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Alan F. Rozich, Ph.D., P.E., DEE Chairman & CEO BioConversion Solutions Exton, Pennsylvania Boston, Massachusetts www.bioconversionsolutions.com Other Inconvenient Truths - The Agricultural, Water, Energy Nexus 1

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Contents Other Inconvenient Truths Beyond Global Warming Sustainable Resource Challenges and Tools The Agricultural, Water, Energy Nexus Case Study and Example Paths Forward 2

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3 The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane., Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor, 161- 180 A.D.

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Other Inconvenient Truths Beyond Global Warming Global warming is a symptom. Although real, there are other inconvenient truths that will likely do us in much sooner unless we change societal functionality A problematic, inconvenient triad, or super nexus, has emerged: Population and economic expansion Depletion of resources resulting in increased resource cost The need for economic and environmental sustainability 4

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Economic and EnvironmentalSustainability Depletion of Resources and Increased Cost & Decreased Availability Economic and population expansion An Inconvenient Triad

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Tangible Examples 3 billion people Economic expansion means that China and India will increase the world middle class by 3 billion people A huge increased demand for all resources putting price pressure on these resources: Energy Water Agriculture and food Simultaneous population and economic expansion has a multiplicative impact on resource demand, not linear 6

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Sustainable Resource Challenges and Tools Energy Water 7

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Energy It is not a question of if these resources will run out but when. Traditional energy resources are finite. It is not a question of if these resources will run out but when. Renewable energy sources and energy efficiency will be a must. A blended fossil fuel/renewable mix can provide for a societal transition to renewables. Both fossil fuel and renewable can be graded on energy returned on investment or EROI. It is a simple maxim whose goal is to grade energy initiatives to determine real benefit. 8 All energy comes from the sun. All energy sources on the planet are basically solar energy vectors. But at last his heart changed- and rising one morning with the rosy dawn, he went before the sun, and spake thus unto it: Thou great star! What would be thy happiness if thou hadst not those for whom thou shinest!, Zarathustra, from Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spake Zarathustra

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9 PrimitiveHuntingPrimitiveAgriculturalAdvancedAgricultural Industrial IndustrialTechnological Daily Energy Consumption Per Capita for Different Levels of Civilization (adopted from Cook (1971)) Total Daily Per Capita per Day Energy Consumption (1,000 Kilocalories) Food Home & Commerce Industry & Farming Transportation Food Home & Commerce Industry & Farming Transportation

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Water Intra-societal competing and conflicting demands for water are increasing as water is needed for energy and food production and human consumption. There is only a finite amount of water on the planet. Human use cannot intrude on peak ecological water without causing irreparable damage to ecosystems. 10 The dual increases in population and technological complexity of society are imposing more demand on water resources with a 40% water gap by 2030. Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it., Lao Tzu, 6 th Century B.C.

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Billions m 3 Water EXISTING DEFICIT Current and Predicted Global Water Needs

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Tools Engineering and Scientific Concepts Microbiological and Biochemical Concepts 12

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Engineering and Scientific Concepts No matter where you go, there you are!, Dr. Banzai Understanding mass and energy balances, No matter where you go, there you are!, Dr. Banzai Energy fundamentals Units Difference between energy and power Latent heat of vaporization EROI Energy Returned on Investment Important aspects of chemistry 13

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Microbiological and Biochemical Concepts Microbes manufacture their own very efficient chemicals, enzymes, to process materials. Enzymes are special because they facilitate reactions quickly without the need for other chemicals or reaction conditions. Microbial systems are predictable and can be engineered in a manner similar to physical or chemical reaction systems. 14 And scattered about it, were the Martians--dead!-- slain as the red weed was being slain; slain, after all man's devices had failed, by the humblest things that God, in his wisdom, has put upon this earth. H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds Appreciating and understanding the power of microorganisms

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15 The Agricultural, Water, Energy Nexus

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Water Supply Energy WaterResources Agriculture & Food The Agricultural, Water, and Energy Nexus

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Interlinkages of resources create the nexus. Increased population and affluence increase resource demand. Water is needed for energy production. Energy is needed for water production. Water and energy are both needed for agriculture. There is also a looming fertilizer crisis. Phosphorus mines are likely to be exhausted in a matter of decades. Without phosphorus, agriculture as we know it cannot function. 17 Farming is the soul of agriculture Farming is the soul of agriculture going back almost 10,000 years. Current societal functionality is not possible without modern agriculture. Out here in the fields. I farm for my meals. I get my back into my living., Pete Townshend, Baba ORiley

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20 Most agricultural and food byproducts have organics, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), and water. This means that these byproducts have multiple renewable products. High rate conversion biological systems have the ability to get high conversion rates of feedstock and produce recoverable water and fertilizer. An Australian meat processor saw the potential of the application of this technology to provide energy and water security and to increase profitability (http://www.tonywindsor.com.au/releases/130703.pdf).http://www.tonywindsor.com.au/releases/130703.pdf The processor, Bindaree Beef of Inverell began engineering of the system and development of a project to implement the technology. Case Study and Example Potential Solutions

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21 One of Australias largest meat processors, Bindaree Beef of Inverell, capable of processing 1,300 cattle per day is in the process of implementing AFC 2 technology. The purpose of this project is to implement this technology to process feedstock (waste) and make renewable energy, fertilizer, and water. The facility has been designated as a major CO 2 e generator under the Carbon Tax law that went into effect July, 2012. The major CO 2 e sources are methane that is emitted from lagoons and CO 2 that is emitted from a coal-fired boiler. AND Company management saw the implementation of AFC 2 as an opportunity to be compliant with the new Carbon Tax law AND to generate additional revenue through energy generation (electricity) and fertilizer production. Engineering analysis showed that implementation of AFC 2 technology can be achieved economically without having to rely heavily on subsidies, credits, etc. Case Study and Example

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22 The implementation of the system will produce electricity, high quality fertilizer for sale, and Class A water create about 200 new jobs About 90% of the organic by-product/feedstock waste will be converted into renewable products Eliminate the need for landfill and the need to burn 7,200 tons of coal per year Generate about 2 MW of renewable electricity Case Study and Example

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Bindaree Beef, Australian Meat Processor

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24 AFC 2 Pilot Plant at Bindaree Beef

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25 3D Depiction of Planned AFC 2 System for Bindaree Beef

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Paths Forward Gradually transition to energy renewables using EROI methods and being cognizant of nexus considerations. Make more use of biomass, the multi-tasking renewable. Biomass can produce energy, fertilizer, and water. 26 Mine waste streams and other feedstocks to obtain resources previously obtained from current sources. For example, phosphorus can be obtained from biomass. BREAK RESOURCE INTERLINKAGES. Oh friends, not these tones! Let us raise our voices in more pleasing and more joyful sounds! Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony #9, 4 th Movement, Ode to Joy, 1825.

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27 FinisFinis

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Selected References McKinsey Global Institute, Resource Revolution: Meeting the Worlds Energy, Food, and Water Needs, McKinsey and Company, San Francisco, November, 2011. SAIC, Life Cycle Assessment: Principles and Practice, USEPA, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2006. Cook, E., The Flow of Energy in an Industrial Society, Scientific American, September, 1971. Janhardhan, V. and Fesmire, B., Energy Explained, Volume 1: Conventional Energy, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., New York, 2011. Hubbert, M., The Energy Resources of the Earth, Scientific American, September, 1971 28

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Selected References Oloman, Colin, Material and Energy Balances for Engineers and Environmentalists, Imperial College Press, London, 2009. Bothamley, J., Dictionary of Theories, Visible Ink Press, Canton, Minnesota, USA, 2002. Henry, J. G. and Heinke, G.W., Environmental Science and Engineering, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1989. Pankow, J.F., Aquatic Chemistry Concepts, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 1991. Rozich, A. F. and Gaudy, A. F., Jr., Design and Operation of Activated Sludge Process Using Respirometry, Ann Arbor Science, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1992. Water Resources Group, Charting Our Water Future, 2030 Water Resources Group, 2009. 29

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Selected References Gleick, P. and Palaniappan, M., Peak water limits to freshwater withdrawal and use, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107, (25): 11155 11162, 2010. Hoornweg, D. and Perinaz Bhada-Tata, P., What a Waste: A Global Review of Solid Waste Management, World Bank, Washington, D.C., 2012. Frankx, L., et. al., Optimising Markets for Recycling, ARCADIS Report for the European Commission DG Environment, Antwerp, Belgium, 2008. Hoff, H., Understanding the Nexus, Stockholm Environment Institute, Presented, Bonn2011 Conference The Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus, November, 2011. Schnepf, R., Energy Use in Agriculture: Background and Issues, CRS Report for Congress,CRS and Library of Congress, November 19, 2004. Younos, T., R. Hill, and H. Poole, Water Dependency of Energy Production and Power Generation Systems, VWRRC Special Report No. SR46-2009, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, July, 2009. 30