// BIO ENERGY

BioEnergy companies looking to establish headquarters and sales offices nearest the world’s most productive agricultural region can do no better than the KC region and its reputed research institutions, excellent commercial air access and high quality livability.

The Kansas City region is leading the nation in the production of bio fuels.

• 50% of the current U.S. Bioenergy (biodiesel and ethanol) capacity exists within a 300-mile radius of Kansas City.
• The states of Kansas and Missouri rank among the top states in the U.S. with the highest potential for biomass feedstocks.
• Kansas City is the largest rail center in the United States by tonnage, handling the transportation and logistics of the nation's biomass for bioprocessing.

// PROXIMITY TO BIOFUELS DEVELOPMENT & MARKETS

Source: Ethanol Producer Magazine, 2009

// COMMERCIAL BIODIESEL PRODUCTION PLANTS

Source: National Biodiesel Board, September 2008

// COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

The Kansas City region’s competitive advantages for BioEnergy include the following:

• Centrally located in the heart of the nation’s agriculture production belt, positioning the region as a great headquarters location
• Agricultural influence
• Record of industry/educational institution collaboration
• Leading BioEnergy research is being conducted at regional colleges and universities
• Midwest Research Institute is leading research in the transformation of algae and other cellulosic sources into stationary and transportation fuels

// EDUCATION ASSETS SPECIFIC TO THE BIO ENERGY INDUSTRY

• Kansas State University offers a Biobased Products and Bioenergy Graduate Certificate in collaboration of the Departments of Agronomy, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Grain Science and Industry.

• The Kansas Bioscience Authority in March 2009 awarded $4.1 million to create the Kansas Bioenergy and Biorefining Center of Innovation, uniting key industry players with the world-class research and development efforts at the University of Kansas – through its Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis – and Kansas State University.  The center of innovation will use commercial biorefining to develop alternative fuels and chemicals; commercialize efficient biomass resources for cost-effective quality power; and improve carbon capture. As with other KBA centers of innovation, the focus of this center is commercial viability, which requires the confluence of economic viability with technical feasibility and marketplace acceptance. Projected outcomes include three biorefineries and $600 million in sales of cellulosic ethanol over five years. Beyond five years, Kansas could add 1,800 direct jobs, 3,600 indirect jobs, direct revenue of $3.6 billion, and extra income of $30,000 per harvest per farm.

• The Center for Sustainable Energy was formed as a joint effort between the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and the College of Engineering in response to national needs for energy sufficiency.  Energy capability in the United States is important for our national security, our economy, transportation and agriculture growth.  There are more than 70 members of the MU faculty who are associated with the Center, providing expertise in nuclear energy, solar and wind energy,  nanotechnology,  bio-energy, policy and extension.

• MRIGlobal formed a new integrated algal research center, which will provide research and development, process engineering, consulting and lifecycle cost analysis services of algae and its uses to address energy and environmental challenges, primarily for biofuel purposes. The Center for Integrated Algal Research, located in Kansas City, Mo., will focus on research and technology developments associated with identifying and optimizing algal species for carbon dioxide uptake and biofuel production.