Biofuels 2020: Biorefineries based on lignocellulosic materials

Abstract

The production of liquid biofuels to blend with gasoline is of worldwide importance to secure the energy supply while reducing the use of fossil fuels, supporting the development of rural technology with knowledge-based jobs and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Today, engineering for plant construction is accessible and new processes using agricultural residues and municipal solid wastes have reached a good degree of maturity and high conversion yields (almost 90% of polysaccharides are converted into monosaccharides ready for fermentation). For the complete success of the 2G technology, it is still necessary to overcome a number of limitations that prevent a first-of-a-kind plant from operating at nominal capacity. We also claim that the triumph of 2G technology requires the development of favourable logistics to guarantee biomass supply and make all actors (farmers, investors, industrial entrepreneurs, government, others) aware that success relies on agreement advances. The growth of ethanol production for 2020 seems to be secured with a number of 2G plants, but public/private investments are still necessary to enable 2G technology to move on ahead from its very early stages to a more mature consolidated technology.

Figure 1

Volumes target for renewable fuel for the USA. Source: US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/program-overview-renewable-fuel-standard-program

Figure 2

Lignocellulosic process converting the biomass into biofuels and coproducts. Process step for conversion of agricultural residues into ethanol. Source: Abengoa

Figure 3

Equipment cost area distribution of a general lignocellulosic greenfield facility. Pretreatment and Boiler are the most cost‐intensive areas. Source: Abengoa