Funding second-generation cellulosic biofuel projects

2011

This report reviews the current status of second generation biofuels. First generation biofuels continue to be substantially subsidized, and this has contributed to the increasing use of such fuel. However, recent studies claim that the future of biofuels lies in second generation biofuels, in particular biochemical ethanol made from cellulose. Thus, in this report we ask the following three questions: How far is second generation biofuels from being a competitive GHG abatement technology?

2008

Clean energy has emerged as a priority for Massachusetts and for the nation, both in terms of the environmental and health benefits to local communities and the potential for widespread economic development. Advanced biofuels (also known as second generation biofuels) are an indispensable component of the nation's clean energy portfolio. The advanced biofuels industry is currently still in its infancy, but is poised for rapid growth. Academic and industrial research underway in laboratories today will feed the advanced biofuels industry of tomorrow. The advanced biofuels industry will mature through a combination of technical breakthroughs, forward-looking policies and business leadership. Today's conference will feature speakers who will touch on each of these important components. We will begin this morning with the technical perspectives of experts from across the nation and conclude with an afternoon session featuring commentary on public policy trends and an advanced biofuels industry outlook.

Global Policy, 2015

2011

Energies, 2014

The U.S., Brazil and a number of European and other countries worldwide have introduced various support schemes for bioethanol and biodiesel. The advantage of these biofuels is that they are relatively easily integrated with the current fossil fuel-based transport sector, at least up to a certain point. However, recent studies point to various negative effects of expanding the production of first generation (1G) biofuels further. 1G biofuels' problems can be overcome by a transition to second generation (2G) biofuels. So far, 2G biofuels are much more costly to produce. We therefore ask: to what extent is targeted support to 2G biofuels likely to bring costs down? Additionally, are current support schemes for biofuels well designed in order to promote the development of 2G biofuels? We find that the prospects for cost reduction look better for 2G bioethanol than for 2G biodiesel. Bioethanol made from cellulose is far from a ripe technology, with several cost-reducing opportunities yet to be developed. Hence, targeted support to cellulosic ethanol might induce a switch from 1G to 2G biofuels. However, we find little evidence that production and use of 1G bioethanol will bridge the conversion to 2G bioethanol. Hence, to the extent that private investment in the development of 2G bioethanol is too low, current support schemes for 1G biofuels may block 2G bioethanol instead of promoting it.

Energy Policy, 2011

Recent increases in production of crop-based (or first-generation) biofuels have engendered increasing concerns over potential conflicts with food supplies and land protection, as well as disputes over greenhouse gas reductions. This has heightened a sense of urgency around the development of biofuels produced from non-food biomass (second-generation biofuels). This study reviews the economic potential and environmental implications of production of second-generation biofuels from a variety of various feedstocks. Although secondgeneration biofuels could significantly contribute to This paper-a product of the Environment and Energy Team, Development Research Group-is part of a larger effort in the department to analyze economic, social and environmental impacts of biofuels. Policy Research Working Papers are also posted on the Web at http://econ.worldbank.org. The author may be contacted at [email protected]. the future energy supply mix, cost is a major barrier to increasing commercial production in the near to medium term. Depending on various factors, the cost of secondgeneration (cellulosic) ethanol can be two to three times as high as the current price of gasoline on an energy equivalent basis. The cost of biodiesel produced from microalgae, a prospective feedstock, is many times higher than the current price of diesel. Policy instruments for increasing biofuels use, such as fiscal incentives, should be based on the relative merits of different types of biofuels.

2009

In this supplementary material we provide details on our cost analysis and present tables summarizing the assessment results

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2008

2016

This report provides a status of the markets and technology development involved in growing a domestic bioenergy economy as it existed at the end of 2013. It compiles and integrates information to provide a snapshot of the current state and historical trends influencing the development of bioenergy markets. This information is intended for policy-makers as well as technology developers and investors tracking bioenergy developments. It also highlights some of the key energy and regulatory drivers of bioenergy markets. This report is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), and, in accordance with its mission, pays special attention to the progress and development of advanced liquid transportation fuels from cellulosic and algal biomass. The bioenergy economy engages multiple industrial sectors across the biomass to bioenergy supply chain-from agricultural-and forestry-based industries that produce source biomass materials to manufacturers and distributors of biomass-based fuels, products, and power, to the ultimate end-user markets. The breadth of this report reflects the range of these interdependent industry sectors. After opening with a discussion of the overall size and composition of the bioenergy market, this report features two major areas-one detailing biomass feedstocks supply and a second on the two major bioenergy markets: biofuels and biopower. The biomass feedstocks section brings together information about the current supply of a diverse set of feedstocks and discusses historical and current volumes for the major categories of biomass.