DOE report lays out ways United States could sustainably produce more than 1 billion tons of biomass annually
Through a newly released assessment known as the 2023 Billion-Ton Report, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) examined biomass and determined that the nation could expand its production of this renewable resource to more than 1 billion tons each year.
This report, which marked the fourth such assessment of potential biomass resources since 2005, tagged 1 billion tons of biomass as capable of satisfying more than all the projected demands of airplane fuel in the country. In turn, this could theoretically allow the U.S. aviation industry to decarbonize using sustainable aviation fuel. At 1 billion tons, this would represent a tripling of current biomass production.
Biomass can be used in liquid fuel, bio-based chemicals and other products. Currently, the country uses about 342 million tons, which accounts for roughly 5 percent of America’s annual energy demand. Further technological innovations could push additional biomass potential according to the report, without harming the project demand for food, feed, fiber, conventional forest products and exports. The GT23 report also factored in potential risks to oil, air and water quality, water availability, and protections for forests and biodiversity.
“The Billion-Ton Report shows that America is poised to lead the world in the emerging renewable biomass industry—unlocking exciting economic opportunities for agricultural and rural communities and helping advance the sustainable fuels we need to cut harmful emissions and deliver healthier communities across the nation,” Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said.
BT23 was developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, aided by contributions from and reviews of multiple federal agencies, national laboratories, universities, and industry stakeholders. In all, BT23 analyzed the biomass production capacity of around 60 resources to make its points, from winter oilseed crops, to trees and brush harvested as part of wildfire prevention efforts, to carbon dioxide from industrial plants.
Its release came a short time after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s related Plan to Enable the Bioeconomy in America: Building a Resilient Biomass Supply report, which outlined how to boost biomass supply chain resilience for domestic product manufacturing while simultaneously improving environmental sustainability and making opportunities for small and mid-sized producers.
