It is widely agreed that diversification of our Nation’s energy supplies away from its present dependence on imported oil will require a wide range of energy sources, many of them renewable.  In additional to wind and solar energy, biomass sources are under consideration and include, for example:

• corn (for ethanol manufacture);
• soybeans and other oilseeds (for biodiesel manufacture);
• grasses and agricultural wastes such as straw or corn stover (for ethanol manufacture or for gasification to a syngas that can be used as feedstock for making everything from hydrogen to chemicals); and
• municipal or animal wastes as a source of methane, hydrogen or syngas.

In 2004, NextEnergy determined that an independent laboratory that focused on biofuels production and end-use technologies was needed, located preferably in or close to the Midwest since that area will be the source of much of the biomass needed to produce biofuels.  Steps were therefore taken to establish the National Biofuels Energy Laboratory (NBEL).

It was concluded that the initial focus of NBEL would be biodiesel, although the future commercial importance of ethanol and a wide range of other potential fuels was also clearly recognized.  These may become candidates for future development work.  An R&D program was designed which aimed to achieve several objectives:

• To establish, in collaboration with key industrial and academic partners, a well-equipped applied research and product development facility that would serve both the scientific and technical community as well as present and potential biodiesel users
• To develop an understanding of relationships between formulation chemistry and performance properties of candidate biodiesel fuels that will provide a solid foundation for the development of biodiesel components and fuel blends that meet or exceed high commercial standards.
• In particular, to focus on the influence of biodiesel formulation and chemistry on exhaust emissions of vehicles and stationary equipment using fuels containing biodiesel.  Special attention will be paid to blends of biodiesel with conventional diesel that contain between 5 and 50% biodiesel.
• To provide and disseminate the factual underpinnings needed for a technically sound and economically viable biodiesel industry.
• To provide a means of communication information to and therefore supporting that industry.
• To assist in the training and education of engineering managers, graduate students, engineers, technologists and other technical personnel in the design, development and use of effective biofuels and biofuel blends.

The NBEL is being seeded with the aid of a 2005 Congressional appropriation of ($1.98 million), along with several industry partner contributions totaling $495,000. 

The laboratory will be operated with the assistance of Wayne State University and Delphi Corporation, along with broad industry oversight currently consisting of Daimler Chrysler, Robert Bosch Corporation, Biodiesel Industries, and TARDEC.  With an expected contract award from DOE in September 2005, the scheduled start date is October 1, 2005.

An additional $3 Million 2006 congressional appropriation has been requested to round out the $5 Million total program requirement.