Bioenergy
Many faculty members are involved in the rapidly evolving field of bioenergy. Two examples are the Tennessee Biofuels Initiative, under the Office of Bioenergy Programs, and the Bio-based Energy Analysis Group.
As part of the Tennessee Biofuels Initiative, faculty are involved in the development of an innovative pilot-scale biorefinery and state-of-the-art research and development facility for cellulosic ethanol in Vonore, Tennessee.
Tennessee Breaks Ground for Innovative Cellulosic Ethanol Pilot Biorefinery
- Teaching
- Research
- Extension
While no courses in the Department are devoted solely to bioenergy, they enter the teaching program in a variety of ways. The department of Plant Sciences will offer a new undergraduate Bioenergy Concentration in the Fall of 2008. Ag Econ 212 is part of the required course listing and Ag Econ 355 and Ag Econ 470 are included as part of the Bioenergy Business Specialty Area. Biosucceed is another opportunity for both undergraduate and graduate students to further enhance their expertise in the field of bioenergy.
The Bio-based Energy Analysis Group, BEAG, was established in 2004 by the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Experiment Station. The purpose of BEAG is to provide decision makers in Government and Industry with the most up-to-date economic and environmental analysis of the bio-based industry at the state, region, and national levels. Focus includes supply and demand, costs of production, market opportunities, feasibility analyses, and regional and national economic impacts, along with environmental impact analysis.
Other economic impact reports and marketing and feasibility studies for Bioenergy can be found at Agri-Industry Modeling & Analysis Group, Bio-Based Energy Analysis Group, and TREND website in the Biofuels section.
Extension faculty provide technical expertise to those interested in entering into the field of bioenergy. As part of this work, fact sheets have been developed and include: