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Infosheets for Extension Professionals

AHB’s infosheets are designed to give community members and other Extension professionals digestible information about laying the foundation for a poplar-based bioeconomy in the PNW.

Renewable Energy in the Pacific Northwest

Renewable Energy in the Pacific Northwest

Renewable energy comes from natural sources that are continually and sustainably replenished such as the sun, the flow of water, or other natural processes.

Converting Wood to Biofuels

Converting Wood to Biofuels

There are a variety of ways that cellulosic biomass can be converted into biofuels. AHB’s research focuses on a conversion process that uses heat, bacteria, and chemical reactions to convert the wood from poplar trees into biofuels and bio-based chemicals.

Drop-In biofuels are liquid transportation fuels made from plant material. These fuels are chemically identical to petroleum-derived gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.

Drop-In Biofuels

Drop-In biofuels are liquid transportation fuels made from plant material. These fuels are chemically identical to petroleum-derived gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. Drop-in biofuels could be used in the same engines and be stored in the same fuel supply infrastructure as fossil fuels.

Biofuels at the Pump

Ethanol and biodiesel are renewable alternatives to petroleum that can be blended into transportation fuels. Traditional gasoline and diesel engines can run on lower-level blends, and Flex Fuel Vehicles can use 85% ethanol. In the Pacific Northwest, blends with over 10% ethanol (E10) and over 5% biodiesel (B5) are offered at select stations, primarily along the I-5 corridor.

Biofuels by the Numbers

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program calls for 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel to be used in the year 2022. Renewable fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, can reduce the net greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the transportation sector.

Advanced Biofuels 101

Advanced biofuels are renewable fuels that are considered “advanced” because of the type of plant material or feedstock that is used to make them. Advanced biofuels have the potential to replace the petroleum-based fuels that we currently use.

Ethanol Today & Tomorrow

Ethanol is an alcohol fuel made by fermenting the sugar of plant material. Almost all gasoline sold in the U.S. is blended with up to 10% ethanol. Flex fuel vehicles can run on 85% ethanol (E85).
Poplar-Based Ethanol

Poplar-Based Ethanol

In the PNW, poplar trees are a promising feedstock for cellulosic ethanol. Developing a cellulosic ethanol industry in the PNW can increase energy security, build local economies, and reduce net greenhouse gas emissions and global warming potential.

Environmental Sustainability

To understand and minimize environmental impacts of poplar production, a key research focus of the AHB initiative is environmental sustainability.
Hardwood Biofuels Life Cycle Analysis

Hardwood Biofuels Life Cycle Analysis

The global warming potential of poplar jet fuel is 30-45% lower than petro-jet fuel.

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The entire collection of AHB Infosheets can be found under the Resources tab.