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Details
Title
What Now and What Next for Global Biofuel Technologies?
Author(s)
Schuck, Stephen
Subject(s)
Issue Date
2007
Publication Type
Conference Paper/ Presentation
DOI and Other Identifiers
10.22004/ag.econ.124489
Record Identifier
https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/124489
PURL Identifier
http://purl.umn.edu/124489
Language
English
Total Pages
7
Note
This paper provides an overview of first- and second-
generation biofuels. First-generation biofuels
are ethanol-derived from food crops such as grains
and sugar cane, and biodiesel, which use feedstocks
of vegetable oils and animal fats. The
technologies for manufacturing first-generation
biofuels are generally mature and are commercially
available. It is also noted that biogas is
gaining
favour in countries such as Sweden, where it
currently accounts for about half the vehicle gas
use. The focus of the paper then shifts to consider
alternative processing paths under development,
using non-food crops and agricultural and forestry
residues. The two major pathways are: Biochemical
— conversion of cellulose and hemicellulose to
sugars and their fermentation to alcohol fuels and;
Thermochemical — gasification of biomass to a
syngas rich in carbon monoxide and hydrogen,
and synthesis to fuels. The paper also considers
the production and use of pyrolysis bio-oil as a fuel
and as an intermediate product for conversion to
transportation fuels. The land areas required for
the production of various biofuels are considered,
together with their greenhouse gas reduction
potentials. Work related to the global potential of
biofuels for meeting future energy needs is briefly
discussed.