Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 19
Partnerships, Future, and Emerging
Technologies
Thomas D. Foust
Abstract This chapter will cover the current state and possible futures of the
biofuels industry. Technology options for the production of cellulosic ethanol
will be explained with comparative economics given for representative biochemical
and thermochemical cellulosic ethanol conversion processes. This will be followed
by a description of the current state of the biofuels industry with possible future
directions outlined and what needs to happen both from a technical and business
perspective to provide the best chances of success. Finally, advanced biofuel
(hydrocarbon fuels) conversion options will be discussed with preliminary eco-
nomics provided.
Keywords Biofuels Bioproducts Biofuels industry Cellulosic ethanol
Advanced biofuels Comparative economics
Overview
The future of industrial crops for biofuels and bioproducts is highly dependent on
the current and future direction of the biofuels and bioproducts industry. The
biofuels industry is very much in a state of transition with many possible futures.
After significant growth in the 2000s decade, first-generation biofuels have entered
a period of minimal to stagnant growth due to a variety of factors such as market
conditions, concerns about land use, sustainability concerns, and decreasing gov-
ernment policy support. Conventional wisdom was that the stagnation of first-
generation biofuels industry would lead to the natural transition to the second-
generation biofuels industry, utilization of lignocellulosic crops.
However, the transition to the second-generation biofuels industry is occurring
at a much slower pace than anticipated again to a variety of factors such as market
and economic conditions as well as renewed debate about the proper role of
biofuels in a sustainable world future on food and fuel supplies. Hence, the biofuels
and bioproducts industry is currently in a state of flux with many possible future
scenarios that are both dependent on technologies and markets.
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