Biofuels

Producing energy (power, heat, and fuels) and products (i.e. chemicals, nutrients, fiber) from biomass has become a relatively controversial issue. What is lost in that controversy is that bioenergy and bioproducts can help improve the sustainability of our agriculture, food systems and rural communities through diversification (economic and biological); recovery and recycling of carbon; recovery of nutrients and energy from organic wastes; reduction of environmental pollutants; and generation of income and investment opportunities for farmers and rural communities.

The Pacific Northwest is rich in it’s biological diversity — both in natural systems and agricultural systems — which provides a valuable resource base for developing sustainable, scale-appropriate technologies and products that reduce environmental pollution, produce renewable energy and products – many of which can be recycled into agricultural production, and generate income for rural communities. CSANR has helped to develop a significant research capacity in bioenergy and bioproducts — especially focusing on recovery and recycling of organic waste materials for sustainable end uses in agriculture.

Below are links and resources specific to biofuels. Additional bioenergy links are available on the Anaerobic Digestion and Biochar pages.

Featured Publications

Advancing Organics Management in Washington State: The Waste to Fuels Technology Partnership 2015-2017 Biennium

Chen, S., Frear, C., Garcia-Pérez, M., Kruger, C., Ewing, T., Jensen, J., Yorgey, G., Gang, D.R., Amonette, J., Ayiania, M., Berim, A., Botella, L., Carbajal Gamarra, F.M., Cleary, J., Dunsmoor, A., Finch, R.W., Fuchs, M., Haghighi Mood, S., Hall, S.A., Han, Y., Jobson, B.T., Long, R., Ma, J., Mainali, K., Moller, D., Neuenschwander, L., Seker, A., Sjoding, D., Stankovikj, F., Suliman, W., Tanzil, A., Terrell, E., Tran, C-C., Xiong, X., Yu, L. 2018. Compiled and edited by Hills, K., Hall, S.A., Saari, B., Zimmerman, T. Waste 2 Resources, Washington State Department of Ecology Publication No. 18-07-010. Olympia, Washington. 424 pp. June 2018.

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Cellulosic Ethanol in the Pacific Northwest

Research and outreach website. This project was directed by Gregmar I. Galinato, with co-directors Suzette P. Galinato, C. Richard Shumway, and Jonathan K. Yoder. In an era of increased concern about the influence of carbon on the environment, the U.S. government has intervened, requiring the use of biofuels in an attempt to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. This project focuses on one of those biofuels, cellulosic ethanol, and the countervailing forces influencing its development, especially in the Pacific Northwest.

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Site-Specific Trade-offs of Harvesting Cereal Residues as Biofuel Feedstocks in Dryland Annual Cropping Systems of the Pacific Northwest, USA

Huggins, D.R., C.E. Kruger, K.M. Painter, D.P. Uberuaga. BioEnergy Research. June 2014, Volume 7, Issue 2, pp 598-608.

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Oilseed Production Case Studies in the Eastern Washington Low-to-Intermediate Rainfall Zone

Sowers, K., D. Roe, and B. Pan. 2012. Extension Bulletin EM048E.

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Oilseed Production Case Studies in the Eastern Washington High Rainfall Zone

Sowers, K., D. Roe, and B. Pan. 2011. Extension Bulletin EM037E.

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Additional Publications

Methods for Producing Biochar and Advanced Biofuels in Washington State – Part 4: Literature Review of Sustainability Issues, Business Models, and Financial Analyses

Garcia-Perez M., J.A. Garcia-Nunez, T. Lewis, C. E. Kruger, M.R. Fuchs, G. Flora, S. Kantor 2012. Fourth Project Report. Department of Biological Systems Engineering and the Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 75 pp. (publish date for WP 2/1/2013)

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Efficient Use of Algal Biomass Residues for Biopower Production with Nutrient Recycle: Final Project Report

Jarvis, E. R. Davis, C. Frear. Aug 2013.

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Camelina Production in the Dryland Pacific Northwest

Hulbert, S., S. Guy, W. Pan, T. Paulitz, W. Schillinger, D. Wysocki, and K. Sowers. 2012. Camelina Production in the Dryland Pacific Northwest. Washington State University Extension Publication FS073E.

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2011 Oilseed Production Workshops

Three oilseed crop production workshops were held the last week of January 2011 at Okanogan, Reardan and Colfax, Washington. Presenters included regional producers, university researchers, agency personnel, and industry representatives. Attendance surpassed 250 during the three days, indicating a renewed interest in utilizing oilseed crops for rotation benefits, potential economic advantages, high quality meal for livestock, and ‘home-grown’ biodiesel.

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Pacific Regional Biomass Energy Partnership

This is a 6-state effort supported jointly by the State Energy Offices and the US Department of Energy that provides a clearinghouse for information on bioenergy in the region. It is the repository for a number of research reports and tools developed by CSANR and our colleagues.

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Biofuels Cropping Systems Research and Extension Project

Pacific Northwest cropping systems are dominated by irrigated specialty crops (ie. fruits and vegetables), high quality forages, and a dryland cereal grain system (primarily wheat). It is highly unlikely that we will ever seen the fence-row to fence-row production of commodity crops that fit the model of first generation biofuel crops (ie. corn and soybeans). However, a number of interesting alternative crops that could be used for first or second generation biofuels / bioproducts could prove to be interesting options that enable farmers to manage their current cropping systems more sustainably. For instance, the brassica crops (canola, mustard, camelina, etc.) are a valuable rotational crop … » More …

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WSU Bioprocessing and Bioproducts Engineering Laboratory

Professor Shulin Chen’s Research Laboratory group at the WSU Department of Biological Systems Engineering. Research efforts include organic waste inventory and characterization; anaerobic digestion of manure and food processing wastes; High Solids Anaerobic Digestion for the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Wastes (OFMSW); recovery of nutrients and fertilizers from organic wastes; and pre-treatment technology for advanced biofuels derived from organic wastes.

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Biofuel Economics and Policy for Washington State

This report is a comprehensive response to 2007 Washington State legislation (HB 1303) that tasked Washington State University to 1) analyze the types and corresponding amounts of biofuel in the state and 2) recommend viable incentive programs to promote biofuel market development. Inside you will find policy recommendations based on analysis of a broad set of policy options, including renewable fuel standards and subsidies, carbon taxes, as well as approaches to support research, implementation of new technologies, and creation of infrastructure.

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WA Biomass Inventory

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Precision Conservation: site-specific trade-offs of harvesting wheat residues for biofuel feedstocks

Huggins, D.R., & Kruger, C.E. (2010). In R. Khosia (Ed.), Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Precision Agriculture. 10th International Conference on Precision Agriculture, Denver, CO. Colorado State University.

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Browse all Biofuels Publications

External Links

Some WSU Extension websites provide links to external sites for the convenience of users. These external sites are not managed by WSU Extension. Furthermore, WSU Extension does not review, control or take responsibility for the content of these sites, nor do these sites implicitly or explicitly represent official positions and policies of WSU Extension.