More Biofuels

Home
More Biofuels

The Vermont Bioenergy Initiative focuses on oilseeds for biodiesel, grass for heating, and algae for biodiesel by investing small grants into research, technical assistance, and infrastructure development for these emerging technologies. The full universe of bioenergy options for Vermont, however, includes other more established feedstocks and technologies like wood for thermal energy and combined heat and power, commercial biodiesel for transportation and heating, and biodigesters. Profiles, publications, and helpful links are given below for these important sources of bioenergy.

Wood Chips

1Wood chips are small rectangular pieces of wood that can be used for heating and cooling, electric generation, or combined heat and power (CHP) systems. Wood chips are a product of forest harvesting and are typically made from low-grade wood or tops and limbs removed from higher-quality sawlogs. Wood chips are delivered by tractor trailer and stored on-site in a large bin from where they are fed into a boiler for combustion. The heat produced from combustion can be used to heat or cool space or to run a turbine and generator to produce electricity. Wood chip fuel is ideal for community-scale buildings like schools, community centers, and hospitals or for campuses and community district energy systems. Vermont has more than 40 schools heated with wood, two wood electric generating stations, several campus heating systems, and several district energy systems including the largest in the capitol city, Montpelier.

Profiles

Publications

Links

Wood Pellets

3Wood pellets are made from wood chips and shavings compressed under high heat and pressure. The natural lignin in wood hardens during the cooling process to hold the pellet in shape and give it a sheen. Wood chips are sourced from forest harvesting and shavings typically are sourced from primary and secondary wood processors, like sawmills and furniture mills. Wood pellets are used for heating buildings like residences (using stoves or boilers) or small community buildings like elementary or rural schools, churches, town offices, and co-housing developments (using boilers).

Profiles

Publications

Links

Commercial Biodiesel

Commercial BiodieselBiodiesel is commercially available in Vermont for home heating, transportation, and diesel-powered equipment. The biodiesel available today is recycled cooking oil that is refined for use in engines and home heating appliances. Biodiesel can also be blended with traditional fossil fuels.

 

Profiles

Publications

Links

Biodigesters

Biogas generator_VTManure, food scraps, landfill waste, and other organic matter produce a biogas comprised mostly of methane and carbon dioxide during decomposition. Referred to as anaerobic digestion, biogas can be used as both a heat and electricity clean energy source. Through a combustion process, the methane and carbon dioxide gas combination generates a heating fuel as well as a power source to drive electric generators. Combined heat and power gas engines and other projects utilizing both technologies can use organic biomass for both power and heart. The removal of additional gasses and upgrading to a natural gas quality biomethane cleans the biogas for use in transportation.

Profiles

Publications

Links

Copyright 2013 VSJF