Solid Phase Biomass Carbon Storage (SPBCS)

Abstract

A computerized method of using a data processor having a memory to account for carbon flows and determine a regulatory value for a biofuel includes (i) storing, in memory, a first set of one or more carbon flow values characterizing the production and use of a biofuel, wherein the biofuel is derived from a first fraction of an agricultural biomass comprising sugar cane or soybean, (ii) storing, in memory, a second set of one or more carbon flow values characterizing the sequestration of solid phase biomass carbon, wherein the solid phase biomass carbon is derived from a second fraction of the agricultural biomass and wherein the sequestration mitigates anthropogenic greenhouse gas emission, and (iii) calculating, using the data processor, a regulatory value for the biofuel from the first and second sets of carbon flow values.

1 . A computerized method of using a data processor having a memory to account for carbon flows and determine a regulatory value for a biofuel, the method comprising:
 storing, by the data processor, in memory, one or more first values characterizing carbon flows associated with the production and use of the biofuel, wherein the biofuel is derived from a first fraction of an agricultural biomass comprising sugar cane or soybean;   storing, by the data processor, in memory, one or more second values characterizing carbon flows associated with sequestration of solid phase biomass carbon, wherein the solid phase biomass carbon is derived from a feedstock residue of the agricultural biomass and wherein the sequestration of the solid phase biomass carbon mitigates anthropogenic greenhouse gas emission;   calculating, using the data processor, the regulatory value for the biofuel from the first values and the second values; and   qualifying the biofuel as compliant with a regulatory framework using the regulatory value.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising qualifying the biofuel for a fuels category with a lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions intensity requirement. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising qualifying the biofuel in the regulatory framework as a fuel with a lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions intensity. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the regulatory framework is the U.S. Renewable Fuels Standard, the California Low Carbon Fuels Standard or the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sequestration comprises processing to mitigate degradation of the solid phase biomass carbon. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein processing comprises one or more of collection, drying, resizing, sterilization, stabilization, packaging, and sealing. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sequestration comprises storing the solid phase biomass carbon to mitigate environmental interaction. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring carbon flow from the sequestered solid phase biomass carbon. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising repurposing the sequestered solid phase biomass carbon. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 generating a tradable credit from the regulatory value for the biofuel; and 
 trading the biofuel having the tradable credit. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method of engineering a carbon cycle for production and use of a biofuel, comprising:
 arranging production of the biofuel by a first generator, the biofuel produced from biofuel feedstock of an agricultural biomass comprising sugar cane or soybean;   arranging sequestration of solid phase biomass carbon comprising solid phase biomass carbon, by a storage system, from feedstock residue of the agricultural biomass, thereby mitigating anthropogenic greenhouse gas emission; and   assigning to the biofuel a regulatory value based at least in part upon a first set of one or more emissions credit values characterizing production and use of the biofuel and a second set of one or more emissions credit values characterizing the sequestration.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising qualifying the biofuel as compliant with a regulatory framework. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising qualifying the biofuel for a fuels category with a lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions intensity requirement. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising qualifying the biofuel in the regulatory framework as a fuel with a lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions intensity. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the regulatory framework is the U.S. Renewable Fuels Standard, the California Low Carbon Fuels Standard, or the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sequestration comprises processing to mitigate degradation of the solid phase biomass carbon. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sequestration comprises storing the solid phase biomass carbon to mitigate environmental interaction. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising monitoring carbon flow from the sequestered solid phase biomass carbon. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising repurposing the sequestered solid phase biomass carbon. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 generating a tradable credit from the regulatory value for the biofuel; and   trading at least one of the biofuel having the tradable credit and the tradable credit.   
     
     
         21 . A method of manufacturing a biofuel, comprising:
 producing, by a generator, the biofuel from biofuel feedstock of an agricultural biomass comprising sugar cane or soybean;   sequestering, by a storage system, solid phase biomass carbon from feedstock residue of the agricultural biomass, wherein sequestration mitigates anthropogenic greenhouse gas emission; and   assigning to the biofuel a regulatory value based at least in part upon a first set of one or more emissions credit values characterizing production and use of the biofuel and a second set of one or more emissions credit value characterizing the sequestration.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising qualifying the biofuel as compliant with a regulatory framework using the regulatory value. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising qualifying the biofuel in the regulatory framework as a fuel with a lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions intensity. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising qualifying the biofuel for a fuels category with a lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions intensity requirement. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the regulatory framework is the U.S. Renewable Fuels Standard, the California Low Carbon Fuels Standard, or the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the sequestration comprises processing to mitigate degradation of the solid phase biomass carbon. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the sequestration comprises storing the solid phase biomass carbon to mitigate environmental interaction. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising monitoring carbon flow from the sequestered solid phase biomass carbon. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising repurposing the sequestered solid phase biomass carbon. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising generating a tradable credit from the regulatory value for the biofuel. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising selling or marketing at least one of the biofuel and tradable credit. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising retaining the tradable credits. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising marketing or selling the tradable credits to a regulated party. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the regulated party is located downstream in the supply chain.