Ethanol production from Eucalyptus plantation thinnings

► Optimal pretreatment conditions for Eucalyptus forest residues were empirically determined. ► Up to 161 mg/g xylose (93%) was released at moderate pretreatment CSF (⩽1.6). ► At high CSF, depolymerisation of cellulose (33%) was evident. ► Saccharification of solid residue with Cellic® CTec 2 approached 74% theoretical. ► Saccharomyces cerevisiae efficiently fermented crude Eucalyptus hydrolysate yielding 18 g/l ethanol.