650

Klass, D. L.

Research and development activities in the US on the production of energy products and synthetic fuels from organic wastes and land- and water-based biomass are growing rapidly. Commercialization of the results of this effort is also progressing but at a lower rate. Commercial plants are currently operating to produce steam and electric power by combustion or co-combustion of municipal solid wastes, agricultural residues, and wood; methane from landfills and cattle manure; and fermentation alcohol for use in gasohol blends. Available fossil fuels are still sufficiently low in cost in the US to make the economics of producing substitute fuels from biomass borderline or unattractive. Large-scale integrated biomass energy systems are therefore not expected to be constructed and operated until the late 1980's and early 1990's. Nevertheless, about 2.1% of the US total energy supply is now derived from biomass; this corresponds to about 1.7 x 10/sup 15/ Btu.

• Research Organization: Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: OUS
• OSTI ID: 5199650
• Report Number(s): CONF-790789--1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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