Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Research under the MSU Bioeconomy Initiative has been focused (i) on technologies to convert biomass and other materials into energy and other renewable products and (ii) on preparing society, especially local communities, to take maximum advantage of bioeconomy opportunities. Particular attention was given to creating field infrastructure to assess the performance of forest energy plantations in Michigan. Sites were carefully prepared, and a series of replicated test plantings of fast growing trees were set out. Initial performance of these plantations has been measured, both as individual production systems, and in comparison to alternative production systems. Initial results have been modeled to define best practices and as a means to optimize production systems to meet the future needs of specific biorefinery users. These studies are by their very nature long term, and so analysis is ongoing and refinements into the model are anticipated. Simultaneously, data have been collected from six local communities in Michigan, two with established biomass energy operations, two that rejected development of biomass energy opportunities, and two that are considering biomass energy development. This includes media accounts of woody biomass bioenergy initiatives, secondary statistical data, and a set of comprehensive surveys of community stakeholders. Analysis confirms that communities view energy-from-biomass as a critical component of a more complex renewable energy portfolio that includes wind, hydro, and landfill gas. Communities suffering economic stress are more likely to support biomass energy, and trust in industry and government is a key indicator of success. Lack of trust is a key factor in communities that reject biomass energy opportunities, as is uncertainty about the sustainability of harvesting woody biomass and skepticism that regulatory processes will work. Grant funding also facilitated the creation of a series of detailed futuring scenarios for the bioeconomy. These have been employed in multiple workshops to help scientists and others understand both the potential of the bioeconomy in Michigan and uncertainties associated with it. A major conference on the bioeconomy and associated issues dealing with climate change was also held in April of 2010. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Precise information on biomass quantities and location in Michigan's forests is now available and being used by landowners, loggers, state agencies, and businesses that are interested in making investments in the bioeconomy. State agencies and the private sector also have access to information on best practices to introduce local communities to the opportunities associated with the bioeconomy as a driver of economic development. Scenario analysis has helped MSU scientists working on the bioeconomy, including those who interact directly with the private sector, to understand the systems potential of the bioeconomy in Michigan, including the role that climate change will play as a future driver of public policy.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The potential savings in energy, time, harvest costs, and bioprocessing costs with a one-pass harvest and bioprocessing system are being determined with corn, so as to maximize energy gain and profitability under a consolidated bioprocessing framework. Data are also being collected on a project to determine net revenue from forest biomass plantations. Land costs, rotation length, and operational costs are being modeled to optimize income for producers. Researchers are for the first time determining if communities are willing to participate in wood-based ethanol development in Michigan, and if they have the social and financial capacity to do so. A series of detailed futuring scenarios on the bioeconomy also have been created and employed in multiple workshops on the MSU campus. Planning is also underway for a major bioeconomy/climate change conference to be held in East Lansing in April of 2010. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Michigan forest owners, loggers, and businesses now have precise information on biomass availability in the state. Firms interested in developing renewable energy facilities in Michigan have data on the willingness and capacity of local communities to provide biomass, and this is being coupled with sound economic analysis. Scenario analysis has helped MSU scientists working on the bioeconomy to have a futuristic systems understanding of all facets of the bioeconomy in Michigan, including the role that climate change will play as a future policy driver.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Project outputs for the year 2008 are as follows: The MSU Product Center undertook a strategic planning process to determine how best to create capacity to assist entrepreneurs, inventors, and investors interested in helping to create a vibrant bioeconomy in Michigan. A comprehensive global climate change report was commissioned to define the potential of addressing climate change (particularly carbon sequestration) as a means to advance the bioeconomy in Michigan. A project to determine forest biomass feedstock availability was funded. The position of Forest Biomass Coordinator was created as a means to focus and coordinate research and outreach related to Michigan's forest biomass resources and link it to that of partner institutions such as Michigan Technological University. A series of medium to long term experiments with fast growing trees was established to determine optimal genetic lines, environment, and cultural practices for plantation-based biomass production in the Great Lakes region. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Project outcomes/impacts for the year 2008 are as follows: The MSU Product Center created the position of Associate Director for Bioeconomy and has begun to advise clients (small firms, entrepreneurs, investors) about bioeconomy opportunities in Michigan. Formal planning to add research capacity in bioeconomy/climate change has commenced, and the first seed projects have been funded. Initial estimates of forest biomass feedstock availability in Michigan are now available, and more precise data will soon be released to guide the state and private sector in decision making. For the first time, all of Michigan's research on forest biomass is being coordinated so as to generate consistent, long term research findings. Stakeholders have the opportunity to view research sites containing fast growing biomass species, and diverse researchers have access to these sites for a variety of research projects.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
The MSU Bioeconomy Initiative is an umbrella project that coordinates and integrates university activities in all aspects of the bioeconomy, including renewable fuels, composites, and other biomaterials. During the past reporting period, the following outputs were achieved: 1. A comprehensive review and analysis of Michigan's bioeconomy potential was completed and distributed to state governmental officials, business leaders, and university officials. 2. A series of stakeholder workshops were held with focus on topics including the creation of bioeconomy value chains in Michigan and key policy issues associated with bioeconomy. 3. A comprehensive database of MSU expertise was created and made available on the web. 4. A biodiesel demonstration project was funded as a way to educate Michigan agricultural producers on the potential of producing canola as a raw material for transportation fuels. 5. A series of presentations on Michigan's future bioeconomy were prepared and
delivered to approximately 20 diverse audiences including agricultural producers, agribusiness leaders, regional economic development experts, and commodity groups. 6. Several research projects were funded directly. Outputs and outcomes of this work will be reported directly by the principal investigators.
Impacts
The Michigan Renewable Fuels Commission made a series of recommendations for the governor in part based on our comprehensive review of the state's bioeconomy potential. Michigan State University is considering using biodiesel from a project-funded canola demonstration project in university equipment. MSU has entered into a formal partnership with Michigan Technological University to host a workshop on ways the two universities can conduct joint research on the bioeconomy. MSU entered into a formal research partnership with the University of Wisconsin to create a major federally funded bioenergy research center.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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