Associated Research

The Biomass Feedstock National User Facility at Idaho National Laboratory's Energy Systems Laboratory facility provides pilot- and industrial-scale testing for a variety of preprocessing techniques. Preprocessing is essential to preparing biomass feedstock for conversion, ensuring the material is high-quality and provides as much fuel as possible. The facility's Characterization Laboratory enables researchers to use advanced methods, such as particle characterization and microscopy, to better understand the relationship between feedstocks and their conversion performance.

The Advanced Biofuels Process Development Unit (ABPDU) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California gives researchers a much-needed, small-scale testing and development platform—a necessary step towards full commercialization of biofuels. ABPDU covers five key areas of expertise: pretreatment, enzymatic conversion, fermentation conversion, product recovery, and analysis. More importantly, it is one of the only facilities in North America that focuses on advanced solvent pretreatment technologies such as ionic liquids, which can help boost the energy efficiency of biomass conversion. ABPDU aids researchers in generating, collecting, and analyzing data that will improve the biofuel before full pilot-scale testing begins.

The Integrated Biorefinery Research Facility at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Colorado is taking early stage biofuel development to pilot-scale by enabling partners to test conversion technologies on up to one ton of biomass material a day. NREL researchers and operators have the expertise to troubleshoot any potential process complications that could occur during development. On-site chemists can also develop specialized analytical methods to streamline and improve production processes for partners and can help partners develop and utilize these models to estimate market feasibility, cost sensitivities, and environmental sustainability of commercial-scale production of biofuels.

NREL's Thermochemical Users Facility is the nation's leading center for test reactors, filters, catalysts, and other operational tools for biofuel production. In addition to its on-site capabilities, selected partners can also obtain analyses at their own project sites, giving them more options to evaluate pilot scale heat- and pressure-based conversion technologies like gasification and pyrolysis.

These testing facilities are enabling comprehensive assessment, testing, and development of bioenergy technologies. Together, they represent one of the many ways BETO is helping the nation develop reliable, sustainable, and domestic fuel sources and products.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's (PNNL) Fixed Bed Upgrading and Separations System facility in Washington is scaling up for bio-oil and hydrocarbon fuel production. PNNL recently expanded their hydrotreater, which can now upgrade or stabilize large quantities of bio-oils for potential use at pilot-scale plants. The fixed bed facility can collect samples in each production phase and perform a wide range of analyses, enabling researchers to collect valuable performance and usability information.