On October 7, the Biomass Research and Development Board (Board) was charged with carrying out the National Biofuels Action Plan (NBAP).  The NBAP is the federal government’s first step toward achieving 36 billion gallons per year (BGY) of biofuel production by 2022-the congressionally mandated requirement in the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007. 

The NBAP is focused on research in seven key areas (Action Areas).  When combined, these Action Areas form a strategy for a biofuel industry supply-chain framework (2-6 below) and assurance that the strategy can succeed in a safe and effective manner (1&7 below). 

1.  Sustainability.  Establish science-based national criteria and indicators to assess sustainable production of biofuels across the supply chains.

2.  Feedstock Production.  Sustain the growth driven by the private sector of first, second and third generation feedstocks.  Must also work with farmers and foresters to increase production of new crops and trees.

3.  Feedstock Logistics.  Work with the private sector to develop new technologies, both in the form of processes and equipment, to “collect, store and pre-process biomass in a manner acceptable to biorefineries.”

4.  Conversion Science and Technology.  Develop a more commercially viable method of converting plant matter to cellulosic ethanol and determine the feasibility in producing other fuels “via enzymatic and microbial and/or chemical catalytic processing of biomass.”

5.  Distribution Infrastructure. Determine whether traditional gasoline transportation devices will successfully transport biofuel or whether their physical properties require alterations to existing devices to ensure safe transport.  Also must study the geographic demand to establish a transportation infrastructure.

6.  Blending.  Assess the ability of existing automobiles to perform using intermediate blends (i.e. E12, E15, E20, etc.) and determine if there would be any impact on air quality.

7.  Environment, Health and Safety.  Use current health, safety and environmental programs to analyze and manage risks associated with increased biofuel use.

With so much research required, the federal government will collaborate with, and provide funding to, private sector and academic research groups (the Department of Energy (DOE) had previously announced plans to invest nearly $1 billion through 2012). The DOE has already handed out several research grants before the NBAP was released, so those already engaging in these areas of research have a head start over those now entering the field.  The most urgent area of research needed, and perhaps where the most money will go early on, is in the conversion technologies.  The NBAP sets 2012 as the date in which conversion technologies must be advanced enough to attract commercial production investment.   

For further information about this topic, please contact Akin Gump.