Advanced Biofuel Technologies : Status and Barriers

Cheng, Jay J. ; Timilsina, Govinda R.

关键词: ABSENCE OF OXYGEN;    ACID HYDROLYSIS;    ACID RECOVERY;    ACIDS;    ADSORPTION;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-5411
RP-ID  :  WPS5411

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Large-scale production of crop based(first generation) biofuels may not be feasible withoutadversely affecting global food supply or encroaching onother important land uses. Because alternatives to liquidfossil fuels are important to develop in order to addressgreenhouse gas mitigation and other energy policyobjectives, the potential for increased use of advanced(non-crop, second generation) biofuel productiontechnologies has significant policy relevance. This studyreviews the current status of several advanced biofueltechnologies. Technically, it would be possible to produce alarge portion of transportation fuels using advanced biofueltechnologies, specifically those that can be grown using asmall portion of the world's land area (for example,microalgae), or those grown on arable lands withoutaffecting food supply (for example, agricultural residues).However, serious technical barriers limit the near-termcommercial application of advanced biofuels technologies.Key technical barriers include low conversion efficiencyfrom biomass to fuel, limits on supply of key enzymes usedin conversion, large energy requirements for operation, anddependence in many cases on commercially unproventechnology. Despite a large future potential, large-scaleexpansion of advanced biofuels technologies is unlikelyunless and until further research and development lead tolowering these barriers.