Petroleum displacement potential of next generation biofuels approaching commercialization

Several thermochemical and biochemical biofuel production processes will be operated commercially or at the demonstration scale over the next 5 years. The Department of Energy has estimated the annual availability of 1.3 billion tons of biomass that can sustainably be used as raw material to produce next generation biofuels, which are defined as those that rely on biomass, rather than corn, or vegetable oils and animal fats, as the main feedstock. Energy efficiency calculations of biomass preparation and conversion processes indicate petroleum displacements ranging from 3% to 40%, depending on the specific biofuel production process. Consideration of other energy consuming processes during fuel delivery could result in petroleum consumption instead of displacement for some of the proposed next generation biofuel production processes.

► There are numerous companies in the US building demonstration or commercial bio-refineries for producing next generation biofuels. ► Conversion technologies that will be implemented in bio-refineries can be essentially classified under two categories: thermochemical or biochemical. ► Petroleum displacement potential of these bio-refineries ranges between 3% and 40%. ► There is the possibility of increasing petroleum consumption by producing ethanol from lignocellulose via biochemical routes.