Researchers at Penn State are working with a startup planning to turn wood waste into gasoline. The goal is to confirm the project will be ecologically sustainable before it moves forward.
Woodland Biomass Innovations wants to convert about 1,000 tons of regional wood residue per day. The output would be 42,000 gallons of gasoline, along with biochar and renewable electricity. Founder Luca Pandolfi plans to build the facility in Tioga County, drawing on nearby forests with plenty of small-diameter trees that often go unused.
The partnership benefits everyone involved, said Dan Ciolkosz, an associate research professor at Penn State. He said it helps the startup move forward while giving students hands-on experience studying bio-based energy opportunities.
One key question was whether nearby forests could sustainably supply enough biomass. Juliana Vasco-Correa, an assistant professor, assigned the question to a team of fourth-year students. Using U.S. Forest Service data, they found that forests within 25 miles of the site could meet the project’s needs. That distance matters. Beyond it, transportation costs make similar projects unviable, both financially and environmentally.
The students also compared the environmental impact of biomass-derived gasoline against fossil-fuel gasoline. They found the biomass version performed significantly better. Vasco-Correa said a postdoctoral researcher is now verifying those calculations, with final numbers expected by fall.
That postdoctoral researcher, Dominic Aboagye, is leading a broader team studying biomass availability, supply chains and environmental impact. Christine Costello, who oversees the work, said transportation costs and emissions are major variables. She said sourcing wood locally is critical to keeping the project’s carbon footprint low.
Pandolfi said the research helps reassure investors about the project’s environmental impact. Penn State Extension has also helped connect him with the regional wood-products community.
The project fits into Penn State’s broader Technologies for Agriculture and Living Systems initiative, which supports innovation across the state’s farms, forests and rural communities.
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