Bioeconomic Development Institute
Demonstration Projects
Carbon-Negative Renewable Distillate Fuels: Conversion of Willow Feedstocks Into Liquid Fuels and Biochar
Project Lead鈥擳ristan Brown
The overall goal of this integrated agricultural project is to advance the adoption
of distillate fuels from willow biomass through research and education. The research
function includes both technology development in biomass processing to distillate
fuels, and economic, social, and environmental analyses of factors influencing the
deployment of this technology. The education function will provide (1) educational
experiences in economic and environmental analysis to undergraduate students and (2)
knowledge about low carbon fuels to professionals responsible for creating agriculture
and environmental policy. The supporting objective of the technology development research
function is to investigate key processes for the conversion of shrub willow into carbon-negative
distillate fuels. The supporting objective of the education function of this project
is to provide knowledge and skills to professionals making policy by utilizing the
outputs of this project to develop policy recommendations that will support the deployment
of lignocellulosic distillate fuels. The project goals will be accomplished via engagement
with stakeholders in feedstock production, conversion, analysis, and government policy
professionals. The research function鈥檚 supporting objective is to demonstrate a novel
strategy and approach for a scalable willow feedstock conversion system that provides
beneficial ecosystem services in the form of carbon-negative renewable distillate
fuels. The education function鈥檚 supporting objective is to identify social, behavioral,
technical, and economic barriers to the adoption of carbon-negative renewable distillate
fuels in NYS and develop and implement strategies for alleviating these barriers.
This project ultimately aims to improve the sustainability of agricultural bioenergy
systems.