“If the transportation sector is to transition away from fossil fuels to using to lower-carbon
emitting fuels and potentially reaching a net-zero future, the United States must dramatically
increase sustainable transportation fuel production and use. Sustainable fuels are made from
renewable biomass and waste resources and have the potential to deliver the performance of
petroleum-based jet fuel with a fraction of its carbon footprint. However, the use of sustainable
transportation fuels has been limited by lack of supply and high production costs. Addressing
these challenges will require a collaborative effort from industry and government to study the
biomass-to-bioenergy supply chain and apply innovative solutions.
For sustainable transportation fuels to play a major role in achieving net-zero carbon emissions,
the production of biofuels will need to be dramatically scaled up. Orchid Bioenergy is a pioneer
in making low-carbon, low-cost, transportation fuels and will enlist the help of a team of
researchers at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to study regional feedstocks and the bioenergy
supply chain. Orchid Bioenergy needs to reduce production costs and carbon emissions, while
increasing the quality of the fuel composite. They plan to scale up operations by building a new
biorefinery to meet the demand for transportation biofuels and maximize profits. Through a
collaboration between industry and national laboratories, Orchid Bioenergy and INL scientists
will be studying biomass harvest to conversion. You will be part of a team of interns, challenged
by your mentors to research which regional feedstock is best suited for producing the lowest
moisture and highest quality product for the lowest cost. In addition, your team must also
determine the best location for the next biorefinery to help offset production costs and carbon
footprint.
Your final project is to produce an infographic mapping a viable bioenergy value chain from
biomass harvest to conversion to share with DOE and the board of directors for Orchid
Bioenergy.”
