Two different sugar yield definitions (cellulose-based and biomass-based) were used in reported studies investigating the relationship between biomass particle size and enzymatic hydrolysis sugar yield. It is noticed that these reported relationships are not consistent if sugar yield is defined...

We study a farmer’s decision to convert traditional crop land into growing dedicated energy crops, taking in account sunk conversion costs, uncertainties in traditional and energy crop returns, and learning. The optimal decision rules differ significantly from the expected net present value...

Feedstock supply is one of the key obstacles for cost-effective production of cellulosic biofuels. This paper proposes an assessment model to study the feedstock costs, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions associated with collecting and transporting cellulosic biomass from farm to storage...

Cellulosic biofuels have been proposed to replace part of traditional liquid transportation fuels. Cellulosic biomass is the feedstock in cellulosic biofuel manufacturing. Costs associated with collection and transportation of cellulosic biomass account for more than 80 percent of the feedstock...

Cellulosic ethanol made from cellulosic biomass is an alternative to petroleum-based transportation fuel. The cost-effectiveness of cellulosic ethanol manufacturing has been hindered by several technical barriers. One such barrier is that low density of biomass causes high costs of biomass...

Conventional analytical methods used to determine the most economical farmer-based harvest system and corresponding nutrient management strategy for producing switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) feedstock do not consider agronomic and subsequent economic problems associated with soil nutrient...

With cellulosic energy production from various forms of biomass becoming popular in renewable energy research, agricultural producers may be called upon to plant and harvest switchgrass or collect corn stover to supply such energy production to nearby facilities. Determining the entire...

Nonindustrial private forests (NIPF) of the southern U.S., containing large quantities of small diameter trees are often viewed as the potential sources of woody biomass for future bioenergy production. Use of logging residues and non-marketable small diameter trees available in these forests,...

This study examines cellulosic crop residues for biopower production in the context of (greenhouse gas) GHG emission mitigation. We employ sector modeling to simulate future market potential for biopower production from crop residues. Our findings suggest that in order for crop residues to have...