Inventory of Cotton Gin Trash on the Texas High Plains and Bio-Energy Feedstock Potentials

Abstract

With the increasing demand for bioenergy, agricultural products are being studied to determine their availability and feasibility for use as feedstock in bioenergy production.  Availability is one of the most important factors in the feasibility of the use of any product for bioenergy production. Cotton gin trash is a potential feedstock for electricity or ethanol production.  The objective of this study was to determine the availability of cotton gin trash in the Texas High Plains (THP) and to estimate the potential supply of bioenergy generated from cotton gin trash.  County cotton production data was used to determine energy supply given fixed energy content for cotton gin trash.  Thirty counties produced 64% of the total cotton production in Texas and 22% of United States’ cotton production from 2001 to 2006 resulting in 994,736 tons of cotton gin trash produced annually.  An average of 4.3 million mmBTUs of energy exists annually from gin trash in THP with an annual minimum of 2.5 million mmBTUs and maximum of 6.5 million mmBTUs.  On average, cotton gin trash in the area could supply 12.5 million gallons of ethanol or 65,000 megawatt hours (MWe).