Integrating INEEL science and engineering capabilities to address industry needs. The INEEL Bioenergy Initiative leverages key multidisciplinary INEEL capabilities to address the major science and technology needs associated with the cost-effective utilization of waste biomass.
			Plant Science - INRA Universities, Biotechnologies
			Plant/Crop Production - Robotics, Sensors and Controls, Information Sciences, Materials Science, Human Factors
			Processing - Biotechnologies, Chemistry / Separations, Sensors and Controls, Information Sciences
			Utilization - BBWI (demos), Systems Engineering / Life Cycle Analysis
			Environmental Technologies - Biotechnologies, NRI, Undersurface Science (rhizosphere), Global Climate Change (sequestration)
			ROADMAP for Agricultural Biomass Feedstock Supply in the United States PDF (48 MB) INEEL Bioenergy Strategic Plan PDF (491KB) Requires Adobe Acrobat - download instructions.

The INEEL Bioenergy Initiative embraces the vision of "Whole Crop Utilization" and leverages key multidisciplinary INEEL capabilities to address the major science and technology needs associated with the cost-effective utilization of waste biomass. Whole Crop Utilization means using the entire crop, including both the grain and traditionally discarded plant biomass to produce food, feed, fiber, energy, and value-added products.

Besides promoting use of agricultural biomass to produce energy, fuels, chemicals and durable goods, the Whole Crop Utilization concept has the added advantage of revitalizing rural economies by providing an additional revenue source to growers.

The INEEL, in partnership with Inland Northwest Research Alliance (INRA) universities and with industry partners, is investigating and developing methods to overcome key barriers to cost-effective utilization of crop residuals and forestry wastes for energy, fuels, and chemicals production.

The DOE and U.S. Department of Agriculture have begun a national effort to develop a range of renewable energy sources with bioenergy as the centerpiece to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels. 

DOE released two vision documents outlining bioenergy research and technology development needs. They include Achieving Integrated Development and Use of Our Nation's Biologically Derived Renewable Resources (2000), and The Technology Roadmap for Plant/Crop-Based Renewable Resources 2020 (1999).