Biomass push can help Georgia

Over the past 30 years, Georgia has experienced remarkable growth in population, economic activity and energy demand. Already the ninth most populous state in the country, Georgia’s population is expected to grow by an additional 50 percent by 2025. This growing population will demand more energy and new jobs.

Unlike other states that have made waves instituting ambitious renewable energy targets, Georgia has not developed its renewable resources. However, by developing the renewable-energy industry in Georgia, particularly our significant biomass resources, we can ensure a steady supply of cost-effective energy and a market for skilled workers —- both of which will bolster our state’s economy in years to come.

Biomass refers to any organic feedstock, such as yard clippings, timber and agricultural products. In an energy context, though, biomass usually means unwanted or unused organic material: wood waste, food byproducts, agricultural residue, etc. This means biomass-based energy does not compete with the food supply. Replacing fossil fuels such as coal with biomass is a clear win for the environment. In addition to burning cleaner than many traditional fuels, biomass-to-energy projects greatly reduce carbon dioxide emissions. When done sustainably, the carbon released through burning equals the amount of carbon absorbed by the next generation of plants. Biomass energy projects also utilize local materials, reducing the need to transport fuel and further minimizing emissions. Regional businesses, including the forestry and agricultural industries, also benefit from biomass by earning additional income through the sale of their by-products.

Thanks to our robust forestry and paper industries, Georgia has a great deal of biomass to harness. In an April 2008 study, The University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development estimated the state has over 13 million tons of biomass that could be converted into energy each year. This material could generate about 8.6 percent of Georgia’s 137.2 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, enough power to handle about a third of Georgia’s residential electricity needs. As biomass utilization efficiencies increase, the state could increase its biomass conversion to over 19 million tons each year providing even more energy to Georgia.

Georgia has already taken some measures to jumpstart its renewable energy production. Private companies, government agencies and others in Georgia have begun exploring the use of biomass to not only generate electricity but also produce transportation fuels and natural gas. The University of Georgia has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and has already developed a pilot-scale facility generating 25 kilograms of hydrogen per day from catalytically reformed biomass. In Tifton, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is conducting research into using a variety of feedstocks including Bermuda grass, giant reeds and other plants for biofuels. My company, Global Energy, is also developing biomass-to-energy and waste-to-energy projects in Georgia and throughout the Southeast.

In its 2006 Georgia State Energy Strategy, the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority identified encouraging the development of distributed biomass-to-energy plants in Georgia as one of its top priorities. This is encouraging, but biomass projects can create not only energy but research and skilled jobs that will boost Georgia’s economy. Thus far biomass has been primarily used in Georgia’s forestry and pulp and paper industries. However, there is a great deal of promise for expanding energy production to other small-scale industrial, municipal and county government customers and also utilizing several untapped biomass resources including unsellable timber, crop harvest residue, solid waste water sludge and various nutshells.

There are a number of ways to harness the energy in biomass, some of which are currently deployable and others that are promising in the years to come. Combustion is a relatively mature technology that is efficient for heat and electricity; gasification (biomass converted into a gas that can power a turbine or be used as a chemical feedstock), or conversion into a liquid fuel (such as ethanol) are both technically feasible but require greater research and engineering to become widely economical.

Though no single technology is the solution to our energy challenge, biomass is ideal for the local, sustainable projects that will keep skilled jobs in Georgia and insulate us from turbulent energy prices.

> David Ames is the CEO of Global Energy Holdings Group, an Atlanta-based diversified renewable-energy company.