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Advanced biofuel technologies : status and barriers

Author

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  • Cheng, Jay J.
  • Timilsina, Govinda R

Abstract

Large-scale production of crop based (first generation) biofuels may not be feasible without adversely affecting global food supply or encroaching on other important land uses. Because alternatives to liquid fossil fuels are important to develop in order to address greenhouse gas mitigation and other energy policy objectives, the potential for increased use of advanced (non-crop, second generation) biofuel production technologies has significant policy relevance. This study reviews the current status ofseveral advanced biofuel technologies. Technically, it would be possible to produce a large portion of transportation fuels using advanced biofuel technologies, specifically those that can be grown using a small portion of the world's land area (for example, microalgae), or those grown on arable lands without affecting food supply (for example, agricultural residues). However, serious technical barriers limit the near-term commercial application of advanced biofuels technologies. Key technical barriers include low conversion efficiency from biomass to fuel, limits on supply of key enzymes used in conversion, large energy requirements for operation, and dependence in many cases on commercially unproven technology. Despite a large future potential, large-scale expansion of advanced biofuels technologies is unlikely unless and until further research and development lead to lowering these barriers.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheng, Jay J. & Timilsina, Govinda R, 2010. "Advanced biofuel technologies : status and barriers," Policy Research Working Paper Series 5411, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:5411
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Omer AM, 2018. "Advanced in Biomass and Biogas Energy," Current Trends in Biomedical Engineering & Biosciences, Juniper Publishers Inc., vol. 11(1), pages 21-33, January.
    2. Bhutto, Abdul Waheed & Qureshi, Khadija & Harijan, Khanji & Abro, Rashid & Abbas, Tauqeer & Bazmi, Aqeel Ahmed & Karim, Sadia & Yu, Guangren, 2017. "Insight into progress in pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 724-745.
    3. Tye, Ying Ying & Lee, Keat Teong & Wan Abdullah, Wan Nadiah & Leh, Cheu Peng, 2016. "The world availability of non-wood lignocellulosic biomass for the production of cellulosic ethanol and potential pretreatments for the enhancement of enzymatic saccharification," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 155-172.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Energy Production and Transportation; Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases; Renewable Energy; Crops&Crop Management Systems; Sanitation and Sewerage;
    All these keywords.

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