Assessment of industrial activity in the utilization of biomass for energy

Technical Report · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6991646· OSTI ID:6991646

The objective of this report is to help focus the federal programs in biomass energy, by identifying the status and objectives of private sector activity in the biomass field as of mid-1979. In addition, the industry's perceptions of government activities are characterized. Findings and conclusions are based principally on confidential interviews with executives in 95 companies. These included forest products companies, agricultural products companies, equipment manufacturers, electric and gas utilities petroleum refiners and distributors, research and engineering firms, and trade organizations, as listed in Exhibit 1. Interview findings have been supplemented by research of recent literature. The study focused on four key questions: (1) what is the composition of the biomass industry; (2) what are the companies doing; (3) what are their objectives and strategies; and (4) what are the implications for government policy. This executive summary provides highlights of the key findings and conclusions. The summary discussion is presented in seven parts: (1) overview of the biomass field; (2) structure of the biomass industry today; (3) corporate activities in biomass-related areas; (4) motivations for these activities; (5) industry's outlook on the future for energy-from-biomass; (6) industry's view of government activities; and (7) implications for Federal policy.

• Research Organization: Booz, Allen and Hamilton, Inc., Bethesda, MD (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-79PE70090
• OSTI ID: 6991646
• Report Number(s): DOE/PE/70090-01
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
140504* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290500 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Research
Development
Demonstration
& Commercialization
299003 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation-- Other-- (-1989)
AGRICULTURE
BIOMASS
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ENERGY SOURCES
GAS UTILITIES
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INDUSTRY
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM REFINERIES
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SURVEYS
USA
WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY