(309d) Technoeconomic and Sustainability Impacts of Feedstock Variability and Mitigation within the Biomass-to-Fuels Value Chains for Corn Stover and Forest Residues

The Crosscutting Analyses task of the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium publishes case studies to quantify and communicate industrially relevant, system-level cost and environmental impacts for the discoveries and innovations of the FCIC. Analysis tools are used to evaluate how feedstock variability affects economics and sustainability throughout the biomass-to-fuel value chain. The scope of work encompasses the value chains for 1) high-temperature conversion of forest residues by ex situ catalytic fast pyrolysis and 2) low temperature corn stover deconstruction to cellulosic sugars and subsequent biological upgrading to multiple products. Case studies provide economic and sustainability information to help biorefinery stakeholders make informed decisions about feedstock collection, processing, and conversion processes to minimize or control the impacts of feedstock variability. An overview of the results, insights and lessons learned from across eighteen case studies will be presented.