Bioenergy Resources

Videos

The Vermont Bioenergy Initiative: Learn about this program of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund and meet some of the partners.

Home Grown Fuel and Feed: Hear from several growers about producing their own fuel, feed and fertilizer.

Growing Sunflowers for Biodiesel: Hear from University of Vermont agronomist Dr. Heather Darby and several growers about their experience growing this crop.

Growing Soybeans for Biodiesel: Hear from University of Vermont agronomist Dr. Heather Darby and several growers about their experience growing this crop.

Growing Canola for Biodiesel: Hear from University of Vermont agronomist Dr. Heather Darby and several growers about their experience growing this crop.

Oil and Meal Extraction: Learn from University of Vermont agricultural engineer Chris Callahan and partners how oilseeds are pressed to produce oil and seed meal.

Making On-Farm Biodiesel: Learn from University of Vermont agricultural engineer Chris Callahan and partners how oilseeds are pressed to produce oil and seed meal.

Algae to Biofuel: Learn from Vermont-based researchers about growing algae for oil, biodiesel, fertilizer, and wastewater treatment.

Grass Heating Fuel: Hear from Vermont-based business Renewable Energy Resources and University of Vermont Extension agronomist Dr. Sid Bosworth about growing grass for heating fuel.

Calculators

Oilseeds and Biodiesel Cost of Production Calculator: Download this spreadsheet-based tool to examine the economic feasibility of growing oilseeds to produce biodiesel.

Grass Biomass Production and Harvest Cost Estimator: Download this spreadsheet-based tool to estimate the cost of producing grass for biofuel.  (First section, last link)

Conference Proceedings

2010 Algae Symposium: This Field Notes post recaps this one-day gathering of experts including photos, articles, and presentations.

2008 Grass Energy Symposium: This Field Notes post recaps the presentations from this one-day gathering of regional experts in grass energy. Follow the links to download reports and presentations and see pictures from the day.

Courses and Classroom Materials

Biomass to Biofuels, University of Vermont: This semester-long course covers liquid and solid biofuels, biogas and bio-electricity, and environmental, social and economic issue related to biofuels. The course includes guest lecturers and field days. 4 credits.

Biomass to Biofuels, Vermont Technical College: The development of this course and associated materials led to an online repository of resources for the classroom covering biomass to biofuels.

Digester Operations Master Certificate, Vermont Technical College: a twelve week program designed for participants to work directly with operations staff of Vermont Tech’s anaerobic digester and come away with understanding of the mechanics and operations of a digester system, as well as other areas such as permitting, regulatory compliance and record keeping.

Alternative Fuel Vehicles: Biodiesel, part of the Green Trainings series at Vermont Technical College: This 2-day course covers engine systems, biodiesel blends and biodiesel production, including a demonstration of fuel-making equipment.

Biofuels Course at Yestermorrow Design/Build School, part of the Green Trainings series at Vermont Technical College: This weekend workshop enables students to begin replacing fossil fuels with biofuels, such as adapting engines to run on straight vegetable oil. 1 credit.

Reports

Oilseeds for Biodiesel

Institute for Energy and the Environment at Vermont Law School. Legal & Regulatory Review of On-farm Biodiesel Production. 2015.

Chris Callahan and Netaka White, Vermont On-Farm Oilseed Enterprises: Production Capacity and Break-even Economics. July 2013.

Emily J. Stebbins.  Technical and Economic Feasibility of Biodiesel Production in Vermont:  Evidence From a Farm-Scale Study and a Commercial-Scale Simulation Analysis. May 2009.

Christopher W. Callahan, A Feasibility Analysis of a Mobile Unit for Processing Oilseed Crops and Producing Biodiesel in Vermont. December 2008.

Emily Stebbins, The Market Potential of Farm-Scale Oilseed Crop Products in Vermont. February 2008. (See also the Executive Summary)

John Williamson & Tanner Williamson – State Line Biofuels, LLP, Chris Callahan – Callahan Engineering, PLLC,  Feasibility Analysis:_Solar Seed Dryer and Storage Bin at State Line Farm, Bennington, VT. October 2008

Kenneth Mulder, Ph.D., Galen Wilkerson, Emily J. Stebbins. Homegrown Fuel: Economic Feasibility of Commercial-Scale Biodiesel Production in Vermont. September 2007.

The Vermont Biodiesel Project: Building Demand in the Biofuels Sector –  Final Report. October 2006. (See also the Executive Summary)

Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services, Vermont Biodiesel Pilot Project: Emissions Testing of Biodiesel Blends With #6 Fuel Oil At the Waterbury State Office Complex – Final Report. September 2006.

Laboratory and Field Testing of Biodiesel in Residential Space Heating Equipment – Final Report. August 2006.

Vermont Biodiesel Supply Chain Survey – Final Report. April 2006.

Grass for Heating Fuel

Chris Callahan, UVM Extension, An Update on Solid Grass Biomass Fuels in Vermont, Vermont Bioenergy Initiative, April 2016.

Wilson Engineering, Grass Energy in Vermont and the Northeast, May 2014.

Technical Assistance

Oilseeds for Biodiesel

Dr. Heather Darby, Agronomic and Soils Specialist

University of Vermont Extension, Northwest Crops and Soils Team

(802) 524-6501

Heather.darby@uvm.edu

Chris Callahan, PE, Agricultural Engineer

University of Vermont Extension

(802) 773-3349

Chris.callahan@uvm.edu

Grass for Heating Fuel

Dr. Sidney Bosworth, Extension Professor

University of Vermont College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

(802) 656-0478

Sid.bosworth@uvm.edu

Algae for Biodiesel

Dr. Anju Dahiya, Instructor and Principal

University of Vermont and GSR Solutions

(802) 310-1936

adahiya@uvm.edu