Feedstock opportunities for bioenergy production: Assessment of biomass energy potential in New Jersey

To provide the renewable energy industry in New Jersey with current and comprehensive information on biomass feedstocks, conversion technology yields and efficiencies, and bioenergy generation estimates, the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers University performed an assessment of biomass energy potential for the state in 2007. In 2014, an update and expansion of the 2007 Assessment of Bioenergy Potential in New Jersey was conducted. The study includes a detailed database of New Jersey's sustainable biomass and energy potential, containing data on more than 40 feedstocks and 7 bioenergy generation technologies. It also includes a unique bioenergy calculator for estimating potential biopower or biofuel yields by technology, feedstock, and county; a comprehensive evaluation of the bioenergy potential in the state; and greenhouse gas reduction scenarios. The research indicates that New Jersey produces approximately 7.4 million dry tons (MDT) of biomass annually, of which an estimated 4.32 MDT (∼58%) are practically recoverable and could ultimately be available to produce energy in the form of power or transportation fuels. This biomass could deliver up to 5.2 million megawatt hours of power (∼7% of NJ's annual electricity consumption) or 250 million gallons of gasoline equivalent (∼4.4% of NJ's annual transportation fuel consumption) if the appropriate technologies and infrastructure were in place.