Role of Biofuels and Biomass Feedstocks in Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050
This online engineering PDH course examines the role of biofuels and biomass feedstocks in supporting U.S. decarbonization goals, particularly in hard-to-electrify sectors.
This course explores how sustainably sourced biomass and advanced bioenergy conversion technologies can complement electrification strategies and enable carbon dioxide removal (CDR) through systems such as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). This course also provides an overview on the types of biomass feedstocks available across the U.S., including forest and agricultural residues, dedicated energy crops, and organic waste. It explains how these resources can be converted into low-carbon fuels, electricity, and hydrogen, while considering factors such as regional supply, land use, and the economic viability of various biomass pathways, supported by data from NREL’s Global Change Analysis Model (GCAM).
In addition, it covers the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), biopower, and renewable hydrogen, as well as the strategic deployment of biofuels where electrification is limited such as aviation, heavy-duty transport, and industrial heat. Participants will also explore scenarios that model up to 1 billion dry tons of biomass use by 2050, the policy drivers influencing bioenergy markets, and how pairing biomass with CCS can deliver negative emissions critical to achieving net-zero targets.
This 10 PDH online course is applicable to engineers, energy managers, as well as other technical professionals interested in promoting transition to a low-carbon and bio-integrated energy future.
This PE continuing education course is intended to provide you with the following specific knowledge and skills:
- Understanding the role of biomass and biofuels in achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by 2050, particularly in hard-to-electrify sectors
- Identifying major biomass sources including forest and agricultural residues, energy crops, and waste streams and evaluating their availability, sustainability, and land use impact
- Analyzing energy system scenarios developed with NREL’s Global Change Analysis Model (GCAM), including biofuels interaction with technologies like CCS (carbon capture and storage), DAC (direct air capture), and electrification
- Evaluating bioenergy conversion production, including thermochemical and biochemical processes, and the emission benefits of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), biopower, and hydrogen
- Examining policy and regulatory frameworks shaping the future of bioenergy, including SAF blending targets, equity considerations, land competition, and investment in carbon dioxide removal technologies
- Assessing trade-offs in biomass use and optimizing bioenergy to support electrification and enable negative emissions via BECCS
In this professional engineering CEU course, you need to review the course document titled, “Role of Biofuels and Biomass Feedstocks in Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050”, which is based on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Publication No. NREL/TP-5100-87279, titled “The Role of Biofuels and Biomass Feedstocks for Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050”.
Upon successful completion of the quiz, print your Certificate of Completion instantly. (Note: if you are paying by check or money order, you will be able to print it after we receive your payment.) For your convenience, we will also email it to you. Please note that you can log in to your account at any time to access and print your Certificate of Completion.