Advanced Biofuel—Biofuels derived from renewable
biomass other than corn-kernel starch (according to the
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, or 2008 Farm
Act), including biofuel derived from cellulose, hemicellulose,
lignin, and from sugar and starch other than cornstarch.
Also includes ethanol from waste materials (crop residues,
vegetative waste, animal waste, food waste, and yard waste);
diesel-equivalent fuel derived from renewable biomass,
including vegetable oil and animal fat; biogas; butanol;
and butanol or other alcohols produced through the conversion
of organic matter from renewable biomass. The Energy Independence
and Security Act of 2007 also specifies that advanced
biofuels have lifecycle greenhouse
gas emissions at least 50 percent less than baseline
(2005) lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions for gasoline
or diesel.
Biobased products—A product determined by
the Secretary of Agriculture to be a commercial or industrial
product (other than food or feed) that is composed in
whole or in significant part of biological products, including
renewable domestic agricultural and forestry materials,
or an intermediate ingredient or feedstock (according
to the 2008 Farm Act).
Bioenergy—Useful, renewable energy produced
from organic matter; i.e., the conversion of complex carbohydrates
in organic matter to energy. Organic matter may either
be used directly as a fuel, processed into liquids and
gases, or be a residual of processing and conversion.
See Bioenergy
Feedstock Information Network for more information.
Biorefinery—According to the 2008 Farm Act,
the term means a facility (including equipment and processes)
that converts renewable biomass into biofuels and biobased
products, and may produce electricity.
Lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions—"The
aggregate quantity of greenhouse gas emissions (including
direct emissions and significant indirect emissions such
as significant emissions from land use changes), as determined
by the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, related to the full fuel lifecycle, including
all stages of fuel and feedstock production and distribution,
from feedstock generation or extraction through the distribution
and delivery and use of the finished fuel to the ultimate
consumer, where the mass values for all greenhouse gases
are adjusted to account for their relative global warming
potentia" (according to the Energy Independence
and Security Act of 2007)
Renewable biomass—According to the 2008
Farm Act, renewable biomass is:
- Materials that are byproducts of preventive treatments
(e.g., trees, wood) that are removed to reduce hazardous
fuels, to reduce or contain disease or insect infestation,
or to restore ecosystem health; would not otherwise
be used for higher value products; and are harvested
from National Forest System land or public lands in
accordance with public laws, land management plans,
and requirements for old-growth maintenance.
- Any organic matter that is available on a renewable
or recurring basis from non-Federal land or land belonging
to Indian tribes, including renewable plant materials
(feed grains, other agricultural commodities, other
plants and trees, algae), waste material (crop residue,
other vegetative waste material including wood waste
and wood residue), animal waste and byproducts (fats,
oils, greases, and manure), construction waste, and
food waste/yard waste.
Online Glossaries
USDA Renewable Energy Glossary
U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Bioenergy Feedstock Information Network (the Glossary is in the list on the left side of the page)
U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center, Glossary
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