“Low-cost feedstock” is a common term in the bioeconomy, with many simply equating this to “waste”. There was a time when restaurants paid to ship out their waste cooking oils and greases. While most restaurants now see the value and sell those wastes, the question of what constitutes a “low-profit feedstock” always arises in biofuels and biomass projects. The first DOE Billion Ton Study (BTS) showed that over 1 billion tons of biomass was available in 2005 and theorized that it could displace 30% of the fossil fuels like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels. The concern then was its availability. In 2011, the Billion-Ton Update (BT2) qualified these volumes with those that truly had existing markets. This economic availability determined that the target price of $60 per dry, metric tonne bone dry metric tonne excluded some biomass that commanded higher prices. The 2016 Update focused on pathways in the context of economic availability, with the recognition that many feedstocks and materials fit into existing markets. The hope of experts in the field is that the next Billion-Ton Report will look at the Profit & Loss (P&L) expected by the entities providing the biomass to the markets.
For more than 25 years, Lee Enterprises Consulting has been at the forefront of the bioeconomy. Our highly differentiated market position centers around our deep subject matter expertise in very specialized areas. We help clients minimize technical and economic risk by leveraging best practices in our industries, and we have a long track record of providing insightful analysis and practical advice. Our reputation is unparalleled because we provide a simplified process, with a single point of contact to a diverse international network of proven experts in biofuels, biomaterials, feedstocks, alternative proteins, and existing & emerging technologies. Our feedstock section assists clients with matters involving feedstock analysis, forecasting and hedging, conventional grains, oilseeds, fats & greases, energy crops, forest, pulp & paper, wood-related matters, plastics, rubber and latex, algae, biogas, CO2, methane, glycerin, solid recovered fuels, hemp, glycerin, and a variety of waste related matters like municipal solid waste (MSW), agriculture waste, landfill waste, wood, plastic food, and fermentation wastes, construction waste, waste oils, wastewater, and sludge.
Providing access to over 150 world-renowned bioeconomy experts allows us to create tailored solutions to meet each project’s individual needs. Please take a look at our experts and the services we provide. Call us at 1+ (501) 833-8511 or email us for further information.
