Petroleum displacement potential of next generation biofuels approaching commercialization

[摘要] 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.

[学科分类] 工业化学